Michael Budd

Michael is a corporate specialist who has worked as a Senior Solicitor in leading London commercial firms including Weightmans LLP, and Shakespeare Martineau LLP. Michael has successfully assisted a full range of clients from SMEs to large corporations and global businesses.

Striving to provide clear, commercial advice, Michael aims to be accessible and responsive to his clients’ needs. He offers clients the benefit of his extensive experience, highly detailed legal knowledge and realistic, commercially astute approach.

Michael sees his role as helping clients to define exactly what they need to get out of a given situation, making clear any issues they might face and explaining how Longmores can help them achieve their aims. He enjoys working with clients to make sure they realise the full significance of the decisions in front of them and the choices they make, then helping to get all of the right protections in place.

One of Michael’s favourite parts of the job is building personal relationships with his clients, becoming a trusted advisor to their businesses. He finds it very satisfying to be part of people’s business journeys over the years and seeing them achieve their goals.

Career

Michael started his legal career as a Barrister, qualifying in 2002. He began specialising in Company Commercial law in 2004, ultimately taking the decision to cross-qualify as a Solicitor, which he achieved in 2010.

This move has allowed Michael to be more involved in supporting the everyday operations of the businesses he advises, rather than just being there to represent them when things go wrong.

Michael has worked for a number of leading London law firms, gaining experience with very high value, complex corporate work. Michael now brings his heavyweight expertise to Longmores, having joined the firm as a Partner in September 2020.

Expertise

Michael’s experience covers a broad spectrum of corporate matters, including:

• Acquisitions and disposals
• Group reorganisations and restructurings
• Management buy-ins/outs
• Joint ventures
• Corporate finance (including earn stage fundraising and investments)

His recent work includes:

• Acting for the target company in relation to an investment in it by Coca-Cola
• A management buy-out of a hardware business for £5million
• The sale of the issued share capital of a food business for £18million
• A US client’s competitive bid for a medical packaging company for £350million

Recognition

Michael heads up our Company Commercial team which has been ranked by leading client guide, the Legal 500. Michael has also been individually recommended for his expertise by the Legal 500.

Michael is a regular contributor of articles to The Negotiator, Lexis PSL and Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce’s Inspire magazine.

Lexis PSL a leading online reference tool providing guidance on what the law is and how to apply it in practice. The Negotiator is the only trade magazine which is distributed to the entire UK estate and lettings agency industry. And Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce is the fastest growing chamber in the UK and provides first-class business support to companies of all shapes and sizes.

Professional Feedback

“I have been very impressed with Michael Budd who is the partner that Heads up the Corporate and Commercial Team. I have found him to be very knowledge and practical in his approach.”  The Legal 500 2023

Personal interests

Michael has a strong academic interest in the law outside of his day-to-day practice and can often be found reading up on niche legal subjects in his spare time.