Corporate Law Firm of the Year award

Irwin Mitchell has been named South Yorkshire Corporate Law Firm of the Year following a string of deals involving regional businesses.

Irwin Mitchell was also shortlisted for Dealmaking Firm of the Year and 3 of its deals were shortlisted for Deal of the Year at the Insider South Yorkshire Dealmakers Dinner last night at the St Paul's Mercure Hotel in Sheffield.

James Bullock, Partner, who heads up the Sheffield team said: "This is the first year we have been shortlisted and Irwin Mitchell has fought off stiff competition to win this award. It feels even more rewarding knowing it was our peers that voted for us.

"This award is testament to our clients who have been willing to take risks and grow their businesses, even in this tough climate, and Irwin Mitchell is delighted to be a part of that."

Kevin Cunningham, Partner, who heads up the Yorkshire Regional team said: "Our clients are determined to come through these challenging economic conditions in good shape. Whilst initially we are have been helping some clients take defensive measures, more recently we have seen the banking sector stabilise and a growing air of confidence. The deals we have advised on demonstrate an appetite to take strategic opportunities and we are delighted by this acknowledgement from the dynamic South Yorkshire community in which we are proud to play a part."

This year Irwin Mitchell has advised on several deals involving Sheffield manufacturing companies including the sale of Ringland Construction and the acquisition of the Tempered Spring Company.

In addition the team has acted on transactions for Pyronix Limited, Energy Alloys, Full Scale Dynamics, H Bingham, Schmolz & Bickenbach, HSBC and Mabanaft, as well as advising Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank on the funding for the management buy-out of Mayflower Engineering Ltd, Electronic Data Processing Plc on its share buy back on the London Stock Exchange and South Yorkshire Investment Fund on its investment in BLP (which won the Deal of the Year Award).

The Irwin Mitchell corporate team also advised AES Engineering Limited in its acquisition of Standard Seals in India, creating one of the top five largest mechanical seal companies in India.