Lawyers from national law firm Weightmans LLP have advised professional services firm CLB Coopers in a deal that has seen the company become part of the Baldwins Group.
The deal will complete on 28 November 2016 and firmly puts the Baldwins Group on the map in the North West, a base from which the group is expecting to expand further. CLB Coopers will continue to be the trading name across its three existing offices. All existing partners will become Senior Directors of CLB Coopers Limited and remain with the firm to continue to drive the firm’s success and services to its clients.
David J Travis, managing partner of CLB Coopers, who also led on the transaction, said: “CLB Coopers has an excellent reputation across the North West for providing a quality service in the owner-managed entrepreneurial market.
“This opportunity with the Baldwins Group provides us with greater national coverage and significantly enhances the resources we will have available to us to service our clients.
“We are delighted that Baldwins has a very similar culture to ourselves and we all look forward to working with them and to the opportunities it will bring for our clients and staff.
John Baldwin, director at Baldwins, said this was a significant acquisition and is taking the Baldwins Group expertise to yet another part of the UK.
He added: “We are excited that CLB Coopers has joined the Baldwins Group. The firm has a very strong and respected brand across the North West and offers a full suite of services to its clients.
“This move will give it the platform to grow further in the region and will capitalise on the strength of the overall Group.
“This year has been an incredible one for us at Baldwins. We have doubled the number of offices, expanded into two new regions and developed new services.
“The investment from Cogital Group has also fuelled the appetite for further growth into 2017 where we will have further acquisitions.”
The legal advisors on the deal for CLB Coopers was Weightmans in Manchester, led by Paul Raftery and supported by Anna Kerrane, Claire Hollins, Hayden Rogan and Varan Maharaj. The Baldwins Group was advised by a team led by Kate Hackett of The Wilkes Partnership in Birmingham.
Paul Raftery, head of corporate and commercial at Weightmans, commented: “Having worked with David and his team on many client transactions over the years it was a privilege to be asked to act for them on their own deal.
“CLB Coopers has a well-deserved reputation as one of the leading mid-tier firms of accountants in the North West and with the strength and growth plans of the Baldwins Group and with Cogital behind them, they are excellently placed to significantly reinforce that position.”
