Ashfords LLP bucks trend to top league table

South West law firm Ashfords is topping the table for completed deals in the first half of 2013. The firm bucked the trend as the market experienced a year-on-year decline in volumes.

Research by Experian revealed that Ashfords was the most successful law firm in the whole of the South West for completing deals so far this year.

The business has recorded some significant successes in recent months including assisting with a management restructure at Westcountry-based clothing retailer Quba and helping Exeter company Antech, which supplies drilling equipment to the oil and gas industry, secure substantial investment.

Ashfords’ strong performance is set against a backward trend for the rest of the sector. Total deal volumes in the South West fell from 169 last year to 143 in the first six months of 2013.

Across the UK, deal values plummeted by 45 per cent – falling from £150.2bn to £82.6bn. The total volume of UK deals was also down from 2,491 to 2,060.

The overall fall in deal activity across the UK was led by mid-market and larger companies. Deals worth more than £1bn fell from 28 in 2012 to just ten.

Ashfords partner Louise Workman said she was pleased the firm was capturing business in a falling market.

She added: “Despite the disconcerting national figures there is still confidence in the South West and in the businesses that operate from the region.

“The deals we have assisted with have resulted in large amounts of cash being invested locally which has fuelled individual companies’ growth plans and secured jobs.”

Tim Jones, chair of Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said:

“This is significant news that one of our leading professional firms is being recognised at the highest level.

“It also shows that the South West is a great place to do international and local business and it’s great to see that we are bucking the trend.”