Contributors
Womble Bond Dickinson's (WBD) Newcastle-based Corporate team has been recognised at Insider's 2025 North East Dealmakers Awards.
The awards honour the region's top professional advisory firms - and the individuals working within them - which have worked on transactions involving North East businesses during the qualifying period.
Last December WBD, led by Robert Phillips and David Ridley and supported by Ellie Jefferson and Becky Brook, advised longstanding client LDC on the merger of Connect Health and Healthshare. The transaction was recognised at the awards by winning Deal of the Year (£20m+). The judges praised the merger of Connect Health and Healthshare for its scale and significance, calling it “A strategic partnership that unites two major healthcare providers and will significantly improve patient experience and clinical outcomes in the North East and across the UK.” In addition to LDC, the funders and advisers on the deal included BGF; Grant Thornton; KPMG; Muckle LLP and PSMI.
WBD was shortlisted across five categories in total, highlighting the strength in the region of the firm's Corporate team.
The winners were announced at a gala dinner event at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead on 25 September 2025.
