Edward Dawes

Edward advises on mergers, takeovers, and private equity transactions, acting for leading corporates and investors on high-profile public and private deals, including multiple public-to-private takeovers and complex cross-border M&A transactions.

• Advised the Conygar Investment Company plc on its successful £30m hostile takeover of the Advantage Property Income Trust listed on the London Stock Exchange’s main market and the Channel Islands Stock Exchange.
• Advised Interserve plc on its £116m recommended takeover of MacLellan plc using cash, loan notes and shares with a mix-and-match alternative and constituting a class 1 transaction for the bidder.
• Advised Tui AG on its £1.8bn takeover of Thomson Travel.
• Advised James Beattie plc on its £70m takeover by House of Fraser.
• Advised HML Holdings plc on its £19m public to private takeover by funds associated with Harwood Capital.

Edward advises on acquisitions across diverse sectors, representing corporates and investors on strategic domestic and cross-border transactions, including award-winning deals in brewing, packaging, transport, healthcare, energy, and technology industries.

• Advised Marston’s PLC on several deals including:
  • the £55m acquisition of the Charles Wells brewery and related brands (awarded Deal of the Year at Insider Central & East Of England Dealmakers Awards 2017)
  • the £25.1m acquisition of Thwaites’ beer division and related beer brands
  • the acquisition of Refresh plc (including the Wychwood Brewery and Hobgoblin beer brand)
  • the acquisition of the Ringwood Brewery and related beer brands
  • the acquisition of the Bluu bar/restaurant chain.
• Advised Spanish packaging group, SAICA, on its acquisition of the Americk Packaging Group.
• Advised Veolia on several acquisition projects including the acquisition of nuclear decommissioning specialist, KDC Holdings Ltd.
• Advised Close Brothers Group plc on the acquisition of EOS Wealth Management Limited.
• Advised Rotala Plc on several bus business acquisition projects including the acquisitions of Central Buses, Hotel Hoppa, Wings Luxury Travel, Wigan Coachways, Hansons, Elite Minibus and Coach, and Green Triangle buses.
• Advised Covpress Assemblies on the £30m acquisition of the business and assets of Honda assemblies supplier, UYT Limited, including related supply arrangements with Honda.
• Advised Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc on its €64m acquisition of RESORBA and associated £34m placing on Aim (shortlisted as Deal of the Year at the Quoted Company Awards 2013).
• Advised Spectris plc, on a series of cross-border acquisitions.
• Advised Midcounties Co-operative on a series of acquisitions of child daycare nurseries, as well as a number of acquisitions of individual supermarkets and convenience stores.
• Advised Young & Co.’s Brewery P.L.C. on the acquisition of the Old Ship, Hammersmith.
• Advised resolution Reichert Network Solutions GmbH on its acquisition of a shareholding interest in software developer, Old Street Solutions Limited.
• Advised the buyer on the purchase of two of the three divisions one of the largest barrel plating and surface coating companies in the UK, following its collapse into administration in 2024.

Edward advises on disposals across multiple sectors, guiding corporates, investors, and entrepreneurs on strategic exits, international sales, private equity secondary buyouts, and divestments of major assets, joint ventures, and business divisions.

• Advised the owners to Software developer, Old Street Solutions Limited on its merger with US software company, Tempo
• Advised the owners of Software developer, Jexo Tech, on its merger with US software company, Appfire Technologies.
• Advised Aston Villa Football Club’s owners on the investment by NSWE.
• Advised Clintons in respect of its exit from a retail joint venture with Amscan International.
• Advised the shareholders and management of Reward Gateway on a £140m secondary buy-out by Great Hill Partners.
• Advised Midcounties Co-operative on the sale of its motor dealerships division involving three simultaneous transactions to dispose of 8 franchise dealerships to three separate, unconnected purchasers.
• Advised Spectris plc on the sale of Spectrum Inspection Systems to Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
• Advised RMC Group (now CEMEX) on the £141m sale of Hales Waste to Biffa Waste Services.
• Advised Hill & Smith Holdings plc on its sale of Express Reinforcements.
• Advised AT&T on the sale of its European long-distance telephony operations across 11 jurisdictions.
• Advised the shareholder of globally renowned fine bone china designer and manufacturer, William Edwards Ltd, on its sale to Steelite Group.
• Advised on the sale of a brand and related assets to another company based in Vancouver, Canada, the holding company of a billionaire sportswear entrepreneur
• Acted for the owners of a flooring company in the sale of its entire issued share capital to a private equity consortium

