Partner, Head of Liverpool Office

Kieran Donovan

Role: Partner, Head of Liverpool Office
Dept: Corporate
Location: Liverpool
Direct Dial: 0151 317 3355

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Summary

Kieran is Partner and Head of Napthens Liverpool office and leads the corporate team across the Liverpool City Region.  He has over 20 years’ corporate transactional experience advising large corporates, owner managed businesses and family companies on mergers and acquisitions, buy and build strategies, business and share disposals, succession planning, joint ventures and shareholder reorganisations.

Kieran also regularly acts for management teams and regional institutional investors on venture capital and private equity fund raises and exits.

With a well-deserved reputation as a dealmaker, Kieran is widely recognised for his commercial approach to transactions and his ability to meet clients’ strategic objectives, both personal and business related.

Specialisms

Kieran works with a wide range of clients from early-stage ventures to established owner managed businesses, family companies, large corporates and institutional investors.   He has particular expertise across sectors including manufacturing, transport and logistics, digital and creative, healthcare, professional partnerships and family businesses.

Kieran has worked on a number of notable transactions throughout his career across a wide range of sectors and brings this expertise to bear for the benefit of all clients irrespective of their size or sector.

Kieran combines specialist corporate advice with a commercial approach to problem solving and works closely with clients’ accountants, wealth managers and other advisers to provide a truly integrated service that ensures clients’ personal goals are aligned with the operational needs of their business.

Background

Before joining Napthens in 2022 Kieran successfully led the Owner Managed Business Group across the Liverpool city region at national law firm Weightmans for 5 years where he was a Partner from 2017 to 2022.

Prior to that Kieran was a Partner and Head of Corporate for 6 years at boutique regional law firm Bermans and prior to that he was a Partner working in the national corporate team across the Liverpool and Manchester offices of international law firm DWF for 10 years from 2001 to 2011.  Kieran trained and qualified in the Manchester office of national law firm Laytons.

Memberships and Awards

Kieran is Chair of the Liverpool City Region Corporate Finance Group comprising 50 plus member firms across the city region’s corporate finance community.

With a track record of delivering a first rate service combined with top quality advice to his clients and with a strong network of contacts in the region’s business community, Kieran is recognised by Legal 500 as a ‘leading individual’ in corporate law in Liverpool.

More about Kieran Donovan

Describe yourself in 3 words:  

Positive.  Determined.  Pragmatic.

How do you like to relax out of work?

I play golf regularly, I enjoy going to the gym and I also enjoy long walks.

If you had an alternative career – what would be your fantasy job? 

Professional golfer.

What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?

Building long term relationships with clients and contacts helping them achieve their goals.