Tom Hall

I lead the team that advised ResponseTap, the leading provider of call tracking and call analytics solutions, on its Series A and B venture capital funding rounds from Eden and Beringea which helped fuelled its ambitious expansion plans in Europe and the US.

We have worked with ResponseTap almost since its inception, from drafting the initial shareholders agreement to advising on the full suite of detailed transactional documents you would expect on venture capital funding rounds. We have been with the client virtually every step of the way and it is so rewarding when we can help our clients to achieve their ambitions.

International work-wear giant Williamson-Dickie, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a long-standing corporate client. I regularly advise the group in respect of bolt-on corporate acquisitions and group re-organisations, the most recent being North East Rig-Out (NERO), a manufacturer and distributor specialising in fire-retardant work wear for the oil and gas industry.

Our long-standing relationship with Dickies shows that, despite us being headquartered in Manchester, we are able to service the needs of large multinational groups and/or UK subsidiaries with overseas parent companies.  

I led the team on the simultaneous disposal by the founders of The Warehouse Project and Parklife Festival to LIVE Nation-Gaiety, a joint venture between live entertainment companies Live Nation and Gaiety Investments. The Warehouse Project was founded in 2006 in the disused Boddingtons Brewery, Manchester and is currently one of the largest live music events in the country. The Parklife Weekender music festival attracted over 140,000 attendees in 2016.

Our clients set us a deadline of completing both deals in less than four weeks, which was an incredibly tight schedule. The fact that we delivered on time showed that our team has the necessary expertise, resource and determination to ensure that our clients’ requirements are met.  

I lead the team that advised Manchester Airport plc on the sale of its controlling interest in Humberside International Airport to Eastern Airways.

This was a deal of significant strategic importance to MA but also - being an airport - it was a large scale project of notable complexity. It really was the perfect storm: a unique regulatory framework, a defined benefit pension scheme, a blend of private and public bodies to liaise with and an unusually large number of different elements of the transaction to project-manage then pull together in unison for completion.

I lead the team that regularly advises AIM-listed Conviviality plc, the owner of the Bargain Booze and Wine Rack brands (amongst others), on corporate acquisitions and disposals. I was lead advisor when Conviviality acquired 37 GT News stores in 2015.

This demonstrates the confidence that a large, AIM-listed group has in us to execute considerable corporate transactions.

I was part of the team that advised online fashion company boohoo.com, a long-standing client of the firm, on its IPO to AIM. At the time this was the largest AIM listing since 2006 in terms of both market capitalisation on admission (£560m) and equity raised.

This deal was particularly satisfying as it helped secure such a fantastic exit for our clients, many of whom retained a stake in the listed vehicle going forward.

The deal collected various awards in 2014, including the following:

• North West Dealmakers’ Awards: AIM Deal of the Year 2014.
• C&I Group North West Awards: In House Deal of the Year 2014.