Keith Dinsmore
Partner - Corporate
"I am a relationship-driven corporate lawyer specialising in private company mergers & acquisitions, with a particular emphasis on M&A involving private equity-backed structures and on supporting owner-managed businesses in executing exit strategies.”
I am a corporate lawyer with over 30 years' experience, specialising in private company mergers & acquisitions work in the UK mid-market. I joined Higgs LLP as a partner in 2026, following the acquisition of Vialex Limited and Navigator Employment Law Limited, which I co-founded in 2010.
I have particular experience supporting and advising private equity-backed companies as they scale through a coordinated buy-and-build strategy and, on the flip side, advising owner-managers on becoming exit-ready and executing an exit process, whether via a trade sale or into a private equity structure.
I also advise on private company fundraisings, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, shareholder disputes, share-based incentive schemes and corporate governance/risk management matters generally.
I am a member (and former council member) of the WS Society.
- Advising the shareholders of the maternity and neonatal health tech company, Clevermed Limited, on the sale of the entire issued share capital of that company to System C, a portfolio company of CVC Capital Partners
- Advising the shareholders of a UK-based data analytics software solution provider to the energy sector in the sale of the entire issued share capital of that company to a listed PLC
- Advising the shareholders of the research and market data benchmarking fintech company, Substantive Research Limited, in the sale of the entire issued share capital of that company to Euronext
- Advising Swedish HQ'd, leading digital psychology provider, Mindler AB, on its acquisition of IESO Digital Health
- Advising premium packaging design and manufacturing business, McLaren Presentation, on its acquisition of Glenhaze Limited and its joint venture with VPK
- Advising the shareholders of the cycle apparel company, Endura, on its sale to Pentland Brands
- Advising a PE-backed UK accountancy firm consolidator on multiple "spoke" acquisitions.
- Advising management on the strategic investment by True Capital in GDK (German Doner Kebab)
- Advising the shareholders of haggis and black pudding brand owner and manufacturer, Macsween of Edinburgh Limited, in relation to the acquisition of a controlling interest in that company by Macsweenallan Food Group
More about me
Favourite quote
“Stop staring up the steps, start stepping up the stairs”
Interests
Sailing, skiing, rugby, wine marathons
Favourite place
Loch Scavaig, Skye (when the sun’s out!)
Childhood career goal
Archaeologist
Meet the team
Richard Griffiths
Partner and Head of Corporate
John Heaton
Partner and Head of Business Services
Oliver Churm
Legal Assistant - Corporate
Louise Purdie
Principle Associate - Commercial
James Laird
Senior Associate - Corporate
Samantha Sloan
Associate - Commercial
Jess Bull
Senior Associate - Corporate
Jamie Partington
Partner - Corporate
Andy Lowe
Partner - Corporate
Nick Taylor
CEO
Elizabeth Wood
Senior Associate - Business Succession Planning
Lorna Bryce
Associate - Corporate
Geoff Kettle
Partner - Corporate
Edward Baker
Associate - Corporate
Seona Burnett
Partner - Corporate
Michael Drysdale
Principle Associate - Corporate
Scott Moncur
Legal Director - Corporate
Damian Beard
Principal Associate - Corporate
Zoe Fowlie
Partner - Corporate
Nicole Ranier
Paralegal - Corporate
Morag Waller
Legal Director - Corporate
Kiran Salhan
Trainee Solicitor - Corporate
Elizabeth Cox
Legal Director - Corporate
Keith Anderson
Partner - Corporate
Laura Crocker
Associate - Corporate
Greig Williamson
Legal Director - Corporate
Louise Hamilton
Legal Director - Corporate
Sam Dell
Associate - Corporate
Emily Parkes
Principal Associate - Corporate
Paul Hunt
Consultant and Head of Business Succession Planning
Rachael Watkins
Senior Associate - Corporate
Christina Miller
Principal Associate - Commercial
Claire Stretton
Principal Associate - Corporate
Daniel Southall
Senior Associate - Corporate
Hamrit Dhadwal
Trainee Solicitor - Business Succession Planning
Matthew Allen
Senior Associate - Corporate
Allan Reid
Partner - Commercial
Elliot Wilkes
Trainee Solicitor - Corporate
Richard Freeman
Senior Associate - Corporate
Joel Nixon
Partner - Corporate