Supporting the sale of employee-owned Giles Wilson to Fisher Jones Greenwood 

We were delighted to advise the directors and Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) of Giles Wilson on the sale of its trading business to Fisher Jones Greenwood (FJG), part of the Lawfront group.

The transaction was particularly significant as Giles Wilson had transitioned to employee ownership in 2022, meaning the sale required consideration of both commercial objectives and the wider interests of employee stakeholders.  

With relatively few examples of EOT-owned businesses being sold, there was little established precedent to follow. Affinia’s Corporate Finance team worked closely with Taxation and Accounting Solutions colleagues throughout the transaction, helping the directors and Trust navigate complex ownership, governance, tax and accounting considerations from initial valuation through to completion.

How we supported

Affinia provided integrated corporate finance, tax and accounting support throughout the transaction, including: 

Our involvement included: 

Advising the directors and Employee Ownership Trust on the valuation of the business and the strategic options available to them.

Leading negotiations with Fisher Jones Greenwood and its private equity-backed parent group, Lawfront.

Project managing the transaction through due diligence and completion.

Providing tax advice in relation to both the transaction and the Employee Ownership Trust.

Delivering accounting support to the business and the Trust throughout the process.

The outcome 

The transaction completed successfully, enabling Giles Wilson to become part of Fisher Jones Greenwood and the wider Lawfront group. The deal saw FJG acquire Giles Wilson’s teams in Leigh-on-Sea, strengthening its presence across Essex and Suffolk while supporting the continued growth of the business and its people. 

By combining expertise across Corporate Finance, Taxation and Accounting Solutions, Affinia helped guide the directors and Employee Ownership Trust through a rare and complex transaction. The successful completion of the deal demonstrated how specialist advice can help employee-owned businesses navigate strategic change while balancing commercial goals with the interests of their people.