Multi-award winning financial broker Watts Commercial enter a new era following a successful share sale. The company has been offering specialist independent financial advice for over 18 years and has grown to be one of the UKs largest commercial brokers specialising in commercial mortgages, bridging finance, property development and all aspects of business and commercial lending. This latest development is part of a strategic plan to expand and meet growing client demand.
The recent multi-million pound share sale was guided by experts at HM3 Legal. Over eight months in the making, securing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was particularly memorable for Phil Gray, MD, and one of the founders of Watts Commercial. He comments.
“HM3 Legal lawyers have looked after us over the years and their combined disciplines brought the deal over the line. Their Head of Corporate Law, Anne Scheland, set the scene in a direct and honest way, and I appreciated that. This was a complex and life-changing deal; her advice expertly prepared the ground.”
Anne adds:
“We focussed on ensuring Phil got the deal he wanted; it went off just before the autumn 2024 budget but we remained grounded amid the uncertainty. I’m delighted with how pooling expertise while working closely with their accountants Afford Bond, ensured a favourable financial outcome.”
Teamwork at every turn
The complexity and fluidity of the deal required close teamwork to maintain momentum. Phil says:
“The lawyers had a straight-talking way of explaining options. They didn’t hide behind long, wordy documents or complex legal speak – they let us know what we needed to know, when we needed to know it. They were there for us. Caroline Jones is simply the best commercial property lawyer I have worked with, support from Lauren Douglas and Daniela Keogh was outstanding, and the employment law advice from Deana Phillips was excellent.
“When Anne called to say: “The deal is done”, it was quite an emotional moment.”
Service, service, service
The negotiations required consistency and a holistic approach and to Phil, the personal touch was as important as the professional advice. He adds:
“Lots of people forget about service and what it means. Not at HM3 Legal. Their joined-up actions gave us faith they were working for us at every turn. How would I summarise the experience? Simply amazing!”
Phil continues to apply his extensive experience and knowledge in running Watts Commercial Finance, and he is excited about the coming years with him at the helm. He aims to grow the team across the UK, develop their technological offering both internally and externally and continue to be at the forefront of the industry that he is so proud of.
Does HM3 Legal sound like the kind of legal team you would like to work with? There is no charge to have a confidential, no-obligation conversation and explore how their lawyers can help your strategic business plans become a reality.
Contact Richard Burnett, Commercial Director: Hello@HM3Legal.co.uk
