The corporate team at purpose-led independent law firm Brabners has reported a strong start to 2025, supporting over £500million’s worth of transactions as it continues to act as a trusted adviser to businesses and investors across the UK and internationally.
The firm’s 60-strong team, which is one of the largest in the North and ranked as one of the UK’s most active M&A advisors by Experian, supported on more than 90 transactions between January and June 2025. The deals represent a combined value of £514million – more than double the value of the same period last year.
The significant growth reflects a resurgent M&A market in the first four months of the year and builds on a third consecutive year of growth achieved by the team in 2024.
Notable transactions supported in the first half of the year included the acquisition of Swiss electronic trading systems provider MACD by Foconis – a portfolio company of Main Capital Partners. The team worked alongside its Association of European Lawyers partner firm Noerr to ensure the success of the transaction.
The team helped its client, engineering consultancy Omnia Projects as it was acquired by Egis and implemented the buy-in management buyout of Associated Polymer Services – a collaboration between DSG Chartered Accountants and Brabners’ legal and deal advisory teams.
It also assisted long-term client Simon Dykes and others through their journey to their eventual exit from Haydock Commercial Vehicles and worked with Clearwater on the deal that saw significant new investment in long-standing client IMT Matcher, a global leader in fertility technology – from US private equity-backed buyer ReproTech. Recently, it advised on the sale of a majority stake in £350million turnover engineering firm William Hare Group to high-profile investor Simon Orange, working to support the growth of one of the North West’s most established family-owned businesses.
The firm’s specialist EOT team – which is the most active in the region – also continued to support the transition of multiple businesses to employee ownership, reflecting continued interest in the EOT model as a route to sustainable business succession. This included advising on the sale of Sheffield-based digital agency The SEO Works to an EOT, along with the associated fundraise.
The positive performance has been supported by significant investment in the team. Having appointed partner Dan McCormack within its fast-growing Leeds office at the end of 2024, the first half of this year has seen further strategic hires – including Lancashire-based automotive specialist Brett Cooper as partner. Brabners has also appointed partner Euri Yoon to enhance its tax advisory capabilities and strengthen the complementary services within the team as it remains the only UK law firm with a dedicated in-house deal advisory team. The appointments are part of a wider 15% increase in headcount since the start of the year.
Brabners’ corporate practice is seen as a key driver in the firm’s current three-year strategy, focused on client-centred, scalable growth. Recent supportive developments at the firm, which is recognised as the Best UK Law Firm to Work for by Best Companies, include its equity investment in ESG consultancy The Sustainability Academy and the launch of its H&S advisory service Brabners Protect.
Mark Rathbone, partner and head of corporate at Brabners, said: “The first quarter of 2025 has seen clear signs of recovery in the M&A market, particularly in the past three months – driven in part by stabilising macroeconomic conditions and a renewed willingness among investors to deploy capital for growth – albeit we have seen a softening in the market into Q2.
“While activity levels vary across sectors, we’re continuing to support businesses across the full lifecycle – from early-stage investments and scale-ups to international exits and employee ownership transitions. Our team’s regional footprint and multi-disciplinary model ensure we remain a trusted partner for ambitious businesses looking to grow, innovate or restructure.
“Looking ahead, we expect deal volumes to regather the momentum seen in Q1 in H2, with an uptick post-summer, as interest rates ease further and confidence continues to return. Discussions are positive, and with a raft of transactions already in the pipeline, we are looking forward to helping clients old and new to capitalise on the opportunities in the market.”
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