21st August 2025 ❘

A landmark year for our Corporate team

A landmark year for our Corporate team

A landmark year for our Corporate team

Our Corporate team has had its most successful year to date, advising on over 150 transactions with a total value of £450m as demand for its services increases.  Over the past 12 months, the team has delivered outstanding results for clients across a range of sectors, cementing its position as one of the leading corporate teams in the North of England.

Led by Head of Corporate Michael Walby, our Corporate team advises on a comprehensive range of corporate and commercial matters, with a standout reputation for its advice on mergers and acquisitions.

Over the last year it acted for some of the region’s leading companies, SMEs and entrepreneurs on acquisitions, disposals and investments and advised a number of businesses to successfully achieve management buyouts. It is also building on its specialism in the Leisure & Tourism sector and currently advising on the sale of three of the region’s foremost country house hotels.

One of its highlight deals was the sale of InvestAcc Group to Marwyn. Nick Gardner, Managing Director at InvestAcc Group said:

“Having dealt with Burnetts for many years they were a natural choice to act for us in what was a complex transaction, involving months of due diligence and negotiation – a decision we did not regret.

“Throughout the process, Michael, Jennifer and the wider Burnetts team were always on hand to provide practical advice and guidance, often going the extra mile in terms of meeting demanding deadlines. Transitioning to a listed business required a certain level of knowledge and expertise which Burnetts were more than capable of providing.  At no time did I feel that the big city lawyers acting for the buyers offered anything that Burnetts could not deal with.  I was very happy with the final position that we negotiated.”

The team advises a number of key businesses in the region on acquisitions and corporate matters.  Roger Smith, MD of Thomas Graham & Sons Limited commented:

“Burnetts’ Corporate team are great to deal with.  They bring the expertise and commitment that gives us the edge when negotiating what can often be complex transactions.  We trust them to deliver the best result for us, not only on transactions but for the wider business.”

It also advised on the successful family succession of Honister Slate Mine.   Prentice Wilkinson-Weir said:

“Burnetts have been fantastic.   Without their help, I think we would have struggled to pull everything together as quickly as we did”.

Reflecting on the last year, Michael Walby said:

“We’ve had a year of landmark achievements.  We exceeded every target we set ourselves as a team, and importantly, we delivered successful transactions for our clients up against what were often Budget-driven deadlines.  We have a client-first approach and continue in our aim to become the trusted adviser of choice for Cumbrian businesses.  That approach continues to pay dividends, as the majority of our work comes from client recommendations or referrals from local accountants and banks.  They trust our approach and value our local insight.

“We’re also investing in our business and people in Cumbria.  As the county continues to position itself as a hub for business and innovation, we aim to play a key role in support of this by providing the best legal advice to its business.”

With a robust pipeline of deals already underway for the coming year, our Corporate team is well-positioned to continue supporting businesses across Cumbria and beyond. As the team celebrates this landmark year, its focus remains clear: delivering trusted, first class corporate legal advice that helps its clients achieve their goals and create lasting success stories.

You can find out more about our Corporate team and its services here.