The DWF Corporate Team experienced another successful year in 2024, continuing to leverage its expertise in key sectors to deliver outstanding results for clients. The Technology, Media, and Telecoms (TMT) sector emerged as the team’s highest value area, with notable transactions including advising Calibre Scientific on multiple European deals, including five acquisitions of UK-based life sciences tools and diagnostics companies. The team also represented NorthEdge in the sale of CMAP software, supported management shareholders in an investment by ECI Partners, and assisted Daisy in its merger with Wavenet, creating the UK’s largest independent IT managed services provider.
Additionally, within its leading Venture Capital Group, the team provided guidance to Pastest, a provider of tech-driven test preparation solutions, on its minority equity investment in The Medic Life. The team also advised the Scottish National Investment Bank on several investments in the technology sector, including Utopi Ltd, Cyacomb, Travelnest, and Pneumowave. Furthermore, the team worked with Nesta, a social impact venture capital investor, on its investment in Gaia Learning Limited.
The financial services sector accounted for a substantial portion of DWF’s corporate transactions, with the team advising on 43 deals in this sector. Many of these deals were completed by the Private Equity Group including advising Inflexion on the sale of Southport-based broker David Roberts & Partners to BMS Group, Sovereign Capital Partners investment in LB Group (subsequently rebranded Affinia) as a buy and build accountancy practice platform acquisition and AssuredPartners on its acquisition of leading independent Lloyd’s broker, the Harman Kemp group.
The team also advised on a number of high-profile real estate deals throughout the UK & Ireland in 2024, including acting for Dandara Group in the sale of its newly developed build to rent (BTR) scheme to Europa and advising LXi REIT on the £210m corporate and asset sale of a portfolio of 66 Travelodge-branded hotels to Travelodge Hotels Ltd.
Frank Shephard, Global Head of Corporate at DWF, said: “The breadth and scale of transactions we advised on in 2024 reflect the strength and adaptability of our UK & Ireland corporate team. Despite a challenging year in many ways, where markets have suffered from subdued liquidity and a slowdown in activity, our corporate team has remained exceptionally busy and continued to deliver strong results. That has been achieved by our one team approach where the whole team works as one, and bringing technology and process efficiency to everything we do for our clients.
Looking ahead, we anticipate continued private equity and venture capital activity, with funds and corporate acquirers poised to deploy unused capital and take advantage of new international business momentum in 2025. As market conditions continue to shift, our commitment to excellence and client service ensures we are well-positioned to drive further success in the year ahead.”