The company commercial team at Hampshire based Moore Blatch celebrates 100 years experience, following notable appointments which reflect increasing success for the department.
Having recently expanded through the recruitment of a highly specialised team from M4 firm Horsey Lightly, the department now comprises three partners and four solicitors, establishing it as one of the largest dedicated teams on the south coast.
Roger Bailey leads the team with 22 years experience in commercial law and is supported by fellow partners Peter Jeffery, who also has 22 years experience, and Simon Arthur adding 12 years experience.
The rest of the team – two senior solicitors, two solicitors, one legal assistant and one trainee solicitor – all add at least 44 years experience between them.
Despite the economic climate, deal activity for the team has never been busier. The past six months has seen the department handle a considerable number of sizeable deals on behalf of UK based companies, such as:
• A £16 million refinance of an engineering company
• Renegotiating Churchill Retirement Group’s new banking facilities with HSBC and securing funding for its site acquisition programme
• Refinancing of Sabien Technology Group plc – debt refinancing and subsequent £1.3 million share sale
• 365 iT plc purchased 7 Global Group from LMS Capital plc, with LMS also taking a 12.5% equity stake in 365 iT plc.
A great deal of the team’s work is now from outside the local area including the M4, central London, M3 corridor, as well as the central south coast area.
The department has successfully negotiated deals, assisting national businesses across the UK to continue to operate at a difficult time. The department’s growing geographical reach is proof of the team’s capabilities.
Roger Bailey commented: “The volume of work we have secured over the last twelve months has allowed us to expand the corporate team with the addition of two high caliber candidates.
“We believe this serves as a positive testament to the quality of work we are completing, especially when other firms may be looking to reduce their size. Here’s to the next century!”
Offering a wealth of experience on mergers and acquisitions, flotations and other corporate transactions, the team will be looking to build on existing success and aims to be one of the leading players in the South of England.