Leigh Whittaker

Expertise

Leigh trained and qualified at Gateley, was previously named North West Young Lawyer of the Year by Insider, and is now a partner in the corporate team with 15 years’ of corporate transactional experience.

Leigh’s experience includes advising a range of clients on acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, corporate restructurings and general corporate governance matters, but he has a particular focus on private equity transactions, regularly advising private equity and venture capital sponsors on new investments, entrepreneurs on corporate disposals to private equity backed purchasers, and management teams on the terms of their reinvestment as part of a private equity buyout.

Leigh develops long-lasting relationships with clients by providing commercial and pragmatic advice.

Experience

Advising Palatine Private Equity on its investments in Verdant Leisure, Trade Skills 4U, Veincentre, Anthesis, Fournet and BluprintX.
Advising the shareholders and management teams of three leading digital and design studios on their sale to, and reinvestment in, the newly formed creative group ‘Further’, backed by Waterland Private Equity.
Advising Radius on acquisitions in the telecoms, telematics, energy, EV and vehicle hire sectors.
Advising the shareholders and management team of National Education Group on the significant minority investment by Synova.
Advising Praetura Ventures on numerous growth capital investments.

Leigh Whittaker is great to work with, extremely capable and highly committed to supporting his clients.
Legal 500, 2024

Leigh Whittaker was excellent at managing the transaction and the relationship with the vendor and their advisers.
Legal 500, 2025

We were all impressed by Leigh and his team at Gateley who provided invaluable expertise and guidance all the way, helping all three of the agencies involved to understand the legal complexities and offering commercial, pragmatic advice whenever it was needed.
Paul Stafford, Group CEO, Further

We were delighted with the support from Leigh and his team at Gateley who have an excellent reputation in the market and worked collaboratively with all the parties concerned to ensure the deal completed as quickly as possible.
Ben Dexter, Chairman, Road Traffic Solutions

Leigh and his team provided excellent advice and project management to ensure the successful completion of yet another transaction.
James Painter, Senior Investment Director, Palatine Private Equity

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