James Laird
Senior Associate - Corporate
"I am an M&A solicitor with expertise in both sell-side and buy-side transactions, acting for owner-managers, founders, PE-backed portfolio companies, PE funds and trade sellers. I also advise companies on share incentive schemes and LTIPs.”
I joined Higgs LLP in 2006 as part of the acquisition of Vialex and am a member of the corporate team. Previously, I trained at a Scottish independent firm and qualified at an international firm.
I advise and support clients on all aspects of corporate transactions and particularly mergers and acquisitions. I also support both investors and investees on primary fundraises, follow-on investments, and exits. My clients range from individuals to owner-managed businesses, to private equity funds and their portfolio companies across all sectors. I also advise clients on day-to-day corporate governance.
- Acting for a PE-backed professional services firm in a series of strategic buy-and-build acquisitions and the subsequent corporate reorganisation of acquired targets into the buyer group;
- Advising the shareholders and management of an independent accountancy group on its sale to a PE-backed consolidator and the subsequent equity rollup;
- Acting for a PE fund in a strategic acquisition of an industrial group alongside an institutional co-investor;
- Advising founders and management of a UK-based company in the exit of its institutional investor and subsequent refinancing;
- Acting for a major distiller in its acquisition of a majority stake in an American distillery from its founders;
- Acting for a US-based lead investor in its initial investment in the sports and leisure sector;
- Advising a prominent family office in a vendor-initiated management buyout;
- Acting for a whisky company in the termination of a joint venture and exit of one partner via share buyback;
- Advising owners and management on instating, maintaining, and amending employee share incentive schemes.
More about me
Favourite food
Italian
Favourite place
Glasgow
Most used app
Outlook
Favourite book
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Meet the team
John Heaton
Partner and Head of Business Services
Richard Griffiths
Partner and Head of Corporate
Matthew Allen
Senior Associate - Corporate
Claire Stretton
Principal Associate - Corporate
Andy Lowe
Partner - Corporate
Hamrit Dhadwal
Trainee Solicitor - Business Succession Planning
Kiran Salhan
Trainee Solicitor - Corporate
Christina Miller
Principal Associate - Commercial
Keith Dinsmore
Partner - Corporate
Sam Dell
Associate - Corporate
Elizabeth Wood
Senior Associate - Business Succession Planning
Morag Waller
Legal Director - Corporate
Edward Baker
Associate - Corporate
Lorna Bryce
Associate - Corporate
Seona Burnett
Partner - Corporate
Daniel Southall
Senior Associate - Corporate
Oliver Churm
Legal Assistant - Corporate
Damian Beard
Principal Associate - Corporate
Richard Freeman
Senior Associate - Corporate
Emily Parkes
Principal Associate - Corporate
Keith Anderson
Partner - Corporate
Paul Hunt
Consultant and Head of Business Succession Planning
Nicole Ranier
Paralegal - Corporate
Elliot Wilkes
Trainee Solicitor - Corporate
Geoff Kettle
Partner - Corporate
Elizabeth Cox
Legal Director - Corporate
Jess Bull
Senior Associate - Corporate
Greig Williamson
Legal Director - Corporate
Louise Hamilton
Legal Director - Corporate
Joel Nixon
Partner - Corporate
Michael Drysdale
Principle Associate - Corporate
Jamie Partington
Partner - Corporate
Rachael Watkins
Senior Associate - Corporate
Scott Moncur
Legal Director - Corporate
Nick Taylor
CEO
Laura Crocker
Associate - Corporate
Zoe Fowlie
Partner - Corporate