International law firm Addleshaw Goddard’s corporate team in Scotland has enjoyed a busy summer period by advising on a string of major transactions – with four completing in the space of 48 hours.

In two days at the end of August, the team provided legal advice on four significant transactions, covering a range of sectors including retail, healthcare and technology, as well as advising on the re-merger of the Laing family jewellery business.

Led by corporate partner Andy Ley, Addleshaw Goddard advised Michael Laing OBE and other selling shareholders on the acquisition by Laing the Jeweller (Glasgow) Ltd of Laing the Jeweller Ltd and Parkhouse the Jeweller Ltd. This move creates one of the UK’s largest independent jewellery businesses.

The team’s busy period in the third quarter of the year built on a strong first six months which saw it advise on more than 20 transactions including Panoramic Growth Equity's investment into digital content business, Quill Content Limited, BGF's investment into Scotland's largest privately-owned catering business, Entier, and Eastern Western Motor Group's acquisition of Grassicks in Perth.

David Kirchin, partner and head of corporate for Addleshaw Goddard in Scotland, said:

“It has been an encouraging summer period for transactions across a wide variety of sectors. We’re seeing a growth in opportunities in both business services and consumer-focused companies, which builds on our strong track record of working with growing businesses and their investors.”

David Kirchin said the strong first half of the year is likely to be replicated throughout 2017, with transactional activity remaining buoyant. He said:

“Despite the perceived challenges and uncertainty created by political conditions, the Scottish M&A market is holding its own in terms of opportunity, investor interest and price expectations. We’re seeing a healthy mixture of private equity and corporate transactions, with capital available from both UK and international investors to support acquisition and growth opportunities.

“Our pipeline of activity for the remainder of the year and into 2018 already suggests that not only will we be busy, but across Scotland there will be an encouraging level of transactional activity.”

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Notes to editors:

About Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard is a premium business law firm with international reach and an exceptional breadth of services. Our reputation for outstanding quality and certainty of service is built upon long term relationship investment and a deep understanding of client markets which creates and delivers superb value and results.

Our approach combines a deep understanding of our clients' businesses, markets and sectors with high calibre expertise, straight talking advice and a collaborative team culture. By delivering what clients want wherever they need it, from high value strategic advice, to the everyday, we pride ourselves on a service which is high quality, focused, relevant and consistently excellent.

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