Mergers & Acquisitions

Overview

The global mergers and acquisitions market has been buoyant in recent years. As the driving force behind many significant global transactions - particularly in the mid-market - Gowling WLG offers the experience and expertise you need to attain your goals.

Through the strength of our offices in Canada, the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, we assist on a large number of transactions across a range of key industries. We're one of the busiest law firms in mid-market mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and understand the challenges you face because we're immersed in them every day.

Our professionals have a deep knowledge of various industries and are on top of the latest trends and developments in M&A, including in the US market. Add to this our entrepreneurial spirit and Gowling WLG's numerous recognitions, we offer the best possible service driven by our clients' needs and success.

Working closely with targets, acquirers - including private equity funds and strategic buyers - financial advisers, special committees and other related parties, we provide a full suite of public and private M&A services, including:

  • Share and asset purchase, and sale transactions
  • Mergers, amalgamations, plans of arrangement and takeovers
  • Auction bid processes
  • Private equity downstream investments, such as buyouts
  • Corporate governance and directors' duties
  • Escrow agreements
  • Issuer bids, insider bids, business combinations and related party transactions
  • Launching and defending hostile takeovers
  • Reverse takeovers
  • Shareholder subscription and escrow agreements

Ultimately, it's all about what works best for you. All of our legal, cultural, linguistic and commercial experience will be applied on your behalf. Although we advise on a high volume of deals, being responsive to your needs remains our top priority. We listen to your concerns, ask questions to understand fully your objectives and help you analyse challenges in order to structure and execute successful transactions.

We also rely on our tax, competition law, regulatory, employment, intellectual property, environmental and other experts to assist on all of our deals, facilitating the most effective deal structures, industry leading due diligence and efficient deal execution.

Efficiency is key to getting your deal done, which is why we use customised tools and technology to support your success whilst always delivering high quality work. This includes the use of our innovative legal project management platform, Practical LPM™, which helps keep your legal matters on track, on time and on budget - with no surprises along the way.

We also offer enhanced value through alternative fee arrangements based on tailored cost structures rather than hourly rates, so you'll always have access to pricing that is transparent, competitive and predictable.

Wherever you are and whatever you want to achieve, we'll manage your M&A matter using the best Gowling WLG team in place. Please get in touch with a member of our group to discuss how we can help you.

Canada

Mergers and acquisitions can be complicated. Getting the right legal advice shouldn't be. At Gowling WLG, our team of top-tier M&A lawyers are at the forefront of their field - in Canada and internationally - with a proven track record of working side-by-side with our clients to get the best deals done.

We do this by combining our legal knowledge and strategic acumen with an in-depth understanding of your business and sector. However you define it, your success is our ultimate goal.

A tailored approach to help you succeed

Whether domestic or cross-border, large-cap or small-cap, every deal is different and requires a thoughtful, unique approach.

Our team has served as trusted M&A advisers to a range of Canadian and multinational clients - both publicly traded and privately held - across all major industry sectors, including energy, mining, infrastructure, life sciences, financial services and technology.

The common denominator in each? We always take the time to understand the unique nature of our clients' businesses and the specific circumstances at play. We then develop a customized approach that will serve as a pathway to their success.

A Canadian and global M&A leader

Over the last four years, our team of 150-plus M&A lawyers has advised on more Canadian M&A deals than almost any other law firm in the world. As a result, the Gowling WLG M&A Group is one of the busiest and most in-demand practices of its kind in Canada.

A key factor that sets us apart is our culture. We take the time to build productive, meaningful relationships with you and with each other. This allows us to deliver personal, responsive service and cohesive support across offices, borders and regions.

A full suite of M&A services

Whether you're an acquirer, a target, a financial adviser, or another party in a public or private M&A transaction, Gowling WLG can advise you on a host of matters, including arrangements, amalgamations, takeover bids and other change-of-control transactions.

We also have in-depth expertise in competition/antitrust and foreign investment to support you in reviews, filings, clearances and other regulatory proceedings as needed, as well as extensive tax support to ensure your transaction is optimally structured.

To facilitate the above, we leverage a range of customizable technologies to support your objectives. This includes tailored extranets and data rooms that allow you and all parties involved to exchange documents and monitor progress 24/7, any time and anywhere.

