The corporate team at national law firm Shoosmiths has advised long-standing clients, the shareholders of property consultancy GBR Phoenix Beard Holdings Limited, on its acquisition by international real estate advisor, Savills.

With a reputation for providing high quality consultancy, property management, agency and transactional services, GBR Phoenix Beard is an independent, owner-managed business which operates nationally from offices in Birmingham, London and Leeds. Its specialist teams cover commercial property management, office and industrial agency, investment, residential management, building consultancy, lease consultancy, rating, and health and safety services.

Savills Birmingham was established in 1998 and offers a full spectrum of services including: development; planning; urban design & masterplanning; office and industrial agency; investment; building consultancy; rating; strategic asset management; lease consultancy; commercial property management; management set-up; valuation and housing and healthcare.

The practice employs 205 people, who will all join Savills with immediate effect, and is led by Managing Director, Simon Farrant, alongside Head of Property Management, Catherine Gabriel and Head of Agency, Stephen Benson. Savills and the GBR Phoenix Beard Birmingham teams will relocate to a new combined office in due course, while the GBR Phoenix Beard teams in London and Leeds will move into Savills existing offices at Margaret Street and City Point.

Shoosmiths corporate partner, Ben Turner and solicitor Georgina Gurnhill advised the shareholders of GBR Phoenix Beard on this complex deal; and provided solutions along the way.

The team advised on all aspects of the deal, from the initial heads of terms stage to completion of the transaction. Tax advice was provided to the individual shareholders by Shoosmiths tax partner, Tom Wilde. Negotiation of the shareholders new service contracts with Savills was advised on by Shoosmiths employment associate, Nick Vernon.

Simon Farrant, managing director at GBR Phoenix Beard, now Savills, said: “We have used Shoosmiths for a number of years and have been continuously impressed by the quality of the advice we have received on this deal and others.”