Chris Hughes

Chris is a partner in the firm’s corporate team.

Prior to joining the firm, Chris graduated from the University of East Anglia with a degree in law (2:1 LLB Hons) and subsequently completed a graduate diploma in legal practice (LPC) at Northumbria University with distinction.

Chris advises across the breadth of the corporate, banking and finance and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency arenas with a particular focus on the healthcare, leisure, manufacturing, construction and IT sectors.

Whilst favouring M&A, Chris provides advice to clients on a broad spectrum of topics, including: partnership arrangements (formation, retirement and dissolution); business start-ups; corporate governance and company secretarial matters; company constitutions; shareholder arrangements; returns of value to shareholders (including, share buybacks and reductions in capital);  share options and schemes; business and specific assets sales and acquisitions (including, insolvent business acquisitions); share sales and acquisitions; joint ventures; corporate restructuring (including mergers and demergers); and banking facilities and associated security arrangements.

A selection of Chris’ deal highlights includes:

• Genisys Technology Solutions acquisition of 3 software divisions from international banking software company Tenemos.
• Industry-leading IT Managed Services business Razorblue’s expansion into the North West of England through the acquisition of the J-Media IT Managed Services from Manchester based CMAP Group.
• AIM listed Northern Bear plc’s £1.3 million strategic acquisition of Lister Holdings (York) Limited and its subsidiary J. Lister Electrical Limited.
• Pharmacy Express’ buy and build acquisition programme (including, Healthways Chemist, Hartlepool and Burrell’s Pharmacy, Eaglescliffe).
• S&A Fabrications’ management buy-out and subsequent acquisitions of Leeds based Next Level Mezzanines and Ash Construction Products.
• The award winning multi-million pound disposal of Cooper & Turner Group to US based Watermill Group.
• NASDAQ quoted LB Foster Group’s acquisition of the TEW Group, Netpractise and TEW Plus and subsequent UK group restructure.
• Cairn Group numerous acquisitions and financing arrangements (including, its £201 million refinance with HSBC and its £75 million corporate acquisition of 5 hotels across the UK).
• Sudhir Power Group’s UK acquisition programme, including the acquisition of access equipment specialist, Star Platforms.
• Steamforged Games’ £5 million VCT led investment from Foresight Group.
• The £65 million cross-border sale of Coatsink Software to Swedish based, Thunderful Group.
• The cross-border sale of HistoCyte Laboratories to Swedish based, Atlas Antibodies.
• Northern Telecom’s acquisition and consolidation programme (including, its acquisition of the business of Direct Market Services Limited, Toople.com Limited and Up Telecoms).
• Thailand based Singha Corporation’s re-finance of its UK based Jupiter Hotels portfolio.