Paul specialises in acquisitions and disposals of companies and businesses for both owner managed businesses and large corporate clients. He advises on private equity investments, particularly in relation to early-stage companies, and provides general funding advice to companies, including advice on banking facilities and security documentation.
In addition, Paul provides general corporate governance advice to companies and directors and assists companies with their annual compliance and statutory obligations under the Companies Act.
Paul provides advice to all organisations within, or who interact with, the education sector, including schools and academies (including free schools, alternative provision academies and university technology colleges), further education corporations and universities.
In relation to schools and academies, Paul has significant experience in providing advice to academy trusts on expansion through the sponsorship of other schools and re-brokering of existing academies (including advising trustees on their duties in connection with expansion), and major capital build projects. He also advises academies on compliance with the financial handbook and governance handbook, and on the establishment of trading subsidiaries and other group structures.
Within the maintained sector, Paul has advised on federation and de-federation issues, as well as the establishment of charitable companies providing opportunities for collaborative practice, shared learning and other professional development opportunities for clusters of schools.
Paul forges strong relationships with clients underpinned by his focus on making things happen. He has an excellent project management track record and an enviable breadth of knowledge in connection with DfE policy and cutting edge academy work.
Recent experience
- Advising a corporate client in relation to a $80,000,000 syndicated multicurrency banking facility involving group companies in 7 jurisdictions.
- Acting for both further and higher education institutions on term loan and revolving credit facilities totalling in excess of £45.5 million.
- Acting for a charity and one of the North East’s most visited tourist attractions on the restructuring of its banking facilities.
- Acting for a bank on the provision of acquisition finance in relation to the management buyout of a precision engineering company.
- Acting for a bank on the provision of development facilities for the construction of care homes.
Paul also provides advice to Further Education colleges on a whole range of matters including:
- The merger of further education colleges following the government’s area review process;
- The establishment of shared services companies and associated advice to governors;
- The establishment of trading subsidiaries and the acquisition of training providers by further education colleges;
- Large finance projects including development and working capital banking facilities;
Paul also advises universities on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters including:
- University spin-outs and subsequent venture capital fundraising;
- Banking and finance including significant term loan and development finance facilities;
- The establishment of university technology colleges and collaboration with schools and academies;
- Mergers and acquisitions within the sector (including advising on the disposal of a HE campus to a further education college);
- Advice on constitutional issues.
-
Paul's service merges sophistication with a keen business sense.
Chambers and Partners 2025 -
He's incredibly supportive and understanding when translating complex legal terminology and mechanisms to us. He represents the company very well when meeting with third parties on our behalf.
Chambers and Partners 2025 -
Paul is always a great partner to work with. He is very commercially aware and pragmatic and we love working with him.
Chambers and Partners 2025 -
Paul is incredibly supportive, patient and understanding when translating complex legal terminology and mechanisms to us. He represents the company very well when meeting with third parties.
Chambers and Partners 2025 -
Paul is always a great partner to work with. He is very commercially aware and pragmatic.
Chambers and Partners 2025 -
Paul Wigham's technical expertise and his practical advice are both fantastic.
Chambers and Partners 2025 -
Paul is great at explaining things in layman's terms. He is a pleasure to work with and is clearly technically excellent.
Chambers and Partners 2024 -
Paul provides a great service and has built a great relationship with our team.
Chambers and Partners 2024 -
Paul Wigham and Kirsty Adamson are fantastic people to work with. They take time to completely comprehend our commercial needs and fight our corner accordingly. Always with a fun, work hard/play hard attitude.
Legal 500 2024 -
Paul has good communication and turns around work quickly.
Chambers and Partners 2023 -
Paul is a superb lawyer.
Chambers and Partners 2023 -
Paul Wigham has a strong focus on venture capital work arising in the technology and education sectors.
Chambers and Partners 2022