Walker Foster changes hands as duo lead management buyout
What's the deal? Maxine Heppenstall and Ian Haynes have taken over Yorkshire law firm Walker FosterDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → through a management buyout. Heppenstall keeps her role as managing director, while Haynes remains head of residential conveyancing. The firm employs 80 staff across seven offices in Barnoldswick, Harrogate, Ilkley, Northallerton, Silsden, Settle and Skipton.
Why now? The deal follows the retirement of equity partners Stuart Rowland and Keith Hardington. "With Keith and Stuart taking retirement, Ian and I decided that, alongside the management buyout, it was the perfect time to restructure the senior team," Heppenstall said.
What's the endgame? The buyout comes with a leadership shake-up. Craig Williams becomes head of corporate and commercial, and Jayne Schofield takes on executive director and director of operations roles. Katie Ingham and Sara Rutter, heads of private client and family respectively, become directors.
The duo say the move marks "an important step in the established and respected firm's progression and growth."
The details: Schofield SweeneyDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → advised Walker Foster, with partner Michael Cantwell leading alongside Lucy Holroyd and Andrada Frates. AABDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → provided valuation and tax support, while NatWestDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → supplied funding.
The signal: Management buyouts are a common route for regional professional-services firms to secure succession, letting exiting partners retire while keeping ownership in familiar hands. Walker Foster's move keeps control internal as it plans its next chapter.
Read more: Bdaily
