European law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse advised Elsevier Limited (part of Reed Elsevier), a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, on its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Woodhead Publishing Limited.

Based in Cambridge and established in 1989, Woodhead Publishing is an international publishing company specialising in the areas of food science, technology and nutrition; materials and engineering; textile technology; energy and environmental technology; finance, commodities and investment; and mathematics.

The acquisition included over 1,500 titles, in both print and electronic markets, as well as the Chandos Publishing imprint, which publishes in the library information science and Asian studies areas.

Field Fisher Waterhouse's team was led by partner and head of corporate Andrew Blankfield, assisted by senior associate Tom Ward. Partners Derek Hill, Mark Gearing, Barry Smith and associate Melissa Fish also advised.

The sellers were represented by Fox Williams LLP.