WATSON Burton has completed a multimillion pound transatlantic transaction acting for a US healthcare firm taking over a Middlesex business.

The Newcastle-based law firm advised the American specialist in products for breast-feeding mothers in the acquisition of HealthQuest of Edgware, Middlesex.

Lansinoh Laboratories of Virginia is a subsidiary of the Japanese Nikkei-listed Pigeon Corporation. Watson Burton was recommended to Lansinoh by leading American law firm Baker Donelson.

Lansinoh manufactures a range of infant feeding and breastfeeding products. The baby skin care products made and sold by HealthQuest, including the Earth Friendly Baby branded natural shampoos, bubble baths and skin care range, boost the range of high quality goods within Lansinoh’s family of baby and toddler products.

Watson Burton senior partner Gillian Hall led the team advising Lansinoh, assisted by corporate, employment and property specialists Paul Wigham, David Jenkins, Lee Betchley and Julie Farrell-Knowles.

Hall said: “It was a complex deal which required a tightly co-ordinated approach, liaising between US and UK law firms to suit our respective working days and speed up successful completion.

“It required an understanding of how you buy companies in the US and the UK and being able to spot and quickly communicate important differences between the two processes to the client.

“The transaction has strengthened Lansinoh’s position in the market, and has added value to its product range.”

Lansinoh Laboratories was founded in 1984 and is now a global leader in its sector. The company’s expanding product line is now available in over 25,000 US retail stores.

Mike Yates, Lansinoh’s chief financial officer said: “This was an important acquisition for us. HealthQuest’s products are a natural fit for Lansinoh Laboratories, complementing our commitment to purity and to bringing a world-class, award-winning line of natural baby products to families everywhere.

“Gillian Hall and her colleagues were important, valued members of our team. Watson Burton’s quick responses and detailed knowledge helped the deal progress extremely well.”

Watson Burton has carried out a number of major transactions for US based companies, including New York Stock Exchange listed Federal Signal Corporation, a leading American security technology business.