- People
- Expertise
Our expertise
We are a team of more than 600 professionals, with the depth of experience which makes us genuine experts in our fields. Together, gunnercooke’s people have strength across just about every corporate discipline and sector. We provide legal, commercial and strategic advice that delivers real value to the clients we work with, which span from multinational enterprises through to not-for-profit organisations. Our breadth of expertise also covers specialist and emerging disciplines charity, crypto, sports and competition law.
Search by practice areaDispute ResolutionDispute Resolution OverviewMeet the Dispute Resolution TeamIntellectual Property DisputesFinancial Services & FinTech OverviewProceeds of CrimeEmployment TribunalTax InvestigationProperty Dispute ResolutionInsolvency DisputesMediationCivil Fraud & Asset TracingHealth & SafetyBusiness Crime & InvestigationsLitigation & ArbitrationInternational Arbitration - International
International Offices
The gunnercooke group has 16 main global offices across England, Scotland, the US, Germany and Austria, with further plans for growth in the coming years. These offices enhance the existing in-house capability of our dedicated international teams and dual-qualified experts that cover Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, China, India, Poland and Hungary. Our team have clients across 126 jurisdictions, speak 46 languages and are dual-qualified in 22 jurisdictions. Our expertise means we can offer large teams to carry out complex cross-border matters for major international clients.
- Our story
Our story
gunnercooke is a top commercial law firm. We comprise a rapidly growing number of experts spanning legal and other disciplines. Clients benefit from flexible options on fees to suit their needs, access to a wider network of senior experts throughout the relationship, and legal advice which is complemented by an understanding of the commercial aspects of running a business.
- Reading Room
- News & Insights
Simon Williams
Partner
Corporate & Commercial
Accolades
Expertise
Simon is a driven, innovative and experienced corporate and commercial lawyer who thinks outside of the box, whilst being practical and commercially minded at all times to help achieve the client’s ultimate aim.
His direct, responsive and pro-active approach, coupled with heightened interpersonal and communication skills, enables him to instinctively push matters forward progressively and intuitively.
Simon has the ability to interpret and present complex and potentially difficult situations clearly, concisely and with a keen eye for detail in a setting of technical legal excellence.
He has an extensive professional network, business acumen and tactical nous, meaning he can make things happen and add value to clients wherever the opportunity arises.
Simon builds very close, trusting and long standing relationships with his clients, who are located in the North West as well as nationally and internationally.
For corporate matters, Simon is regularly instructed in relation to work such as: mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity investments, group reorganisations and demergers, joint venture agreements, shareholder agreements, cross option agreements and option agreements, employee share schemes including EMI.
Simon is also frequently instructed on commercial matters such as: terms and conditions of business, franchise agreements, general commercial contracts, software agreements, IPR licences and assignments and trademark registrations.
Simon Advises
- Start-ups
- SMEs
- OMBs
- Entrepreneurs
- Directors and boards
- UK subsidiaries
- Investors + investee companies
- HNWs and celebrities
Experience Highlights
- Project lead on a multimillion-pound international transaction relating to the acquisition of various groups of companies in over 20 foreign jurisdictions including managing various other third party law firms
- Various acquisitions for a privately owned investment company
- MBO of YFM Private Equity, acting for the retiring members
- Two-year acquisition trail for UK subsidiary of European Group turning over in excess of €3.7 billion
- Acting for an IOM investment company on various substantial investments made into UK companies
- Advising the selling shareholders of Chase Evans in a sale to Lomond Group for c.£30m
- Advising the selling shareholder of a UK cyber security business to a PLC for £20m
- Advising a £250m t/o group on the purchase of assets from a charge holder
- £13m BIMBO in the travel industry acting for selling shareholders
- Advising the shareholders of an international technology company on a £10.5m Private Equity investment
- Advising the sellers of a software company to a German acquirer for £10m
- £7.5m share sale of a holiday lettings agent acting for selling shareholders
- £6m Private Equity deal in the hospitality sector acting for the target companies
- Acting for the sellers of a law firm on a sale to a publicly listed international law firm for £2.5m
- Advising the sellers of a firm of independent financial advisers acquired by a US Private Equity backed buyer
- Multimillion-pound MBO of a large telecoms business
- Multimillion-pound acquisition of a UK theme park
- Restructuring and reorganising groups of companies, including capital reduction demergers
- Purchase of businesses out of liquidation and prepack administrations
- Advising companies and private investors regarding SEIS and EIS investments
- Employee incentive schemes, including EMI, CSOP and growth share schemes
- Commercial contract work for tech companies including FinTech and PropTech
Career History
Previous Law firms
- Jolliffe & Co LLP
- Brabners Chaffe Street LLP
- Baker McKenzie LLP
Education
- College of Law, Chester
- The UAB, Barcelona
- The University of Wales, Swansea
Expertise
Back to top
Simon is a driven, innovative and experienced corporate and commercial lawyer who thinks outside of the box, whilst being practical and commercially minded at all times to help achieve the client’s ultimate aim.
