While cross-border M&A has grabbed much of the headlines in 2006, the mid-market remained vibrant for a second year running, particularly in private equity. Such conditions helped a select band of corporate practices to push further into territory just below the magic circle.
Of the national practices, Eversheds put in a strong performance, turning up on a string of £100m-plus deals. But it was the firm’s lead role on the £1.5bn sale of telecoms retailer The Caudwell Group – by most measures the largest UK deal to be substantially run outside of London – that captured attention.
