South Yorkshire solicitors makes senior corporate appointment

LEADING corporate M&A and venture capital specialist Tom Goff has joined Wake Smith Solicitors to lead its Corporate team, significantly expanding its legal offering to the region’s growing businesses.

Tom specialises in advising founders, entrepreneurs, investors and corporates on the full life-cycle of corporate transactions, from angel and venture capital investments though to strategic mergers, acquisitions and exits.

Former City of London-based solicitor Tom becomes Head of Corporate at Wake Smith and will lead the firm’s five-strong team, advising on all aspects of equity and debt financing, intellectual property protection, technology transactions, share incentives, re-organisations, directors’ duties and corporate governance matters.

Sheffield-born Tom, who has degrees in Artificial Intelligence and Law, said: “The Sheffield city region has a long and enviable history as a world-class centre of makers, collaborators and innovators. I am incredibly proud of the spirit and commitment the people of my home town are known for. It is fantastic to see the region building on that legacy as it continues to attract global talent and investment.

“Wake Smith has its own proud legacy of supporting the industries and people of Sheffield and South Yorkshire. As a leading law firm headquartered here in Sheffield, I am delighted to join the team and thrilled at the opportunity to help advance the next generation of growth and innovation here in our region.”

Within his twelve-year legal career at international law firms, Tom also spent nearly two years as a Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, the UK’s economic development bank, also headquartered in Sheffield. He made and managed equity investments in several high tech businesses in the aerospace and defence sectors, attending board meetings of a number of portfolio companies.

Neil Salter, Chairman at Wake Smith Solicitors, said: “Tom’s hire is an important addition for Wake Smith and reinforces the Wake Smith marque. This is as an incredible opportunity to bring a new skills set into the firm at a time when Sheffield and the wider South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire regions are attracting investment, unlocking growth and achieving ambitious plans especially in manufacturing technology and processes, advanced materials and health and life-sciences.”

Tom heads up Wake Smith’s successful corporate and commercial team of Director and new Head of Governance, Risk and Compliance Rebecca Robinson; Associate Tom Haywood; Solicitor Joe Creasor, currently supported by trainee Solicitor Charlotte Wallage and corporate PA Debbie Huckerby, backed by the firm’s leading specialists in employment, commercial property and litigation.

This year the team was shortlisted for two awards at Insiders’ South Yorkshire Dealmakers Awards: Deal of the Year (under £10m) for its work on the sale of Sheffield’s WK West Ltd, as well as overall Corporate Law firm of the Year.

For further details on Wake Smith’s corporate law services and team visit www.wake-smith.co.uk