Edward is a corporate solicitor with over 30 years’ experience advising businesses and their owners on how to effectively plan and execute a variety of corporate transactions. Throughout his career, Edward has worked on many high-value acquisitions, disposals, reorganisations, mergers and takeovers, with many involving cross-border issues and significant commercial aspects. He also assists companies with, or seeking, a stock market listing, with UK equity market fundraisings and regulatory compliance.

Edward acts across all industries but has extensive experience in advising those in the technology and manufacturing sectors as well as retail, hospitality, and food and beverage.

Edward has been a contributing editor to Sweet & Maxwell’s Company Directors: Law and Liability for over a decade, and assisted with the development and publication of the CBI’s Practical Guide to Corporate Governance.

  • It has been a really positive experience working with Edward Dawes and his team at Keystone on this strategically important deal. Edward and the team continue to provide pragmatic, clear advice which helped not only in the legal process but also in ensuring all of the relevant considerations from a due diligence perspective had been thought through also. I cannot praise Keystone more highly.

    Alec Guthrie
    CEO, HML Holdings

  • I’ve worked with Ed for over 10 years to successfully conclude several acquisitions, disposals, and restructurings. I now chair and advise a number of companies in the UK and Canada and Ed will always be the first point of contact to ensure perceptive and astute advice at all times. Ed can explain and simplify complex issues, consider all aspects of a transaction and provide clear guidance. He is also a pleasure to have on the team.

    Harry Reilly
    Deputy Chair, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS FT
    Chair, Biotronics Limited

  • I have high expectations of the external advisers I work with; I don’t just want a capable lawyer, I want a person with business acumen, who understands Marston’s and its objectives and priorities. I want someone who knows our people, thinks in our shoes, talks our language and does things our way, being prepared to go the extra mile to get the job done. Ed’s ability to deliver on those expectations is a key reason for his appointment to lead the external legal team on several of Marston’s most significant brewery business acquisitions over the years, including Ringwood, Wychwood, Thwaites and Charles Wells.

    Richard Westwood
    Managing Director, Marston’s Beer Company

  • We’ve worked with Ed on a number of deals – both big and small. He’s a sound strategist and a shrewd negotiator, who is easy to deal with, thinks in our shoes and understands our priorities and objectives. We think he’s great.

    Katie Swainsbury
    Head of Legal, Industrial Customers, Veolia UK

  • Ed advised me and my wife as owners of events management business, DB Pixelhouse, on an equity release and investment transaction with Westbridge Capital. He’s a good guy to have on your side; he knows the right people, thinks ahead, focusses on the issues that matter, and knows how to get a good deal done.

    David Bulley
    CEO, DB Pixelhouse

  • I worked with Ed in project managing a long running multi-jurisdictional divestment project for a FTSE 250. He is a commercially astute and experienced lawyer with an adaptable style, who is bright, committed, capable and resourceful. He is also a pleasure to deal with.

    John Jenkins
    Owner, Guidemark Ltd

  • I have worked with Ed on several corporate and commercial transactions, both large and small, in my time as group finance director of the leading greeting cards publisher, UK Greetings, and as financial consultant with Clintons Retail, and have appreciated his polite, responsive, pragmatic and sensible manner, and his unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of his clients in their preferred style.

    Kevin Vaux
    Financial Consultant, Clintons Retail

  • Ed advised me when I was seeking to secure my first corporate acquisition. He was calm, unflappable and wise throughout the process and we ended up with an excellent win-win deal. Just what anyone could want from their legal partner!

    Alistair Darby
    CEO, SA Brain & Co

  • I’ve worked with Ed over several years on corporate transactions. He is highly responsive, thorough, and very easy to work with. He takes time to understand client objectives and gives practical commercially focused advice – based on years of experience – as to which issues are crucial and which are less important. This helps set the tactics for negotiation meetings where he provides invaluable support and creative solutions. I’ve enjoyed working with Ed and recommend him highly.

    Simon Halliday
    CFO and Strategy Director, FTSE 250 company

  • Ed’s expert guidance, informed advice and dedicated support during my company's sale to Steelite helped to turn concept into reality and deliver an excellent result. He’s a great person to have on your side

    William Edwards, Founder of William Edwards Ltd