John Heaton
Partner and Head of Business Services
"I specialise in mergers and acquisitions and have extensive experience of advising corporates, owner managers, private equity houses, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs on complex and high value transactions.”
I head up the business services department at Higgs which incorporates our award-winning corporate team. Prior to joining Higgs as a Partner over 10 years ago I trained at Wragge & Co (now Gowling WLG) and Hammonds (now Squire Patton Boggs).
As a corporate lawyer I act for private companies, PLCs, multinationals, private equity investors, owner managers and entrepreneurs on all manner of domestic and international M&A transactions across a broad range of sectors.
I pride myself on being a no-nonsense commercial legal adviser. I get to the heart of what really matters and find solutions not problems. You only really get to know what matters by building meaningful and trusted relationships which is what I strive to do. Knowing and advising on the law is a given, but knowing how to advise comes through 20 years of experience.
I am recognised as a Leading Individual in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500.
- South African JSE listed Super Group in connection with the £30.3m acquisition of a majority stake in AMCO;
- The shareholders in connection with the £15.5m sale of Clearcomm Group to Indian based STL;
- Allen Ford Group in connection with the £25m acquisition of Essex Auto Group.
- Business Growth Fund in connection with their investment in Red Industries Limited and associated £39m funding package.
- The shareholders in connection with the sale of Autostyling Truckman to Australian ASX-listed ARB Corporation.
- Volex Plc in connection with the acquisition of Review Display Systems Inc.
- Canadian entity Solex Thermal Science Inc in connection with the acquisition of Econotherm.
More about me
Proudest moment
I can’t take credit for the birth of my two children so completing a full distance Iron Man Triathlon!
Favourite place
The summit of Helvellyn looking over Striding Edge.
Most used app
WhatsApp. Desperately trying to keep up with my children’s comings, goings and entirely impractical plans.
Childhood career goal
I was firmly set on becoming a stunt man. Sadly that career goal got lost along the way.
Latest insights
Meet the team
Joel Nixon
Partner - Corporate
Richard Griffiths
Partner and Head of Corporate Law
Nicole Ranier
Paralegal - Corporate
Emily Parkes
Principal Associate - Corporate
Paul Hunt
Partner and Head of Business Succession Planning
Geoff Kettle
Partner - Corporate
Jess Bull
Associate - Corporate
Jamie Partington
Partner - Corporate
Elizabeth Wood
Associate - Business Succession Planning
Daniel Southall
Associate - Corporate
Katie Willems
Principal Associate - Corporate
Nick Taylor
Managing Partner
Rachael Watkins
Senior Associate - Corporate Law
Kate Woodhouse
Trainee Solicitor - Corporate Law
Richard Freeman
Associate - Corporate
Damian Beard
Principal Associate - Corporate
Frankie Flannagan
Legal Assistant - Corporate
Edward Baker
Associate - Corporate