Lawrence Stephens

We are a *team of bright minds

James Lyons

Director
Corporate & Commercial
Practice areas:
Expertise includes:
  • Corporate Finance
  • Corporate Structures and Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)
  • Employee-ownership Trusts
  • Entrepreneurs and Owner-managed Businesses
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Shareholder Agreements and Joint Ventures
James Says:
“I always strive to exceed rather than simply meet clients’ expectations, whilst looking to make the process as smooth as possible."

Meet James

With nearly 25 years’ experience advising on corporate transactions, I pride myself on providing the same personable and conscientious level of service to a range of clients including entrepreneurs, management teams, SMEs, private equity funds and larger private and public companies.

My expertise also extends to managing corporate elements of real estate transactions and advising not-for-profit bodies on constitutional matters. My clients operate in sectors including media, technology, manufacturing, healthcare and catering.

I advise on mergers and acquisitions, equity fundraisings, shareholders agreements and joint ventures, corporate re-organisations, director duties, corporate governance and all matters of company law.

My clients appreciate my personable nature, careful attention to detail, patience, responsiveness and commercial pragmatism. I have been ranked as a Recognised Practitioner for Corporate M&A Mid-Market (London) in Chambers and Partners.

It is important to me to develop strong relationships by combining good quality technical advice with clarity of explanation and (where possible) good humour to maintain perspective and make the process as smooth as possible for all involved.

Much of my spare time is spent acting as chauffeur to my three boys and attending to their sporting needs. When I'm not watching one son play football, managing another of my son’s football teams or walking the dog, I'll go for a run to escape them all. I'm also a keen follower of my hometown football club Leeds United.

Experience highlights 

  • Advising on the sale of strategic land company Southern & Regional Developments Limited to Bellway PLC
  • Advising an individual business owner on the sale of his media production company OB Media Partners Limited to 42 Management & Production
  • Advising a global listed company services provider on M&A transactions including their acquisitions of catering businesses and the sale of their UK horticultural services division
  • Advising a registered care provider on its corporate acquisitions of care home providers owning and operating care homes in the Southeast
  • Advising the management team of marketing services company MM-Eye Limited on their management buy-out of the business and, subsequently, on their sale of the company to an employee-ownership trust

"James was incredible through the transaction and gave “superb guidance."

Travel company director

"James was a pleasure to deal with, always responsive and helpful."

IT company director

"Many thanks James, I think you've managed the complexities of our organisation with commendable adroitness."

Catering company director