27 LAWYER
OF THE YEAR AWARD
SPONSORED BY LLOYDS BANK CORPORATE MARKETS WINNER PITMANS’ ADAM DOWDNEY
Above: Adam Dowdney
Left: Dowdney (centre) with Steve Clarke (right) and Mark Durden-Smith
The inaugural title of Lawyer of the Year, sponsored by Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets, attracted an excellent calibre of entrants from across the Thames Valley and Solent regions.
After the judges’ deliberation day, the shortlist was whittled down to Adam Dowdney, one of Pitmans corporate partners, Rob Hayes a partner in the corporate group at Manches, and Sara Valentine, corporate partner and leader of Osborne Clarke’s Thames Valley corporate team.
Dowdney, who joined Pitmans as a partner in 2007, has worked on key deals including Guralp Systems, Reclaim (IT) and Partners in Specialist Care. One nominee said he and his team were asked to go “way beyond the normal call of duty“ and called him “credible, tenacious and personable“, while there was further praise for his “clear and friendly approach.“
Applauding his nomination, Pitmans managing partner Christopher Avery said Dowdney is well regarded among his peers for his drive, energy and expertise in delivering deals on budget and on time.
Reading-based Hayes has been with Manches since 2000 and became a
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2011
partner in the corporate group in 2008. Over the past year, his major deals have included the sale of the trade and assets of Maidenhead-based Softalk to Gordano, a competitor in the email collaboration software market located in Somerset, for an undisclosed sum.
The deal was delivered in what were called “challenging circumstances“, and one nominee said: “Rob demonstrated his hands-on, commercial and pragmatic approach during this process.“
Involvement in the two key deals of Guralp Systems and Kerridge Commercial Systems, combined with considerable experience in a broad range of corporate transactions, ensured Valentine, who joined Osborne Clarke in 2006, earned her spurs in the final three.
Described as “complex“ because it involved offices across the UK, Europe and South Africa, the Kerridge deal saw the MBO of a software business from ADP Dealer Services. Valentine was nominated for demonstrating “outstanding agility and determination“ as well as “tenacity and commitment“, not least in a 72-hour marathon completion meeting.
Valentine also played a key role in the Guralp Systems deal (See Deal of the Year under £25m), described as a “great example of a local transaction that involved some of the key players in the local Thames Valley market“.
As the tension mounted, Steve Clarke, area director of Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets, took to the stage to announce the name of the winner – Adam Dowdney – to loud applause.
Speaking afterwards, Dowdney said: “Personally, I am absolutely thrilled to have won the award for Lawyer of the Year and was very proud and honoured to pick up the trophy.
“As delighted as I am, I see it very much as a team award for everyone in the corporate department at Pitmans and a great reflection on all the hard work and commitment put in over the past 12 months, during which time we’ve achieved some sizeable transactions in a pretty tough economic climate.“
www.businessmag.co.uk
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