Corporate Lawyers

One of the biggest and most active corporate legal teams in the country, we’re trusted advisors on all types of transactions, M&A, investments and exits.

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We have one of the largest specialist corporate law teams in the UK. Our team features in the prestigious The Times Best Law Firms 2026 and is recognised as a ‘Top Tier’ firm for both corporate and commercial matters.

We’re known as one of the UK's most active deal makers and in 2025 we advised on 168 transactions with a combined value of around £1bn. We also won the Corporate Law Firm of the Year award at the Insider North West Dealmakers Awards 2025 and were shortlisted twice for Deal of the Year.

Our decorated, 60-strong team is ranked in the top tier of The Legal 500 2026 for corporate (and commercial) matters. Multiple members of the team have received credit in the Hall of Fame and as Leading Partners, Next Generation Partners, Leading Associates and Recommended Lawyers in their fields.

We've also been shortlisted for a number of recent awards, including Legal Advisors of the Year (Private) at the Health Investor Awards, Team of the Year and Liverpool City Region Team at the North West Rainmaker Awards and Corporate Team of the Year at the Yorkshire Legal Awards.

Whether you're a public or private company, an investor, an entrepreneur or a shareholder seeking to understand your rights, our team contains highly regarded experts who can help to achieve your objectives. We can also call on expertise from our wider teams — covering almost every legal specialism — and have various dedicated sector teams who can add significant value and industry-specific insight.

Plus, as the only UK law firm with dedicated deal advisors, we can provide you with access to the best possible legal and financial advice in one cohesive place.

We operate out of five modern offices located in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Lancashire and London. We work with clients across England and Wales (as well as internationally) and can meet with you wherever you're based.

To discuss your corporate legal requirements, email hello@brabners.com, call us on 0333 004 4488 or fill in our contact form.

Watch: corporate podcasts & top tips

Growth, succession & lessons from the coach industry

Bearded person with a shaved head wears a brown blazer and light blue shirt, speaking into a large microphone in a recording studio with over-ear headphones

Brett Cooper discusses growth through acquisition, preparing for succession, integrating businesses and more with Selwyns Travel Group.

Making acquisitions work — 5 practical lessons

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Our corporate lawyers set out the practical lessons, human factors and recurring challenges that define successful transactions.

The evolving role of external counsel in corporate transactions

A woman and a man are sitting in chairs facing each other, engaged in a conversation in a modern office setting with glass walls and wooden accents.

While every business and transaction is unique, we’ve observed a number of recurring themes and challenges that GCs face — particularly when it comes to managing deals.

Journey to Exit — lawyers' 5 top tips when selling a business

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Our best advice for business owners who are considering or actively engaged in selling their business to support a smooth sale process.

Selling a healthcare business? 5 practical tips to consider

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Our guidance for healthcare clients who are preparing to sell their business, focusing on preparation, timing and working with the right advisers.

The full range of corporate legal services

We combine deep legal expertise with commercial acumen. From growth and investment to restructuring and exits, we offer the full spectrum of corporate legal support for business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and shareholders.

Business sales & exits — Supporting owners and shareholders to negotiate and complete company and asset sales with confidence, protecting both value and legacy.
Corporate tax — Whether you’re navigating complex corporate transactions, managing cross-border exposure or facing HMRC scrutiny, our specialist tax advisors can help to safeguard your position and achieve your goals.
Employee ownership trusts (EOTs) — Helping business owners and organisations to solve their succession concerns and reap the benefits of being employee-owned.
Governance — Ensuring that organisations remain compliant, resilient and well-structured through every stage of growth and change.
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) — Guiding acquisitive businesses with clear, strategic and commercially-focused advice that drives growth, manages risk and completes deals smoothly.
Private equity — Advising investors, management teams and shareholders across the full private equity investment cycle with practical, pragmatic and strategic guidance.
Venture capital — Guiding founders, investors and high-growth businesses through the full investment process, from seed stage through to growth and ultimately exit.

As well as covering every conceivable corporate legal requirement, our Brabners Deal Advisory offering provides access to specialist accountants who offer bespoke financial guidance for corporate transactions.

Contact our corporate team today

“Praised for its ability to go 'go above and beyond' and 'outstanding industry knowledge', Brabners... [handles] the full scope of corporate and commercial matters... Feedback from clients has always been favourable... consistently high-quality level of service.”
The Legal 500 2026

“It was a pleasure working with Daniel Hayhurst, Olayanju Phillips and the team at Brabners on the Series A equity investment by Puma Investments into Bikmo. We're very pleased with the quality of advice, in-depth knowledge and responsiveness demonstrated by the corporate team, who advised us on and negotiated the transaction documents throughout the deal and managed the process from start to finish. Their assistance was invaluable in bringing the funding round to a successful close.”
CFO, Bikmo

“We've worked with Brabners for more than five years on a number of major corporate, commercial and financing projects. Brabners helps us to identify and address relevant legal issues early. The team is proactive, pragmatic, commercial and works seamlessly with our in-house legal team and other advisers. Put simply, Brabners provides exemplary, cost-effective support.”
Richard May, Partner, General Counsel & Head of Compliance, Omni Partners

“Nikki Whittle is an outstanding legal leader who has taken her time to understand my business interests and provide insight and structure to developing the business. She's an excellent communicator, responsive and supported by a strong, capable and engaging team.”
Client feedback, The Legal 500 2025

“Brabners draws considerable praise from clients for its ‘focused and commercial’ approach. The team is well-positioned to advise on the full scope of corporate and commercial work, including M&A, group organisations, private equity, contracts, e-commerce and data protections matters.”
The Legal 500 2025

“Noted for its ‘authenticity, knowledge and skill’, the corporate and commercial practice at Brabners acts for clients across the sport, tech, healthcare, automotive and hotel sectors on a wide range of matters... Mark Rathbone regularly advises domestic and international clients on joint ventures, commercial agreements and investment structures.”
The Legal 500 2025

Deeply experienced in all aspects of corporate law

Our team is led by experienced corporate lawyer Ruth Hargreaves, whose background in working for a highly acquisitive global technology company has given her a unique perspective on how corporate transactions work from both sides of the deal. She's a trusted advisor to many businesses on M&A, disposals, investment and fundraising, as well as MBOs, joint ventures and shareholder agreements — helping owners and management teams to avoid common pitfalls and acting as a trusted advisor throughout what can be extensive and highly complex matters.

We're proud to support a broad range of both national and international clients, including Peel Waters, NWF Group plc, Chase de Vere, All About Children, Begbies Traynor Group plc, Suez Group and Terminal Investment Limited.

We're advising on an increasing number of large transactions, including the sale of BGEN Limited to M Group Services backed by CVC, the sale of Rainham Industrial Services Limited to H.I.G. Capital and the sale of Dragon 2000 Limited to Lacour Group, as well as the acquisition of Compass CHC Limited by Omni Partners LLP and the acquisition of Kinder-Janes Engineers Limited by Atlas Copco UK Holdings Limited. We've also worked on various long-term, complex joint ventures and acquisitions with Terminal Investment Limited for the development of seaport container terminals on three different continents.

Meet the team

Celebrated for excellence

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One-stop-shop for legal & financial advice

As the only UK law firm with dedicated deal advisors, we can offer a one-stop shop for both legal and financial advice.

Our specialist accountancy offering — Brabners Deal Advisory — is designed to tactically guide businesses and management teams through complex corporate transactions like MBOs, MBIs, acquisitions, disposals and fundraisings.

This unique and integrated service can really help you to realise your ambitions, create value and make the right deal for you happen.

Discover Brabners Deal Advisory