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Serial Acquirers

All mergers and acquisitions need legal advisers with specialist expertise in M&A work from due diligence and disclosure, deal negotiation, a good understanding of pricing mechanisms, to risk hedging with warranty and indemnity insurance, pre-sale group reorganisations and stream lined processes to tie all these aspects together. Understanding the sensitivities around buyers’ and sellers’ interests in any deal and dealing commercially with issues which come up as part of the process is key to success, together with managing time lines carefully. All deals have their own oddities and sticking points, but recognising those early on and managing them commercially with solutions from many years of experience, is what sets our deal team apart.

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Buy and build process

Growth strategies, particularly for private equity-backed investments, are often based on corporate acquisitions.

A successful buy and build process means:

  • A commercial targeted, efficient and meaningful due diligence process, the outcomes of which add real value to the buyer, sensitive to what the buyer prioritises and its own commercial appetite. We also have an eye to information required by any integration teams who are often brought in post- completion to integrate any acquired company into the wider group.
  • A due diligence report which highlights relative, real risks and makes practical recommendations for resolving or hedging against them. Are warranties and indemnities the best way of dealing with it, or is there a more practical resolution or insurance solution to cover them? Different mechanisms suit different problems.
  • Robust project management and timelines with effective communication and team work with other professionals advising on the transaction to produce a joined up approach.
  • Regular project team catch ups and updates.
  • Streamlined deal documents, bespoke to individual buyers.

We have a multi-disciplinary team which is very experienced in delivering all of this with one key point of contact for our acquiring clients who manages the team and the flow of information for the entire due diligence process. The outcome of that process then dovetails smoothly with the production of key deal documents and dealing with identified issues. We have worked on transactions with:

  • warranty and indemnity insurers providing cover for a general warranty suite and tax covenants as well as synthetic tax warranties and specific cover for a known and identified indemnity issue;
  • retentions and holdbacks against known risks; and
  • conduct of management of risks, post completion.

Our Experience

Churches Fire Security Limited

Churches Fire Security Limited provides a national fire safety and security service to end users and facility management companies. We have acted for Churches Fire Security Limited for many years on its acquisitions strategy, both pre and post investment from its current investor, Horizon Capital Limited.

Deal work has increased over the years rising to approximately 10 acquisitions per annum, with the deal team at Paris Smith working on about 6 projects at any one time, all at different stages of the deal process.

We have acquired subsidiaries in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which has gone some way to achieve the geographic reach of Churches Fire and its sustained growth over a decade or more.

“Amanda is hands down the best corporate lawyer I have ever worked with. She is responsive, commercial, helps guide us in our business development with solid advice and knows exactly what we want from purchasing a business. We hardly need to give any instruction other than “crack on” and she and her team deliver – every time. We are a PE backed, acquisitive, business so we are demanding and demonstrative. She never flinches, takes everything in her stride and is the epitome of professionalism.”

Lorna Hayes, MD – Churches Fire

Totalmobile Limited

Based in Belfast, Totalmobile provides remote workforce management software to a number of sectors – logistics and express delivery, emergency services, those working in remote and potentially hazardous environments, construction and infrastructure. It has acquired a number of tech companies in the UK and beyond to expand its product stack and geographic reach. Originally backed by Horizon and now by Bowmark, the technology bias means we focus heavily on IP and commercial contracts in due diligence and making sure that these are robust and right for acquisition.

We have acquired 8 target companies for Totalmobile and work with their in house counsel, acquisitions directors and FD.

“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

Winners of ‘Law firm of the Year 2023’ – Business Magazine, Solent Deals Awards

“We are thrilled to win Law Firm of the Year. Thank you to all of those who supported our nomination. The recognition is very well deserved. We have a fantastic team at all levels who were incredibly busy in 2022, completing over 60 transactions, many of them involving local businesses, financiers and advisers. Our success is based on building strong relations with our clients, professional advisers and the wider community in our region. We will continue to build on our success by developing our relationships with key stakeholders in 2023 and beyond.”

Law Firm of the Year 2023 winners logo      Corporate team winning law firm of the year 2023

 

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.

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Chambers Alternative 500

Introducing your key contacts

How we’ve helped our clients

“Sources say “The department excels at handling complex matters with high proficiency and expertise. Their commercial awareness is strong, with a solid understanding of business trends and strategies;” “The firm is commercially minded and able to overcome challenging situations with practical solutions. The corporate team have the experience and expertise to deal with all manner of challenges;” “Paris Smith has a very strong team with genuine depth. They are easy to work with and commercially aware. They are always available and quick to get back to you;” “The team at Paris Smith are professional, knowledgeable and responsive. Their service levels and commercial awareness are both very good;” and “Paris Smith provide very good commercial and legal advice and have a sensible pricing structure. The team are good communicators and focus on the best commercial outlook for the client.””

Chambers Legal Directory 2025

“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

“This was the most recent of a number of acquisitions which Paris Smith has worked on for Totalmobile and the second cross border acquisition. We were delighted by the support Amanda, Claudia and the team gave us to complete this.”