Learn more

To learn more about our services and how we can support you in your success, we encourage you to contact any member of our team. You can also stay up to date on the latest legal developments in the M&A field by subscribing to our free MarketCaps newsletter.

France

M&A and private equity

Corporate activity has reached high levels in recent years. When you're looking to deliver your business strategy though activities such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and investment, you need advice that's technically sound, risk-aware and, in many cases, relevant to multiple jurisdictions.

At Gowling WLG, we have immense experience of handling these issues for our clients. Our corporate team consists of lawyers who cover all areas of M&A, venture capital and private equity, from big projects to day-to-day challenges.

Our typical approach involves getting familiar with your unique work environment and corporate culture, and then finding innovative solutions that are aligned with your vision. Whatever your needs, we'll help you research and negotiate with industrial or financial partners, and work with you to implement strategies that are optimised for success.

Full service

We cover all areas of M&A, assisting with negotiations and liaising with purchasers and sellers, administrative and supervisory authorities, financial and corporate partners, and carrying out full-service legal work for French and cross-border deals. Our team is backed by other specialists from both our Paris office and our other locations around the world.

Our lawyers have regularly advised on listed securities issues, public to private transactions and flotations, either on the company or sponsor side. When it comes to private equity, we provide legal advice on all aspects of transactions on a daily basis.

Learn more

Whether you're a French or international business, we can ensure that your corporate dealings are a great success. Talk to our experts today.

Germany

Mergers and acquisitions can be the best way to drive the growth of your business. But in today's business environment, M&A deals are more complicated than ever before.

Cross-border matters are often a part of any transaction. To handle the complexities of these deals, you require lawyers who have strong expertise in the sector in which you operate - and have an equally strong grasp of the bigger international picture.

At Gowling WLG, we offer you first-class legal service whenever and wherever you need it throughout the M&A process. We do this by combining in-depth sector knowledge with an unparalleled understanding of the scope of services required in your transaction.

We regularly support major listed (domestic and foreign) companies, medium-sized businesses and financial investors. We advise a number of the family-controlled Mittelstand companies, many of which are true hidden champions.

The bigger picture

Our offices in Stuttgart and Munich have significant strengths and expertise in all things international and cross-border. We're comfortable working in multiple jurisdictions and cultures, and have a great deal of success in steering international clients - many of whom have never done business in Germany - through projects in the country and beyond.

Through our close ties with partner law firms, we offer services across all areas of law related to M&A. The depth of our capabilities means that we're always able to assign the right lawyers at the right level to the right job. Partner-led and sector-focused, we've worked in-house, and know how corporates operate and what they expect.

Areas we cover include:

  • Anti-trust and merger control
  • Commercial
  • Corporate
  • Employment and pension
  • Export control
  • Finance

We have particular sector expertise, which is not limited to the automotive sector. Our other specialty areas include manufacturing, tooling, engineering and tech.

Learn more

Let us guide you through your complex M&A transactions in Germany and beyond. Our team is ready and able to advise you, so let's start a conversation.

UK

Mergers and acquisitions provide a whole host of opportunities for your organisation, from increasing market share to diversifying your portfolio, but in today's economic climate they also come with a range of risks. Whether you require legal advice on domestic, international or cross-border deals, our M&A lawyers can work with you long term to guide you through the most complex corporate transactions with ease. 

As an established M&A law firm in the region, our lawyers in the UK have the knowledge and experience to advise on a full range of corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and disposals, strategic investments and joint ventures. 

We act across a wide spectrum of transaction size with particular experience in mid-market M&A (transaction value up to £500 million). Our significant experience in the market, and processes utilised on larger transactions, also allow us to cost-effectively advise on smaller (sub £3 million) transactions.

Our multi-disciplinary team of corporate lawyers work seamlessly across a range of practice areas including real estate, public sector, and energy. 

Mergers and acquisition services

Client work

Awards and recognition

We are consistently recognised as a leading global firm for our M&A practice in the top legal directory rankings.

For our mid-market M&A work (deal value up to $500 million), both Bloomberg and Refinitiv ranks us within the top five in the UK and top 10 in the world rankings.

Learn more

To find out more about how we can guide your company through the complex field of mergers and acquisitions, contact a member of our team.

Gareth Baker
Partner

Chris Towle
Partner

Sunil Kakkad
Consultant