Larking Gowen ranks as leading Corporate Transactions Adviser in East of England

Larking Gowen is pleased to announce that its Corporate Transactions team has been recognised in the latest Experian MarketIQ M&A Review, featuring in the East of England financial adviser league tables for Q1 2026. The firm was ranked joint first by deal volume in the region, underlining the strength and consistency of its transactional activity.

The latest report highlights Larking Gowen's continued involvement in advising on mergers, acquisitions and corporate transactions across the region, reinforcing the firm's position as a trusted adviser to ambitious business owners, investors and management teams.

According to Experian's Q1 2026 review, the East of England recorded 108 completed transactions during the quarter, with a combined value of £545 million. While overall deal volumes were lower than the same period last year, the report notes that the market remains resilient, with continued activity across a broad range of sectors and sustained interest from both domestic and international investors.

James Lay, one of our Partners leading our Corporate Transactions team, commented:

"We’re delighted to feature once again in the Experian league tables, which is a strong reflection of the continued trust our clients place in us. While the market remains selective, we are seeing encouraging levels of activity, with business owners continuing to seek high-quality strategic advice on acquisitions, disposals and growth opportunities.

High-quality businesses are continuing to attract significant interest from both trade and financial buyers. Our team’s experience, regional knowledge and strong network position us well to support clients through every stage of the transaction process and deliver successful outcomes.”

The report highlights that the East of England remains an important contributor to UK M&A activity, with manufacturing, professional services and technology businesses continuing to generate significant transaction volumes. International investors also remained active in the region, with US buyers leading overseas participation during the quarter.

Jack Minns, Corporate Transactions Partner, added:

"We're currently advising on a number of exciting transactions and remain optimistic about opportunities throughout the remainder of 2026. Businesses that are well prepared and have a clear growth strategy continue to achieve strong results when coming to market.

I’d also like to recognise the fantastic effort from our team, who continue to do an excellent job supporting our clients and driving these results."

Larking Gowen's Corporate Transactions team advises owner-managed businesses, shareholders and management teams on acquisitions, disposals, management buyouts, fundraising, business valuations and strategic planning across East Anglia and beyond.

For the full report click here and for further information about Larking Gowen's Corporate Transaction services, go to our page here.

Source: Experian MarketIQ UK and Republic of Ireland M&A Review, Q1 2026.