Hill Dickinson’s corporate team has assisted medical communications group Fishawack on its acquisition of the Carling Group of companies based in San Diego, California.
Headquartered in Knutsford, Cheshire, Fishawack is one of the largest independent providers of scientific medical marketing and communications services to global pharmaceutical companies.
The Carling Group of companies, founded by Didi Discar in 2010, currently employ more than 100 people out of its San Diego base. The group includes healthcare marketing and communications agency Carling Communications and specialist medical education provider, MCME Global.
Oliver Dennis, CEO of the Fishawack Group, said: “Fishawack has already made six strategic acquisitions to expand our reach, capabilities, and client base. Our new investor, LDC, is supporting us to expand the group further. Our clients comprise a mix of medical affairs and commercial teams, and we have always offered a complete range of services to the former and with the addition of a creative agency we can now do the same for the latter. I’ve known Didi and her team for over 7 years, frequently partnering with Carling for their promotional capabilities, so Carling is a natural fit as our creative agency.”
Didi Discar, principal at Carling, believes that the company can achieve even more for its valued clients and employees “I believe that this signals a new beginning in what we can bring to our clients. Our skills complement each other and provide synergies that will significantly benefit current and future clients, while building on our shared vision of excellence, integrity, and respect.”
Hill Dickinson’s national head of corporate Craig Scott and fellow partner Michael Murphy advised Fishawack on the transaction with Foley & Lardner acting as supporting US counsel for Fishawack.
This deal marks the first acquisition Fishawack has made since mid-market private equity investor LDC backed the £38m buyout of the business which Craig and Michael also advised the management team on in January this year.
