Addleshaw Goddard's Private Equity team has outstripped stiff competition to be crowned the UK's 'Legal Advisor of the Year' at the Private Equity Awards 2017, hosted by Real Deals, winning the coveted title for the second year in a row.

Building on its past successes, the team has cemented its leading position in the UK mid-market by closing over 40 transactions in 2016, worth approximately £6 billion - double that of the previous year. The team further proved its impressive market share by bucking the lull in market activity during the run up to the Brexit referendum, advising on ten deals in as many weeks.

The category winner was announced following a rigorous judging process by a panel of experts. The panel recognised the far-reaching capability and expertise of the AG team, which boasts one of the largest mid-market focussed teams in the UK operating across all key deal sectors. On 1 June 2017 Addleshaw Goddard will merge with Scottish law firm HBJ, extending its national coverage to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. AG's Private Equity practice also offers international reach - having advised on a number of cross-border deals during the year, and with a dedicated Private Equity team in the Middle East that also enjoyed a very successful 2016.

Yunus Seedat, Corporate & Commercial Divisional Managing Partner, commented: "It stands as testament to the team's outstanding commitment to being the best-of-the-best in the Private Equity mid-market arena that we have secured this prestigious accolade for the second year running. We stand head and shoulders above the competition for our work in this area, and, further to this, we have become a significant force in representing management groups in big-ticket private equity buyouts, elevating our expertise to the next level."