LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by:
Winner: Osborne Clarke
With Emma Gibson having earlier gained the 2016 Lawyer of the Year title, and Shoosmiths being shortlisted for this team award, there was one table that was eagerly anticipating a potential double on the night.
But Shoosmiths faced stiff competition from three other leading Thames Valley legal teams. Also shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year were: Blake Morgan, Stevens & Bolton, and Osborne Clarke.
Blake Morgan’s Thames Valley corporate team had a busy year advising on over 75 transactions, with a strong portfolio of instructions, including the management buyout of Access-IS and disposal of The Green Board Game Co, plus the sales of Westway Services, leading UK office design and fit-out company Bluu to JLL, and the acquisitions of Chapter Agency, Cre8 Management and Cardel.
Shoosmiths won this title last year. Its 2015 activities under consideration for this year’s award included the Clearwater Group disposal; BM Trada sale to Exova Group plc; MBO of BOFA International; £40 million financing of Itsu; the refinancing package for McKay Securities; refinancing for Ann Summers; and the GAME acquisition of Multiplay.
Continuing to make its mark in the region, Stevens & Bolton’s portfolio of instructions included the Soul acquisition of 60 Starbucks’ cafes; the £15m Peros Coffee sale; the sale of CD-Adapco ($970m); and the complex acquisition of Harvest Energy by State Oil Group.
A big year for Osborne Clarke saw 68 corporate and 33 banking deals with a combined value of £1.6 billion. Deals included acting for the management team of Access-IS; acting for LDC on its disposal of part of the business of United House Developments; advising Ridgeway on financing terms; and advising Google Ventures.
Duncan Lamb, head of corporate finance Thames Valley at category sponsor Grant Thornton, came to the stage to announce the winner of the keenly contested ‘Law Firm of the Year’ title – Osborne Clarke.
Thames Valley lead corporate partner Sara Valentine accepted the award trophy on stage for Osborne Clarke’s 16-strong dealmaking team, based in Reading.
With more than 100 deals during 2015 – “a really busy year, with some fantastic quality deals across both corporate and banking” – Valentine was quick to praise her team’s work ethic. “One of things I love about our team is that we all work hard and support each other, and it is lovely we have all got recognition for that tonight.
“We have a brilliant team in the region with real strength in depth. We’ve got some established leading individuals but also some rising stars coming through, which gives us a really good quality across the specialisms.”
Valentine explained that “some of the talent we have brought in over the past couple of years has been just exceptional” and that had enhanced the firm’s proven qualities.
While quality legal skills and knowledge are essential for winning law teams, Valentine added: “It’s not just about technical lawyering. It’s about the ability to get on with colleagues and clients, and make what can be difficult transactions, seamless and smooth for everyone.
“My motto is ‘work hard, play hard’, and tonight we are going to celebrate because we have worked hard and deserve it.”
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2016
www.businessmag.co.uk
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