Legal advice for major deals is heading West

The quality of corporate and commercial legal advice West of Bristol is being increasingly recognized in the national market, according to Richard Cobb, a leading corporate lawyer based in the Exeter office of Michelmores LLP.

Richard Cobb and his business team colleagues at Michelmores have recently advised on two significant multi million pound deals which might have been expected to be carried out by Bristol or London based corporate specialists.

The deals included advising the shareholders in the landmark transaction which saw the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), taking over ownership of the £42m Wave Hub from the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) alongside the establishment of a stand-alone operating company, Wave Hub Limited, to manage the day-to-day operation of the testing facility on its behalf.

A second deal involved Richard Cobb advising the shareholders of Corsham, Wiltshire based Fleet Support Group (FSG), one of the UK's largest car fleet management companies, on its sale to the American-based Automotive Resources International (ARI).

During 2011, when Michelmores doubled its deal activity, the firm was shortlisted in the South West Dealmakers Awards 2011 in the category of Corporate Law Firm of the Year alongside Bristol based heavyweights Burges Salmon and Osborne Clarke.

Richard Cobb said: "The nomination last year and the run of significant deals we have been asked to advise on recently reflect Michelmores' growing reputation as one of the "elite" deal-making law firms operating across the South West as a whole.  At the same time, Chambers noted our "quick turnaround of corporate work at competitive prices" showing we are increasingly hitting our sweet spot of the right quality deals at the right price.

Stephen Morse, head of Michelmores Business Group, added: "It is a good time in the economic cycle for South West businesses to recognize the depth of legal and other professional resources that are available outside of Bristol at more competitive prices."

During the summer, a Michelmores team headed by Richard Cobb, advised on the $1bn dollar disposal of the Mint Hotel chain to a company established by Blackstone, the giant US private equity firm which already owns the Hilton Group.

For more information please contact richard.cobb@michelmores.com or call 01392 688 688.