Edward advises on corporate reorganisations, including demergers, post-acquisition integrations, financing restructures, and group simplifications, supporting businesses through complex structural changes across diverse sectors and cross-border operations.

• Advised Homeserve plc on its group reorganisation including the demerger of South Staffordshire Water and the acquisition of minority interests in its main operating subsidiary.
• Advised on the reorganisation of the Americk Packaging Group following its acquisition by SAICA.
• Advised the London Electric Vehicle Company (formerly The London Taxi Corporation) on structuring and financing arrangements related to the development of the new TX electric taxicab.
• Advised Brintons on a variety of corporate restructuring arrangements.
• Advised the owners of Purecraft Bar and Grill on corporate restructuring including the buy-out of minority interests.

Edward advises on flotations, IPOs, and secondary fundraisings, representing issuers, brokers, and corporates on admissions to public markets, placings, rights issues, and capital raisings across multiple sectors and market segments.

• Advised Numis Securities Limited as nominated adviser and broker on the admissions to Aim of Hunters Property plc, with an initial market capitalisation of £16.9m and ULS Technology plc with a market capitalisation of approximately £26m including an associated placing raising £12.1m.
• Advised Rotala on two separate placings to raise £2.4m and £3.5m, respectively.
• Advised Premier Foods on its Class 1 circular in connection with the sale of its canned grocery operations.
• Advised The Conygar Investment Company on a placing to raise £70m.
• Advised Azure Dynamics Corporation on placings to raise £14m and £5.25m, respectively.
• Advised Daniel Stewart & Company on a placing by Pubs n Bars.
• Advised United Industries on a rights issue to fund the takeover of Channel Holdings.
• Advised Halfords and VT Group on implementing director deeds of indemnity.
• Advised Wm Morrison Supermarkets, Hill & Smith Holdings, Manganese Bronze, Marston’s and others on AGM notices and AGM procedures.
• Advised Wm Morrison Supermarkets, VT Group, Manganese Bronze Holdings, Unity Trust Bank and others on updating their articles of association

Recognised by Chambers UK 2025 for commercial and corporate transactions, including acquisitions, takeovers, and flotations

Recognised by The Legal 500 for M&A 2025

Recognised by Best Lawyers UK for Corporate Finance Law 2009–2025

Recognised by Chambers UK for Corporate/M&A: £5 million and above 2024

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Corporate and Commercial: M&A Smaller Deals £10M–£100M 2023–2024

Lead legal adviser to the buyer in the transaction awarded ‘Deal of the Year’ at Insider Central & East of England Dealmakers Awards 2017 (Marston’s PLC’s £55m acquisition of the Charles Wells brewery and related brands).

Lead legal adviser to the buyer in the transaction awarded ‘International Deal of the Year’ at the Midlands Dealmakers Awards 2014 (acquisition of Covpress International Holdings by a UK/China consortium)

Recognised by Chambers UK for Corporate/M&A – Mid-Market & Private Equity 2021–2023

Recognised by Chambers UK for Corporate/M&A 2019–2020

Recommended by The Legal 500 for Corporate & Commercial 2019

Contributing editor to Sweet & Maxwell’s Company Directors: Law and Liability for over a decade.

Assisted with the development and publication of the CBI’s Practical Guide to Corporate Governance.