Corporate law solicitors in Liverpool

Award-winning strategic legal advice on the full spectrum of corporate matters.

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Liverpool’s leading corporate law experts

Our corporate legal team is one of the UK’s largest and most active.

We advise business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and shareholders across the Liverpool region on the full spectrum of corporate law matters — M&A, private equity, business sales, tax advisory and governance.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) — Support for businesses on the growth journey, managing risk and smoothing deals at every stage.
Business sales and exits — Full-service support on all the complexities of selling a company, its business or its assets.
Tax advisory — Advice from specialist tax lawyers on corporate transactions, M&A, investments, international matters and HMRC disputes.
Private equity — Expert advice for management teams, shareholders and investors on the entire PE investment cycle.
Venture capital and high-growth companies — Legal guidance for through the full investment process, from seed stage to exit.
Employee ownership trusts (EOT) — Guidance for business owners looking to secure their legacy and realise the benefits of being employee-owned.
Governance — Helping organisations to remain robust, compliant, resilient and well-structured at every stage.

The team works closely with our commercial and deal advisory teams to add value at every stage of the corporate lifecycle.

Talk to our corporate solicitors by emailing hello@brabners.com, calling 0333 004 4488 or completing our contact form.

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Award-winning corporate lawyers, serving Merseyside with warmth, talent & expertise

Covering growth and investment to restructuring and exits, our corporate team is one of the UK’s most active dealmakers.

Last year, we advised on 168 transactions with a combined value of over £900m — a fourth consecutive year of growth and a 16% rise in activity.

Recognised for “outstanding industry knowledge” and an ability to “go above and beyond”, our practice is ‘Top Tier’ for corporate and commercial matters in The Legal 500.

We were also named Corporate Law Firm of the Year at the Insider North West Dealmakers Awards 2025 and Regional Firm of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2025.

As well as being one of the largest and most active, our corporate team is also one of the most specialised. With a client base spanning sports, tech, health, retail, professional services, housing, energy and more, we bring sector-specific commercial insight to every case.

We advise business leaders, senior professionals, shareholders and investors across the entire Merseyside region and North West. Our team can talk virtually or face-to-face at our office at Exchange Flags — whatever is most comfortable and convenient for you.

Speak to our corporate lawyers

Meet our Liverpool corporate lawyers

Mark Rathbone

Partner

John Spofforth

Partner, Head of Professional Services sector

Daniel Hayhurst

Partner

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Business people shaking hands deal advisory

Legal & financial strategic advice, under one roof

We’re the only UK law firm with dedicated in-house deal advisors.

Through Brabners Deal Advisory, we offer integrated legal and financial assistance in one place — a unique strategic advantage.

The team supports around MBOs, MBIs, acquisitions, disposals and fundraisings, from concept to completion. We can advise on deal structure, finding funders, targets or buyers and negotiating on price to create the best possible deal.

Trust our multidisciplinary team to help you find the best solution for your corporate growth, investment, divestment, exit and restructuring aims.

Discover Deal Advisory

“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

“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

“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

“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 are 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

Recognised for excellence in corporate law

HealthInvestor Awards 2025 Finalist, Legal Advisors of the Year, Private, with a black and red background featuring red arrow graphics.

Legal Business Awards 2025, Regional/Offshore Firm of the Year, Winner trophy badge with black background and gold, blue and white text and accents.

An orange umbrella with "2025" written on it, above the text "North West Rainmaker Awards".

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Brabners in the City

Our relaxed, invite-only events help professionals to naturally develop new and existing connections across Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Lancashire.

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Corporate law: expert insights

3 November 2026

Autumn Budget 2026 — what does it mean for Employee Ownership Trusts?

A spacious modern co-working office with wooden tables, many plants and people at work; a person in a green sweater studies a laptop while others move.

We break everything that you need to know down, looking at Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR), the proposed Founders’ Relief and updates to EMI options.

29 October 2026

Succession planning, growth & M&A — lessons from the UK coach industry

White touring coach on a highway with metal guard rails, under a partly cloudy sky, distant hills on the horizon and sunlight on the right.

What can business owners learn from the changing UK coach market? Brett Cooper and Billy Jones, Managing Director of Selwyns Travel, share their insights.

19 October 2026

Brabners’ corporate team completes tenth transaction for Happy Days Nurseries

Bright playroom with two pastel toy kitchens set into alcoves, plus a fridge, oven and brick oven. White tables and grey-blue chairs on a wooden floor.

Our corporate team has supported Happy Days Nurseries' position as the UK's leading nursery group as it continues its expansion in the South of England.

14 October 2026

Sale-ready shares — a practical checklist for business owners

A person in an orange shirt sits at a long wooden desk in a bright coworking space by large windows, looking at a tablet with a laptop nearby.

We break down how to validate ownership, reconstruct share history and simplify your share capital — and share a pre-sale checklist to protect value.

