Robert is a partner in the Newcastle corporate finance team with over 25 years’ experience of advising clients on regional, national and international private and public company mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, private equity investments, corporate governance and strategy.
In over 20 years working in the North East corporate marketplace as part of an award winning regional firm, Robert has advised on some of the most significant transactions in the region and worked with some of the region’s best known entrepreneurs. Robert’s specialisation is working with owner-managers, shareholders and corporates around strategic direction and maximising value when exiting their companies and also on the other side of those transactions, acting for corporates acquiring new businesses and companies as part of growth strategies.
He has been named Insider’s North-East corporate lawyer of the year on three separate occasions – and worked on 5 of the awards’ ceremony “Deal of the Year” in the North East Region.
Following outstanding client feedback Robert was named as a star lawyer in the ‘Acritas Stars’ global database 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Robert is one of the leads in our Manufacturing Sector Team. Much of Robert's experience in the M&A and advising arena has been with manufacturing sector companies – so in addition to deep M&A corporate experience Robert has an insight into the specific challenges and issues advising in the manufacturing sector. Robert has lead on manufacturing sector trade visits to and from the USA with North East based manufacturing sector businesses.
Experience
Examples of experience include advising:
- RIBA on its £35 million sale of an interest in NBS to LDC
- Tekmar plc on its £65 million AIM IPO
- AVX Corporation on its £118,000,000 purchase of the transport and security division of TT Electronics plc
- Winn Solicitors Limited on its £40 million private equity investment by JZI Partners and Souter Investments
- British Engines Limited on its acquisition from Rolls Royce plc of its North East based Michell Bearings
- Quantum Pharma plc on its £106m AIM IPO
- Quantum Pharma on the acquisitions of Lamda Pharma and NuPharm Group
- on the sale by SNK and shareholders of CAV Aerospace to Better Capital
- the shareholders of Seaward Holding Limited on its acquisition by German multi-national Metrawatt
- RPM Inc on its strategic acquisitions of Morrells and Firefirm Limited
- KAEFER GmbH on its acquisition of Opus Industrial Services Limited
- the shareholders of C&D Industrial Services Limited on its disposal to KAEFER GmbH
- Vertu plc on its acquisition of Bristol Street Motors Limited
- Kitwave Limited on its acquisition of Hulleys Frozen Food.
"Robert is highly experienced, reassuringly calm and pragmatic in his approach. He always considers the bigger picture and will balance his advice to weigh up not only the legal risks, but also the wider commercial considerations."
Chambers and Partners 2021
"The team led by Robert Phillips is reliable, trustworthy, assured and has the gravitas we need to represent us in commercial negotiations. The team members demonstrate a keen commercial focus, coupled with a wealth of experience and combined knowledge. The WBD team is highly responsive when called upon, and we have full faith in its ability to provide us with suitable advice and strategy whenever we need it."
Legal 500 2021
"He comes up on some very big transactions and is very effective and very commercial."
"He does good work with big regional businesses."
Chambers and Partners 2020
"Just a very practical, commercial lawyer. Technical competence."
Acritas Star Database
