Wake Smith boosts corporate team after second year of £100m plus deals

The company and commercial department at Wake Smith in Sheffield has boosted its team after acting on deals with a combined value in excess of £107 million in the year ending March 2019.

High-profile transactions in 2018-19 included advising waste management specialist Red Industries on its acquisition of West Midlands based Environmental Resource Group (ERG) and representing Guardian Electrical Compliance Ltd on its sale to AIM listed Premier Technical Services Group plc (PTSG).

Wake Smith also supported the shareholders of Billington International Ltd on the company's sale to industry giant James Jones & Sons (Pallets and Packaging) Ltd.

To mark the second year of £100m plus deals, Wake Smith has appointed assistant solicitor Dean Goulding to join the existing three-strong team of Duncan Shepherd, John Baddeley and Rebecca Robinson.

Dean, who graduated in law from the University of Sheffield and who also holds a Masters in commercial law, joins from Harper James in Sheffield where he spent more than four years.

Duncan Shepherd, head of company commercial, said: “This is the second year running we have completed deals over the £100m value in a 12 month period and reinforces the depth of experience and contacts we have at Wake Smith.

“We, as established dealmakers, have achieved some exceptional outcomes for our clients on both the buy and sell-side, through some complex legal work, confirming our position as one of the main players in the Sheffield and South Yorkshire in terms of market share and transactional exposure.

“We are very pleased to welcome Dean to the team and I believe he will be a great addition to our Sheffield office. Their recruitment reflects our continued dedication to ensuring clients receive the best service possible.”

Dean added: "I am absolutely delighted to have joined Wake Smith. It is great to be part of such a friendly and well respected firm. Wake Smith already has a strong reputation in the region’s corporate market and it is my intention to help grow this even further in the coming years."

Wake Smith’s corporate team’s sector knowledge includes manufacturing, professional services, healthcare, banking, IT/IPR and is supported, where relevant, by colleagues in commercial property, employment, regulatory, trusts and dispute resolution.

For advice from Wake Smith’s corporate team call 0114 266 6660.