Moore Blatch acquires new team in corporate coup

Hampshire based solicitors Moore Blatch is celebrating the appointment of regional corporate specialist, Simon Arthur and his assistant solicitor from Horsey Lightly.

Independently praised in the solicitor’s bible – the Legal 500 for his mergers and acquisitions work, Simon who has over nine years corporate experience has joined Moore Blatch as a Partner.

Roger Bailey, Partner in the Company Commercial Department at Moore Blatch, comments: “Simon has an excellent reputation within the business community – his appointment is key to our continued expansion and growth plans. It also helps reinforce our increased expertise in high value corporate and commercial work.”

Accustomed to advising on transactional work reaching the upper limits of £600 million, Simon has been involved in a number of complex corporate transactions which have received some media attention.

Simon has particular knowledge of the specialist care and IT sectors, having been the company secretary and lead advisor to the largest privately-owned specialist care provider in the UK for a number of years, and several major wireless and remote networking providers.

Demonstrating expertise in a variety of sectors, Simon and his team have also advised on a range of complex share capital disposals including South Essex Insurance Group Limited to Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc for £32 million.

Commenting on his move, Simon Arthur says: “I am very impressed with Moore Blatch’s clear vision and existing reputation, which I believe will be an excellent environment for me to develop my transactional practice. The support of my team will also provide superb continuity to clients.”

At Moore Blatch, Simon will be concentrating on a range of corporate work including mergers and acquisitions, management buy ins/outs/demergers, share sales and acquisitions, asset purchases and disposals, private equity –raising very small sums through to £50m fundraisings, public company transactions - new admissions and equity fundraisings on PLUS and AIM markets, debt finance - acting for both borrowers and lenders, as well as commercial agreements -UK-based and inter-jurisdictional.

Roger concludes: “We have seen a growing demand for our corporate work and have recently successfully completed a number of high profile deals. Simon and the new team will increase the volume of corporate work which we can handle, as well as helping to extend our national reach.”

An influential member of the business community, Simon holds the post of company secretary for a number of larger organisations and is a consultant with Optimalis Change Management Limited, a company which provides a range of services to assist underperforming businesses.

A sprinting success outside the law as well, Simon has just completed his first season in triathlon.