His direct, responsive and pro-active approach, coupled with heightened interpersonal and communication skills, enables him to instinctively push matters forward progressively and intuitively.
Simon has the ability to interpret and present complex and potentially difficult situations clearly, concisely and with a keen eye for detail in a setting of technical legal excellence.
He has an extensive professional network, business acumen and tactical nous, meaning he can make things happen and add value to clients wherever the opportunity arises.
Simon builds very close, trusting and long standing relationships with his clients, who are located in the North West as well as nationally and internationally.
For corporate matters, Simon is regularly instructed in relation to work such as: mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity investments, group reorganisations and demergers, joint venture agreements, shareholder agreements, cross option agreements and option agreements, employee share schemes including EMI.
Simon is also frequently instructed on commercial matters such as: terms and conditions of business, franchise agreements, general commercial contracts, software agreements, IPR licences and assignments and trademark registrations.
Simon Advises
Back to top
- Start-ups
- SMEs
- OMBs
- Entrepreneurs
- Directors and boards
- UK subsidiaries
- Investors + investee companies
- HNWs and celebrities
Experience Highlights
Back to top
- Project lead on a multimillion-pound international transaction relating to the acquisition of various groups of companies in over 20 foreign jurisdictions including managing various other third party law firms
- Various acquisitions for a privately owned investment company
- MBO of YFM Private Equity, acting for the retiring members
- Two-year acquisition trail for UK subsidiary of European Group turning over in excess of €3.7 billion
- Acting for an IOM investment company on various substantial investments made into UK companies
- Advising the selling shareholders of Chase Evans in a sale to Lomond Group for c.£30m
- Advising the selling shareholder of a UK cyber security business to a PLC for £20m
- Advising a £250m t/o group on the purchase of assets from a charge holder
- £13m BIMBO in the travel industry acting for selling shareholders
- Advising the shareholders of an international technology company on a £10.5m Private Equity investment
- Advising the sellers of a software company to a German acquirer for £10m
- £7.5m share sale of a holiday lettings agent acting for selling shareholders
- £6m Private Equity deal in the hospitality sector acting for the target companies
- Acting for the sellers of a law firm on a sale to a publicly listed international law firm for £2.5m
- Advising the sellers of a firm of independent financial advisers acquired by a US Private Equity backed buyer
- Multimillion-pound MBO of a large telecoms business
- Multimillion-pound acquisition of a UK theme park
- Restructuring and reorganising groups of companies, including capital reduction demergers
- Purchase of businesses out of liquidation and prepack administrations
- Advising companies and private investors regarding SEIS and EIS investments
- Employee incentive schemes, including EMI, CSOP and growth share schemes
- Commercial contract work for tech companies including FinTech and PropTech
Career History
Back to top
Previous Law firms
- Jolliffe & Co LLP
- Brabners Chaffe Street LLP
- Baker McKenzie LLP
Education
- College of Law, Chester
- The UAB, Barcelona
- The University of Wales, Swansea
Testimonials
"Great experience and energy. Always gives the client confidence that obstacles can be overcome."
Legal 500
"I was particularly impressed with the speed of transactions, quick responses to emails and calls, the overall quality of the deliverables and ongoing support for any queries."
Confidential Client
"Best solicitor I have ever met. First class service and recommended in the strongest possible terms”
Mr B
Client"Excellent Advice and work throughout on what was a very drawn out process"
Mr H
Client