Member Article

WBD advises South Gloucestershire Council on duo of acquisitions to safeguard 370 jobs

Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has advised South Gloucestershire Council on a duo of site acquisitions including the Whirlpool tumble dryer factory and local catering business Yate Supplies.

In a £14.5m deal, South Gloucestershire Council’s acquisitions of the Yate-based sites preserves 270 jobs at Whirlpool and another 100 at the family-owned catering supplier, with the Council leasing back the properties to the occupiers so they can continue trading.

The WBD team advising the Council was led by Bristol-based partner Katherine Douglas, who provided key commercial and real estate expertise.

Katherine commented: “Helping our clients to support the South West community and economy is an important strategic goal for WBD. We’re thrilled to have advised South Gloucestershire Council on the acquisition of these strategic sites, supporting local businesses so they can continue to thrive and saving many jobs. Our strong real estate and commercial expertise coupled with our understanding of the client and the local market, meant we were able to secure the best possible outcome for the Council.”

Cllr Ben Burton, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources at South Gloucestershire Council, added: “Promoting sustainable inclusive communities, infrastructure and growth is a priority for the Council and we want to ensure that Yate continues to provide a range of employment for residents to live and work locally. Our long term aspiration is to be an enabler of regeneration and through these acquisitions we are committed to investing in and supporting our communities. We’re very grateful to the WBD team for their expert legal advice, being able to rely on a local team of South West lawyers with the right regional know-how has been key for us.”

WBD advises clients across eleven sectors of expertise and also works closely with UK local and central government bodies, as well as other organisations in the wider public and third sector. The firm is a Tier 1 member of the Crown Commercial Service government legal advisory panel, providing a full-service of legal expertise across a range of disciplines, including general commercial, litigation and employment advice to a number of Government Departments, Agencies and arms-length bodies. WBD is also a member of the equivalent panel for wider public sector bodies advising local and combined authorities, NHS Trusts and universities across the country.

Ranking in the UK’s top 20 law firms, WBD advises clients from seven cities in the UK and 19 offices in the US. Bristol is the firm’s second largest UK office with a client portfolio that includes Bristol City Council, Bristol Charities, OVO Energy, Bristol Airport and international company Spandex, with its UK headquarters at Aztec West, North Somerset District Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Womble Bond Dickinson LLP .