Gloucestershire law firm Willans LLP has strengthened its corporate & commercial arm with the appointment of new partner Chris Wills.  

It comes hot on the heels of promotions across the firm.

Chris joins Willans having been a director and department head at a Legal 500-rated Truro firm. He has over a decade of experience in advising commercial clients across a range of sectors on diverse transactions and issues, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity funding, joint ventures and shareholders' agreements, partnership and LLP agreements, group restructures and commercial collaborations.

Chris will help lead the firm's drive to enhance the firm's corporate and business related advisory work for its extensive client base ranging from major subsidiaries of foreign companies to private limited companies, family businesses, professional practices and start-ups.

Before arriving at Willans he handled the sale of numerous stores to the Co-operative Group and advised a leisure client on a sale to a US-headquartered private equity group.

He also has a particular interest in the renewable energy sector, having advised a multi-million pound company on the acquisition of a commissioned wind turbine project as well as having acted for an overseas developer on a joint venture to develop solar projects in Spain.

Head of Willans' Chambers-rated corporate & commercial team, partner Paul Symes-Thompson, commented: "Chris's arrival enables us to meet the ever-growing demands of our corporate & commercial clients.

"We're very pleased to welcome a lawyer of his calibre to help us continue to grow in this field".

Commenting on his new position Chris said: "I'm excited to join a busy and expanding team with such an enviable reputation in a thriving business community."

Willans' corporate & commercial practice was one of 11 of its departments to secure strong rankings in the latest edition of national independent guide The Legal 500, with a number of its lawyers receiving individual commendations. The guide praises the firm's "knowledgeable, meticulous and extremely personable" corporate & commercial lawyers for providing "client-focused advice".