Ashfords LLP celebrates significant jump in transactions

Dealmakers at law firm Ashfords LLP have seen the value of transactions jump by a third over the past twelve months.

The firm saw deals totalling more than £900m pass through the business in 2018, an increase of some £320m over the previous year. Transactions included finance raises, re-financing and share transfers.

The type of deals handled by the firm reflects Ashfords’ growing dominance in the tech sector, with a highlight being the sale of cloud service company NewVoiceMedia to New York Stock Exchange-listed Vonage for $350m, for which Ashfords advised venture capital funds Notion Capital, Eden Ventures and BGF.

At the end of last year, Ashfords announced its intended merger with Thames Valley-based Boyes Turner, resulting in a combined turnover of £60 million, with seven offices, 100 partners and 600 staff.

Garry Mackay, Chief Executive at Ashfords, said: “Our Corporate Finance team is one of the leading in the UK and the largest in the South West and growing, which is reflected in the portfolio of deals carried out in 2018, both in terms of variety and volume.

“Ashfords has grown by 76% in the last six years. It was a great end to the year and we’re in an extremely strong position moving into 2019 to continue that growth.”