“Exceptionally busy period” for corporate team at Shoosmiths Edinburgh

The most recent of eight corporate completions undertaken in just six weeks saw Ms Gilson advise John Smith & Son Group Ltd (JSSGL) on the sale of its Hammicks Legal Information Services division.

The business and assets sale for an undisclosed sum in late January saw Hammicks acquired by London based Wildy & Sons, a leading legal bookseller and supplier (est 1830).

John Smith & Son had bought the legal division of south of England-based Hammicks as part of its own expansion plans in 2003. Wildy now reportedly sees the acquisition of Hammicks as an opportunity to underline its credentials as a leading independent legal content provider in the UK.

Peter Lake, group business development director at John Smith Group, said: “As with many deals, there were complexities and details to be managed but the high level of co-ordination and communication across Shoosmiths’ practice areas and their ability to identify the commercially important points, ensured that we, as the client, remained focused and confident of the outcome.”

Led by Gilson, the deal involved a number of teams within the Edinburgh office of UK-wide law firm Shoosmiths, including colleagues in banking, employment, real estate and commercial. 

Ms Gilson said: “John Smith Group were very keen to find a good home for their Hammicks Legal Information Services division and I welcomed the opportunity for Shoosmiths to advise Peter and his team on the sale.” 

Ms Gilson added: “I am also pleased that despite the shifting sands of Brexit, from my perspective there are clear signs that corporate clients continue to have an appetite to push ahead with sales, funding rounds and acquisitions. In recent months, there has been notable deal activity, including in the healthcare, technology and transport sectors.”