Wake Smith Solicitors’ corporate team has been shortlisted for two awards at Insiders’ South Yorkshire Dealmakers Awards 2024.
The team, now headed up by director Rebecca Robinson, is shortlisted in the Corporate Law firm of the Year category at the event which recognises the region’s leading banking, funding, legal and accountancy communities, and the best deals they were involved in over the last 12 months.
The team has also been selected in the Deal of the Year under £10m category for its advice on the sale of the entire issued share capital of Sheffield’s WK West Ltd through a management buy-in.
The deal was structured around the pre-completion sale and leaseback of the trading premises, with the purchase price calculated through a cash-free debt-free transaction with deferred consideration and earn-out provisions. The deal has already won accolades having clinched Insider’s Deal of the Month in June 2023. A number of local firms were involved in advising on the deal alongside Wake Smith including BHP, Transact Corporate Finance and SMH Accounting Group.
This is the sixth year running that the company commercial team at Wake Smith has been nominated in the law firm category, which looks at team’s performance between March 2023 and March 2024.
In this period the six-strong Sheffield-based team successfully completed on substantial transactions with a cumulative value in excess of £41m.
John Baddeley, who has now stepped down to become High Sheriff of South Yorkshire for a year, and director Rebecca Robinson lead the team, assisted by associate Tom Haywood, a former winner of the Emerging Dealmaker of the Year award at this event, solicitors Millie Vaughan and Joe Creasor, and trainee solicitor Michael Lea.
Rebecca added: “The calibre of deals Wake Smith now handles is great for its reputation both regionally and nationally. The team is one of the main players in the Sheffield and South Yorkshire area, in terms of both market share and transactional exposure.
“Wake Smith has strong ties and a genuine interest in clients’ sectors and its enthusiasm helps builds trust which keeps clients coming back.
“No deal is ever the same and the variety keeps it interesting. The joined up thinking from being a full-service law firm also allows us to provide advice across all aspects of corporate, commercial, property, banking and employment matters.
“We are extremely pleased the Dealmaker’s panel of independent judges has recognised Wake Smith’s contribution and dedication to the business community in the Sheffield City Region with these shortlistings.”
The winners will be announced on 6 June at Sheffield City Hall.
For further advice on company matters contact Rebecca Robinson on 0114 224 2025 or email [email protected]. Or, to submit an online enquiry click the 'contact us' button below.