Leathes Prior advises Canham Consulting on becoming Employee Owned
Leathes Prior is delighted to have advised Canham Consulting Limited on its transition to an employee-owned business under an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) structure.
The transaction was led by Alex Saunders, Partner in the Corporate Team and Jack Horwitz, Associate in the Corporate Team.
Founded in 1976 as the Canham Thomas Partnership, and then becoming Canham Consulting in 2002, the business has become a household name in the East Anglia construction market. The business provides civil and structural engineering services to homeowners, fellow construction professionals, the public sector, and many private businesses in Norfolk, Suffolk and further afield.
Having considered various succession and exit options, the stakeholders of the business believed that becoming an EOT was the best way to maintain its longstanding employee-focused culture and to ensure that the ethos of the business continues for generations to come.
Leathes Prior is delighted to have advised Canham Consulting on this exciting move, which will ensure its long-term future as an employee-owned organisation. Managing Director, Rob Panter said of the transaction: “I am hugely excited about the future of the business, and delighted that employees will all share in the ownership of the business and continue to play an active part in driving Canham Consulting forward. The company is committed to continued growth, both within East Anglia and beyond. Norwich is the company's home and will always be a priority, with the company remaining hugely proud to have served Norfolk and Suffolk for so long. Cambridge and the surrounding area is a focus area of growth for the company.”
Speaking on behalf of Leathes Prior Solicitors, Alex Saunders, Partner in the Corporate Team said: “We are delighted for the shareholders, management team and employees on the transition of Canham Consulting into employee ownership. The key stakeholders had extensively researched the EOT model and, having explored other options, it was evident that this structure best suited the staff-focused culture and ethos of the company. For both exiting shareholders and the management team, it was important that employees continued to have an active role in the business and I have no doubt that the business will keep thriving under employee ownership in future.”
Rob also commented on the services of Leathes Prior “We have looked at different succession options for some time. The most important thing for Canham Consulting is that the culture and values we work so hard at, continue to develop. The only way we could be sure of this, was to transition to an Employee-Owned business, and form an EOT.
The EOT process requires true collaboration, and transparency. It was essential for us, that we surrounded ourselves with practical, pragmatic, and truly understanding legal support. Alex Saunders and Jack Horwitz have guided us through the EOT process and been an integral part of the team. Their knowledge and collaborative approach have made the process enjoyable for everyone.
I cannot praise or recommend Leathes Prior high enough. Thank you for your support.”
We wish Rob, Peter, Chris, John, Karl and all the Team at Canham Consulting all the best for the future.