Andrew Murrell, CFO

Totalmobile

“Amanda and Claudia were recommended to us as highly effective commercial advisers to lead the legal team and process, and we found them to be just that. They added real value to the process and the deal terms and worked seamlessly with us as sellers, as well as our other professional advisers to make the deal happen. I would recommend them and Paris Smith unreservedly.”

Graham Carter, MS & Shareholder

AutoLogic Systems Ltd

“The team at Paris Smith were central to us getting the transaction over the line. This was a deal that we could have easily missed out on if we hadn’t had the right team in place. It’s exciting for us as a business as the acquisition sits very well with our financial targets, as well as our mission, vision and values moving forward. In terms of our partnership with Paris Smith, they were central to us getting the transaction over the line. ”

George Hillier, Director of Property

Hillier Nurseries

“The Corporate team at Paris Smith were recommended to us and we were delighted with the efficient and thorough approach Amanda and her team had to setting up the group. There was a lot of paperwork involved but the team led us through all the steps involved whilst still listening to what we wanted out of the merger and the group going forwards. They had quite a tight deadline to work to, but delivered on time. We were delighted with the outcome.”

Steve Cunningham, Financial Director

Yellowstone Environmental

“Claudia Mihai has become an integral part of our deal team, she has extensive knowledge of our business and knows what is important to us. She delivers great legal and practical advice within tight timeframes and is able to run the process seamlessly. We would highly recommend her services. ”

Rob Mott, Chairman

Charters Estate Agents

“Thanks for all the guidance and for working so hard to get the deal done in such a short space of time.”

Michael Curran

“We instructed Jenny Packer to help us organise and facilitate an MBO for Tew Brothers Ltd. We specifically asked for Jenny because of a previous very positive experience when Jenny organised and put in place a shareholders agreement. Although sorting an MBO can be very complex, Jenny helped us to understand the process at every stage with excellent advice and also recommended and facilitated the use of other partner professionals such as AZETS to assist with the tax element of the MBO. The whole process was completed within the time scale we had asked for and in a seamless and professional manner. We were very happy and impressed with the whole process.”

Shaun Tew, Director

Tew Brothers Ltd

“Michael Moore led the team from Paris Smith that helped me sell my business. It was a challenging situation for me as I had founded it 20 years ago and had no experience in selling a business. Michael has a vast amount of experience which was very reassuring through the whole process. He was also able to pick up the phone and talk to the other parties representatives when needed. ”

David Marshall, Director & Shareholder

“The teams are professional, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. I put a lot of trust into Paris Smith’s advice and would have no hesitation to recommend their services.”

Scott Stephens, Director

Forth Hold Limited

“I would just like to convey my sincere thanks to all concerned for your assistance in the acquisition of AFS. I have been very impressed, but not surprised, with the way you and your colleagues have dealt with this transaction. As you are probably aware we have a long association with Paris Smith and I am still in touch with many of the people I have previously dealt with. I look forward to continuing to work with you all in the future. ”

Bob Terris, Chairman – Meachers Global Logistics

“You guys were breathtakingly terrific these past 2 weeks. Jonathon – I always knew you were very good. I know now how wrong I was. You are not good, you are supreme. Arezou – I’ve known you briefly only. Your professionalism, thoroughness, mastery and smiling diligence throughout and on your personal sunny weekends too are so so impressive. And such wonderful people to boot. We are very privileged to have you as our lawyers. ”

Henri Alster – Founder of the GRI Group

“You are amazing Claudia. Thanks once again for turning this around so quickly.”

Ros Hanson, Managing Director

Halo Accident & Repair

“We recently engaged Paris Smith LLP and Jonathon Roy to review a Management Buyout of our the employer, STR Ltd, one of the largest and most established recruitment agencies in Portsmouth. Acting on behalf of the buyers, Jonathon’s level of advice, speed and accuracy on everything was fantastic. I know we aren’t the only client of Paris Smith, but it certainly felt like it at times. Correspondence coming through at all hours, even over the weekend. Due to his support we were able to navigate the MBO relatively pain free and get it over the line. The new owners of STR Ltd are very pleased we had Paris Smith in our corner.”

STR Ltd – Management Buyout

“Jonathon and Tom were very helpful and available all through the process.”

PH – Company Sale

“I worked closely with Amanda Brockwell and Claudia Mihai at Paris Smith who formed part of the team of professionals who guided me through the sale process, something I had no previous experience of. Collaborative team work and a problem solving approach were instrumental to the smooth running of the negotiations and the successful completion. I cannot recommend them highly enough.”

John Millett

Orange Chemicals Ltd

“I was very grateful to have a knowledgeable and insightful team at the other end of a phone whenever I needed them. Michael and Alex were great at making me feel at ease, enabling me to ask any questions I wanted.”

Jim O’Brien

Temple Gate Holdings Ltd – Company Sale

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