Contributors
Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has advised York-based Fera Science Limited (Fera) on its acquisition of 3Keel Group, a specialist sustainability consultancy.
The acquisition advances Fera’s mission to deliver Science for Life, supporting clients and partners to tackle complex challenges through deep scientific expertise, measurement and trusted advice.
The combination of Fera Science and 3Keel marks a pivotal step for the life science sector, bringing together Fera’s expert laboratory and field services with 3Keel’s internationally recognised consulting and advisory practice to offer a unique end-to-end proposition.
Established in 2013, 3Keel helps organisations tackle risk and build resilience across supply chains, food systems and landscapes. Its evidence-led approach, analytical capabilities and long-standing client partnerships have built a strong reputation for developing novel solutions and delivering measurable impact.
The WBD team advising Fera was led by corporate partner James Cook and legal director Catherine Willis, supported by Hannah Severgnini (corporate) and Sophia Di Xiao (tax).
James Cook commented:
“We're delighted to have advised Fera Science on its acquisition of 3Keel Group. The combination brings together outstanding scientific capability and a highly regarded sustainability advisory practice, creating a compelling end-to-end offer for organisations navigating climate and nature-related risk. This transaction is another example of WBD supporting ambitious, purpose-led businesses to deliver long-term impact and growth.”
Jodie Roebuck, Chief Financial Officer of Fera Science, said:
“Joining with 3Keel presents a fantastic opportunity to grow our combined capabilities across sustainability services and responsible environmental stewardship. By bringing together our complementary strengths, we are creating an unrivalled and uniquely powerful platform to help our clients and partners address climate risk, improve resilience and deliver long-term impact. We have appreciated the expertise and advice of Womble Bond Dickinson in supporting us through the transaction.”
The transaction is supported by Bridgepoint, a leading mid-market investor and Fera Science’s majority shareholder since January 2024. Womble Bond Dickinson previously advised Fera’s management team on Bridgepoint’s acquisition of a majority stake in the business. Alongside the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Bridgepoint continues to back Fera Science’s organic and acquisition-led growth across global markets. Since Bridgepoint’s investment, the company has achieved double-digit revenue growth and now employs more than 550 people at its York-based biotech campus.
