‘New corporate partner boosts Royds’ team’, by John North

Duncan Holden, formerly of Lovells, McGrigors and Speechly Bircham, will join City law firm Royds in January 2010. His arrival brings the corporate team there to four partners and the partnership overall to 17.

Duncan has worked closely with leading corporate finance advisers including KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers on many transactions including public takeovers, private M&A debt for equity swaps and buy outs. He has particular expertise in public-to-private transactions involving unlisted stub equity funding.

Duncan also acted for pubs supremo, Michael Cannon, on his £82 million take-private of the Eldridge Pope pub chain (September 2004) and on his subsequent £155 million disposal of Eldridge Pope to Marston’s plc (January 2007).

Duncan commented “As well as having a chunky corporate department with extensive international experience, Royds has an impressive client list and a really agreeable culture which is rare in the City these days”.

John North, head of the corporate team at Royds commented “Whilst the recession has made conditions tough, at Royds we have been somewhat insulated with work from overseas and our specialist teams in the retail, insolvency and charities sectors. We are delighted that Duncan is joining us – it significantly enhances our corporate capabilities”.

Other partners in the corporate team at Royds include:

John North – Private company sales and international transactions

Julian Rampton – Third sector

Peter Wootton – Banking and insolvency

For further information, please contact:

John North, Head of Corporate
0207 842 1490

Duncan Holden, Corporate Partner (from January 2010)
0207 842 1402