Paul Hardman

Paul is a Partner and Head of the Corporate team in the Bristol office. He trained and has worked in Bristol and Bath over many years and has a deep understanding of the issues affecting SME businesses and their owners.

Paul is a corporate lawyer that likes to deliver for his clients. He looks for constructive and pragmatic solutions without losing sight of achieving a good outcome for his clients whether that is advising on mergers and acquisitions or joint ventures or on corporate governance and wider business matters. He has a wide grasp of corporate and commercial issues advising on transactional and governance related matters as well corporate pre nups (shareholders agreements) and divorce settlements (buy outs and demergers). He is a champion for good corporate governance which delivers sustainable business.

He is a team player working with his clients and marshalling colleagues and advisers to inform guide and advise throughout the transcation to achieve timely outcomes.

He is used to advising on deals involving an international dimension including acting for sellers on transactions involving overseas buyers and joint ventures with overseas partners. He recently concluded a JV in the USA for his UK client with a Saudi JV partner.

Paul has for many years had a special interest in China which has led him to take part in numerous trade missions to China since 2010. He has led the development of his firm’s offering to Chinese businesses and owners and is a director of the Bristol and West of England China Bureau, a not for profit organisation designed to promote greater links with China across education, business and culture.

He is respected by peers across the community of corporate transcation advisers in Bristol. Legal 500 commends him as a ‘knowledgeable, collaborative and pragmatic’ advisor and his team was commended for the ‘Availability of senior solicitors to provide input and advice throughout the different stages of our transaction, making time to explain intricacies of the legal points to all members of our management team.’