Law firm backs almost £10bn of deals in 2025

The corporate, banking and finance teams at law firm Shakespeare Martineau has revealed it supported almost £10 billion of deals last year.

During 2025, the company back £9.7 billion of deals – up on the £6.6 billion achieved in 2024.

Shakespeare Martineau said it advised on a range of complex, high-value transactions spanning mergers and acquisitions, disposals, investment funds and banking, with disposals continuing to be the most active deal type.

Investment funds activity accounted for £7.1 billion of the total deal value, up from £4.8 billion in 2024, while the banking team supported £1 billion of transactions. Corporate M&A transactions totalled £960 million.

Michael Stace, the law firm’s corporate partner in the Midlands, said: “2025 was an interesting year for UK dealmakers, with decent levels of activity, although overall volume and value were down compared with 2024 due to the impact of geopolitical and economic factors on transaction timelines.

“Against this backdrop, I am extremely proud of what our team achieved in 2025, which reflects both the resilience of our business and the strength of the Midlands deal market.

“We have a very strong pipeline and expect activity to increase, particularly in the first half of 2026, with professional services, technology and healthcare remaining key sectors.”

Sector highlights included manufacturing and professional services, with healthcare also among the firm’s most active sectors.

Jordan Glackin, healthcare partner at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “2025 was a fantastic year for our healthcare team.

“We supported a record number of transactions across the sector, particularly in pharmacy, dental and social care, helping clients navigate complex regulatory landscapes while achieving their strategic growth ambitions.

“The pace of consolidation and investment in healthcare continues to accelerate, and we’re proud to have played a key role in shaping deals that strengthen service delivery and patient care.

“We look forward to building on this momentum in 2026.”