Expertise
Peter has many years of experience in transactional M&A work in numerous business sectors, particularly in relation to private companies. He advises businesses on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters including shareholders’ agreements, joint ventures, share structures, reorganisations, terms and conditions and a wide variety of commercial contracts and other business matters. He has great experience of guiding clients through the challenges of negotiating agreements and is a great believer in ‘prevention is better than cure’, strongly encouraging the benefits of shareholders’ agreements for ‘ante-nuptial’ purposes.
Peter also specialises in LLP and partnership matters, including mergers and partnership agreements. In addition, he has considerable experience of advising on the resolution of shareholder and partnership disputes.
As well as enjoying legal challenges, he particularly enjoys developing personal relationships with his clients, understanding their objectives and needs and guiding them through what can be stressful negotations. He has extensive experience of assisting individuals through the hurdles and psychological challenges of selling businesses that have been built up over many years by them and sometimes have been in their families for generations.
Peter Advises
Peter supports clients on a wide field of corporate and commercial matters and is able to introduce colleagues and advisers to assist them where approporate. His key client groups include:
- Buyers
- Sellers
- Corporate and private investors
- Management Teams
- LLPs and Partnerships
- Business owners
- Entrepreneurs
- Owner managed businesses
- Groups of shareholders
Experience Highlights
Peter has acted on a considerable number of M & A transactions. These vary from sub-£1 million purchases and sales to £20 million plus deals:
- Acted for leading provider of voice, document and data solutions on several share acquisitions;
- Advised shareholders on sale of leading supplier of furniture for TV and hi-fi equipment to AIM listed company;
- Advised unique start up in sales industry;
- Advised on a number of restaurant related transactions and acted for leading celebrity chef;
- Advised serial entrepreneurs on sale of leading handbag brands;
- Advised care homes business owner on various refinancings and a complex reorganization, together with shareholders’ and partnership agreements;
- Advised the three shareholders of leading computer security company on sale to Cisco Inc of USA;
- Advised minority shareholder in property investment business on complex shareholder agreement and articles;
- Advised subsidiary of multi-national company on shareholder dispute with minority holder;
- Advised majority shareholder of cosmetics company in relation to minority investment;
- Acted for overseas not for profit provider on sale of employment agency business;
- Acted for financial data business on purchase of business and assets of a German company as part of a joint venture with a Luxembourg company;
- Re-purchase of share capital of a company operating a private hospital and refinancing of the business, involving novel arrangements to take the company out of administration;
- Acted on complex acquisition of a significant shareholding, from a minority shareholder of a major commodity trading company as part of resolution of shareholder dispute;
- Advised a major manufacturer of consumer goods on a wide variety of contractual and regulatory issues;
- Advised a leading European manufacturer of agricultural equipment on the contractual terms of a major initiative in the UK dairy market;
- Acted on purchase of superyacht;
- Advised major global outsourcing company on joint venture and other projects;
- Advised on numerous purchases of hotels, betting shops, holiday villages and other businesses for listed company;
- Advised two firms of chartered accountants on several mergers and acquisitions;
- Advised firm of chartered accountants on new LLP agreement and
- Advised various solicitors on mergers.
Career History
Previous Roles
- Corporate and Commercial Partner, Bates Wells Braithwaite
- In-house Solicitor, Ladbroke Group plc
- Qualified at Herbert Smith
Committees and Memberships
- Former member Law Society Company Law Committee
- Former member Investment Business Committee of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
- Member, Association of Partnership Professionals
- Member, Society of Computers and the Law
Education
- Queens’ College, Cambridge (First class honours)
- College of Law
- Salford Grammar School