Support Services
Pinsent Masons' dedicated multi-disciplinary Support Services team is organised around clients which fit the criteria which define the Financial Times' Support Services listing. Within this sector, we occupy a market leading position. We are ranked first in this sector by Hemscott, in terms of the number of FTSE 350 clients advised – of the 30 companies we act for 16.Our clients in this market include Amey, Serco, Johnson Service Group, John Laing Group, ISS Group, Abbot Group, Veolia, Speedy Hire, Mowlem Aqumen, Nightfreight Group, and many more. We advise Support Services businesses in all areas of the law, including corporate, employment, project and PFI work, dispute resolution and litigation, competition, outsourcing arrangements, insurance, banking and finance.
Pinsent Masons' vast experience in advising Government (both central and local) is particularly helpful to our Support Services clients, as is our ranking as number one law firm in the Public Private league tables, having closed more UK PFI projects than any other law firm. In May 2006 we were named as Best Legal Advisor at the Public Private Finance Awards 2006. The firm's reputation as being leading construction and outsourcing lawyers is highly complementary with our Support Services practice.
We are patron members of the Business Services Association, the trade association which represents the interests of Support Services businesses, underlining our commitment to supporting the sector.
Recent corporate transactions include:
- Abbot Group – advice on the £247 million recommended cash offer for Norweigian drilling owner Songa Drilling;
- Amey UK – advice on the acquisition of Owen Williams Group Limited;
- Speedy Hire – on the £59 acquisition of entire share capital of LCH Generators Limited and on the £13.7 million acquisition of the Caledonian Safemaker business;
- ISS – advice on the acquisition Pegasus Security Holdings, the national provider of manned guarding services with annual turnover in excess of £40 million;
- RAC – advice on the sale by Lex Transfleet (LTF) of its commercial fleet division to Franklin Limited, a subsidiary of French fleet hire and rental business, Fraikin SAS;
- Johnson Service Group Plc – advice on the acquisition of the white collar facilities management business of SGB Property Services Limited;
- Onyx – advice on the acquisition of a major part of the hazordous waste operations of Shanks Group Plc.
