Wedlake Bell advises on the sale of Scottish building services consultancy group

Hulley & Kirkwood is a long-established building services consultancy founded in 1953, employing approximately 122 people across seven offices in the UK, with a particularly strong presence in Scotland. The business specialises in mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) engineering services across the healthcare, defence, commercial, education and government sectors.

The acquisition brings together Hulley & Kirkwood’s specialist building services expertise with WSP’s broader multidisciplinary offer, strengthening WSP’s healthcare and defence capabilities while enhancing its regional presence, particularly in Scotland, and technical capability across the UK.

The sale arrangements included a complex pre-sale reorganisation involving the separation and transfer of assets outside the transaction perimeter and the acquisition of minority shareholdings.

Wedlake Bell’s specialist M&A team was led by Mark Tasker (corporate Partner) and supported by David Duhig (Senior Associate), Benedict Holmes (Solicitor) and Zoe Hustin (Trainee Solicitor). Specialist support was also provided on corporate tax by Michael Ridsdale (Partner) and Lucy Foster (Solicitor), Choy Lau (Legal Director) on employment, Justin McGilloway (Partner) and James Newcome (Senior Associate) on pensions, Adam Betts (Partner) and Emma Thomas (Solicitor) on commercial contracts, and Natasha Blackmore (Solicitor) on banking finance.

This transaction demonstrates Wedlake Bell’s ability to deliver integrated advice across multiple practice areas, bringing together a cross-disciplinary team to execute a technically complex reorganisation and M&A transaction. It also further showcases the firm’s experience in advising on international M&A transactions.

Wedlake Bell acted as lead legal adviser to Hulley & Kirkwood, supported by Harper Macleod on Scots law matters, with Crowe acting as corporate finance adviser. WSP was advised by CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP.

Mark Tasker, who led the Wedlake Bell team, commented: “This was a complex transaction that required a significant commercial and pragmatic approach from all sides. It was a pleasure to work with the Crowe Corporate Finance team that once again excelled”.

Colin Lindsay, Finance Director of Hulley & Kirkwood, added: “Mark, David, Ben and the wider Wedlake Bell team provided excellent support throughout, combining technical expertise with a pragmatic and commercial approach. Their professionalism, responsiveness and commitment were evident at every stage, and we are extremely grateful for their support in helping deliver this transaction.”

Meet the team:

1. 

   • Mark Tasker

   • Partner
   • Corporate

   Visit Mark's profile
2. 

   • David Duhig

   • Senior Associate
   • Corporate

   Visit David's profile
3. 

   • Benedict Holmes

   • Solicitor
   • Corporate

   Visit Benedict's profile

View the whole team