Private Equity | Business growth | Solicitors | Paris Smith Skip to content

Private Equity

Private equity has for many years been a major growth engine of UK merger and acquisition activity. Our team have acted on many private transactions for UK and overseas private equity houses. We also regularly act for exiting shareholders and management teams on private equity backed exits.

Contact our team

GET IN TOUCH

Law Firm of the Year 2023 winners logo

Key private equity Services

  • Portfolio side buy and build
  • Sell side to PE backed acquirers
  • Management teams on roll forward and sweet equity participations
  • Disinvestments
  • Partial exits and roll forwards
  • Protection of PE funds on exits
  • Exits via IPOs  

Work examples

  • Horizon Capital on numerous portfolio acquisitions for Churches Fire  
  • Gimv on several UK acquisitions including Summa’s acquisition of CadCam Techology and Grandeco’s purchase of Holden Decor 
  • Bowmark Capital backed Totalmobile on the cross border acquisition of Geopol
  • Waterland Private Equity as sponsor of Diversi Foods on its acquisition of Montana Bakery
  • Down2Earth Capital in partnership with Gimv on the cross border acquisition by Contraload NV of Packaging Logistics Services from Bibby
  • CatenaLucis on its multiple investments in and the subsequent listing on AIM (market cap on admission £92m) of Abingdon Health plc
  • Horizon Capital as backer of Totalmobile on acquisitions including Cloud Dialogs, Technological Business Solutions, Lone Worker Solutions and Global Rostering Systems
  • Waterland Private Equity on the sale of its Diversi Foods interests to Oetker Gruppe
  • Shareholders on sales to PE-backed purchasers, including Cerberus, ECI, Cairngorm, Infracapital, EQT Partners and Kings Park Capital
  • Management teams on equity participation on deals backed by, among others, YFM Private Equity and Inflexion Capital

In-House Counsel

Our team of experienced lawyers is well-equipped to support you in various ways. Whether you require advice on a specific issue, additional resources due to capacity constraints, or a second opinion, we are here to help. Explore our legal counsel page for more information and details on our schedule of seminars, specifically designed for in-house counsel.

How we work with you

Whilst based in the South of England, Paris Smith acts for businesses and families throughout the UK. Technology has enabled us to provide a high level of service to our clients whether they are local to our offices or not. Our advice can be given in many ways:

  • Over the telephone
  • Via video conferencing
  • In face to face meetings

We will talk through how you would like to be contacted and the best ways for us to meet in our early conversations with you.

Get in touch to speak with an expert.

Chambers Alternative 500

Introducing your key contact

How we’ve helped our clients

“Sources say ‘The corporate team at Paris Smith handles a wide range of transactions, including asset and share acquisitions, management buyouts, and employee ownership trusts’; The team provided highly knowledgeable advice in a very timely fashion. They worked through very large numbers of documents to meet tight deadlines’; The team has provided the highest quality of service, demonstrating excellent technical knowledge and the ability to propose and negotiate practical commercial solutions’; They are an extremely well established and respected team capable of supporting clients through even the most complex deals’; and ‘The team has great strength in depth with several partners having built strong reputations across the local M&A advisory market and a loyal following with clients’.”

Legal 500 2025 Edition – Client Testimonials

“These were key acquisitions for us and enhance the portfolio of services we can now offer to a wide range of sectors. Amanda and the team at Paris Smith became an integral part of our deal team and provided great commercial, practical and legal advice within tight timeframes. We would recommend the team whole heartedly.”

Jim Darragh, Chief Executive – Totalmobile

“One referee says “Paris Smith provide a premium service with a real focus on quality;” another adds “The team are accessible and provide strongly commercial advice;” whilst a third referee states “They are very knowledgeable and handled difficult queries very well. They always kept us up to date and ensured a smooth process.””

Chambers Legal Directory 2024

“Referees say “The Paris Smith team has stood out for their ability to respond in a consistently timely and professional manner at all times across a broad range of legal advice areas”; “The Paris Smith team acts as a genuine partner and are there where and when you need them, consistently and professionally – I couldn’t ask any more of them”; “Clear and quality legal advice, hardworking legal counsel” and “Dedicated to the service they provide”.”

Legal 500 2024 Edition

“Thank you so much for all the support, late evenings and effort to get this deal done quickly. I enjoyed working with you, your approach and insight was brilliant and I really appreciated it.”

Rick Bannister, Chief Strategy Officer

Gozney Group Ltd – Equity Funding Round

Look You may also be interested in

Mergers & Acquisitions, Disposals & Management Buy-outs
mergers-acquisitions-disposals-management-buy-outs-acquisition-apa-asset-disposal-asset-purchase-asset-purchase-agreement-auction-badr-business-acquisition-business-asset-disposal-relie

Stay up to date with our latest industry news

By completing your details and submitting, you are consenting to us sending you relevant legal updates and invitations based on the areas of interest you select. For further details please read our privacy notice.

Back Back to Corporate

AccreditationAccreditationAccreditationAccreditationAccreditationAccreditation