COMMERCIAL law firm Watson Burton has further strengthened its corporate finance practice with the appointment of specialist Andrew Francey.
Francey has joined the Newcastle-based firm as a partner and is highly skilled in advising national organisations on complex, high value transactions.
With extensive knowledge of corporate law, Andrew has particular expertise in a variety of corporate and banking matters, including acquisitions and disposals, management buy-outs and management-buy-ins, corporate structures, joint ventures, loan agreements and security documents.
Francey brings with him over 12 years of experience in the field, working for leading national and Yorkshire-based law firms.
Recent transactions include advising a large corporate in relation to a complex reorganisation, refinancing and acquisition, acting for a bank on a number of lends to fund acquisitions in the healthcare sector and advising on a substantial leveraged MBI.
Francey joining Watson Burton has bolstered its corporate finance group which has now made four appointments in the last six months. In his newly created role, Francey will be based at the firm’s Leeds office working alongside colleagues acting for the firm’s expanding portfolio of regional and national clients.
The decision to recruit Francey forms part of the expansion of Watson Burton’s Yorkshire operations which has seen the firm recently appoint a number of highly talented lawyers, including litigation partner Andrew Johnson, construction and engineering associate Andrew Poyner and real estate associate Joanne Sears.
Francey said: “I am delighted to have joined Watson Burton. The firm has a long established reputation for providing first-rate technical expertise on strategically important deals and is recognised for its commitment to assisting clients in meeting their business objectives. My role as partner is to assist Duncan Reid and the team in further developing the practice on a regional and national level and I am greatly looking forward to supporting the Leeds team in developing new business opportunities for Yorkshire and supporting new and existing clients.”
Duncan Reid, head of corporate finance at Watson Burton, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Andrew to the partnership. His experience, in-depth commercial knowledge and understanding of the Yorkshire market will greatly enhance our service offering to our clients. We wish him the best of luck in his role.”
Francey has joined Watson Burton from Lupton Fawcett and is the eighth lawyer recruited to the firm this year.