12 October 2026

Earlier exit planning is reshaping Lancashire business strategies — what business owners should do now

Yellow flag with a red poppy emblem flutters on a tall flagpole against a bright blue sky dotted with white clouds, capturing a crisp, windy day scene.

Corporate lawyer Brett Cooper explores why more Lancashire business owners are planning their exits earlier and what it means for future business sales.

8 October 2026

Brabners advises on sale of Liverpool's iconic Cavern Club

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The transaction was supported by our corporate team, led by Partner and Head of Professional Services sector John Spofforth.

21 September 2026

What does it take to successfully scale? Six lessons from the 2026 BIBAs

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There's no single blueprint for scaling a business, as we found out when judging the Scale-Up Business of the Year at the Be Inspired Business Awards 2026.

21 September 2026

Palmer v P1 Pit Stop — courts can create & rectify the register of members

Several colleagues sit around a glass-walled meeting room table, with laptops and coffee cups, as a flipchart stands nearby.

If your company has never kept a register of members, the court can still decide who owns the shares — and order you to create one.

18 August 2026

Lancashire’s scale-up economy — what's driving growth & what's next?

We explore the support helping to fuel scale-ups and how more local decision-making could unlock even greater economic impact in the years ahead.

14 August 2026

Brabners Deal Advisory supports Chester Medical on acquisition of Power Health Products

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Our specialist Deal Advisory team supported Wirral-based pharmaceutical packaging business Chester Medical on its acquisition of vitamin and health food manufacturer Power Health Products. 

6 August 2026

New VAT relief for social housing land signals the end for ‘golden brick’ transactions

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We explain the proposed changes and their significance to those involved in delivering affordable and social housing projects.

3 August 2026

M&A in fashion & beauty — how the EU’s crackdown on burning stock is reshaping deals

Person with shoulder-length dark hair in a white top and light jeans browses dresses on racks in a boutique, examining white, beige and pink garments.

We explore the ESPR’s implications for M&A and outline what businesses should be doing in response.

30 July 2026

Pre-sale due diligence — 4 benefits for shareholders preparing to exit

Five diverse colleagues sit around a table in a bright open-plan office, sharing documents and laptops while discussing; brick wall, plant and water cooler behind them.

We explain what pre-sale due diligence is and break down why more shareholders are undertaking it before going to market.

22 July 2026

Brabners adds six to partnership in record year for partner promotions

Seven diverse professionals in smart business attire stand together in a modern office, with a city skyline, large windows and greenery in the background.

We've announced our largest-ever round of Partner promotions, with six lawyers joining the partnership following another year of sustained growth.

16 July 2026

Brabners supports leading recruiter on strategic acquisition of employee-owned business

Four professionals around a conference table in a bright office; a person in a yellow shirt and light blazer speaks with animated hand gestures while others listen.

Our corporate team and specialist EO solicitors supported a market-leading recruitment agency on the acquisition of an employee-owned business.

13 July 2026

BlueCrest Supreme Court judgment — what LLPs need to know about the salaried member rules

Supreme Court on a busy London street, framed by autumn trees; a red double-decker bus and cars pass by.

We explore what the judgment means for LLPs and outline the practical steps that firms may now need to consider.

19 June 2026

EO Day 2026: a catalyst for employee ownership growth

People in a modern office sit around a white table; a bearded person with glasses chats while others listen, with glass walls and a yellow chair in the foreground.

We explore the main themes from the Employee Ownership Association’s UK Growth Strategy.

18 June 2026

The AI hype bubble: is it real & what happens if it bursts?

A single iridescent soap bubble floats against a dark background, its glossy surface reflecting purple and pink hues with a thin gold rim and bright highlights.

We explore the tension between AI‑driven optimism and growing fears of an overinflated tech bubble.

17 June 2026

Brabners strengthens national real estate offering with double partner hire & new London office

Three professionals sit on a grey sofa in a modern office lounge, smiling. A round wooden coffee table with magazines sits in front, with colorful abstract art on the walls.

We’re strengthening our real estate practice in London and Leeds with the appointment of Susan Samuel and Matt Ramsden.

21 May 2026

What the changing tax landscape means for Employee Ownership Trusts

Group of professionals in a bright office meeting; a presenter stands with a folder while colleagues seated with laptops chat and gesture.

We provide a clear breakdown of the latest CGT and EOT tax changes to help business owners to make informed succession and exit decisions.

20 May 2026

Brabners welcomes new Head of Corporate for next phase of team growth

We’re delighted to appoint Corporate Partner Ruth Hargreaves as our new Head of Corporate following a standout 12 months for the team.

18 May 2026

Selling a healthcare business? 5 practical tips to consider

Person with long blonde hair wearing a black blazer and top stands in front of a vertical wooden slat wall, flanked by square signs with abstract human figures.

We share five practical tips for those preparing to sell their healthcare business, focusing on preparation, timing and working with the right advisers.

15 April 2026