A CORPORATE lawyer with global expertise has returned to leading commercial law firm Watson Burton two years after completing her training contract with the organisation.

Solicitor Helen Foy has returned to the Newcastle arm after spending 18 months in Sydney, Australia as a foreign lawyer. Since completing her training contract in 2010, Foy has worked for Australian firms Marque Lawyers and Watson Mangioni and has acted for clients on acquisitions and disposals of private companies and businesses which operate regionally, nationally and internationally.

She has extensive knowledge of corporate law, advising clients on matters including joint ventures, shareholder agreements and capital raising options as well as corporate governance and compliance issues.

Recently, Foy has assisted on the sale of an interest in an online grocery company to a capital provider, the merger of two accountancy practices, the purchase of an oil rig and the sale of a pharmacy partnership.

She said: “The firm’s corporate group has a great reputation for providing first-rate technical expertise on strategically important deals, which help local and national businesses prosper in a difficult economic climate, so the opportunity to work with the firm again was instantly appealing.

“Since completing my training contract with Watson Burton in 2010, I have had some fantastic experiences working for two well-established national law firms in Australia and I am very happy to have made the move back to another here in the UK. I am really looking forward to working with the team in further expanding Watson Burton’s corporate practice.”

Duncan Reid, head of corporate at Watson Burton said: “We are very pleased that Helen made the decision to return to the firm. Her knowledge and experience, gained both in the UK and Australia, will prove to be a great asset to the team and our clients moving forward. We wish her the best of luck in her new role.”