Get in touch
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+44 (0)7718 963 442
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tel:+44 (0)7718 963 442
+44 (0)3700 865 901
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tel:+44 (0)3700 865 901
leah.cairney@shoosmiths.com
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-cairney-63049464/

A corporate partner trusted for clarity and cross-border deal execution

I’m a Principal Associate in Shoosmiths’ Manchester corporate team, advising on high-value mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and strategic investments. I work with clients across sectors including technology, financial services, and edutainment, with a particular focus on cross-border transactions. Recent highlights include advising Berkeley De Veer on its investment from Elliott Advisers and acquisition of Avant Homes, and supporting Octopus Investments on its acquisition of Hatch Financial Planning.

I joined Shoosmiths in 2019 from Bird & Bird in London, bringing over 12 years of experience in corporate finance and M&A. My background includes advising on complex joint ventures and venture debt financings, and I’ve developed a specialism in real estate development transactions.

I’m a Trainee Supervisor and regularly contribute to mentoring and development initiatives. I’m known for being a bold thinker with a pragmatic approach, focussed on delivering outcomes that matter to clients.

Expertise
Legal excellence in action
370
Deals advised on in 2024.
£10.4bn
Worth of transactions in 2024.
1845
180 years of legal excellence.
Recognition & awards
Leah was brilliant. She really led the deal and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or challenge, which I think is really important. Leah took control of the transaction, communicated extremely well and negotiated confidently on our behalf to ensure every milestone deadline was achieved and the planned timetable was kept to. I was very happy with the way Leah handled the recent acquisition… on our behalf. I found that working with Leah was a very pleasant experience, she communicated and advised well during the negotiation of the agreements and responded quickly to any issues that arose during the process. Leah clearly has a lot of knowledge and experience... which gave me the confidence that we were in very good hands throughout the transaction.
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Client
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Navigating the complexities of corporate transactions
Corporate team
We lead clients through successful Corporate transactions at every stage of their business life cycle.
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