Head of the Leeds office, Guy Jackson, has secured a coveted position in Yorkshire Business Insider’s Power 100 – an annual list of the hundred most influential people in the region, which includes such luminaries as Nick Clegg, Tom Riordan, Ken Bates and Howard Kew.

Commended as “an M&A specialist, well-known throughout Leeds’ legal community”, the publication cites the recent EMIS £9.9m acquisition of Rx Systems as a particularly significant deal in 2010. Cobbetts also advised EMIS on its admission to AIM which won the IPO of the Year award last month at the Quoted Company awards in London.

Other key highlights for the Leeds corporate team include the £50 million fundraising and £175 million admission to AIM of Rawdon-based healthcare IT specialist, EMIS Group; advising Wetherby-based IT infrastructure provider, Esteem Systems Limited, on its acquisitions of SiRViS IT Holdings and Midas IT Solutions; and the £22 million AIM reverse takeover by Numis Securities Ltd of Equity Partnership Investment Company plc’s private equity portfolio.

These high profile deals were acknowledged In October 2010, when Guy and his team received two nominations for the 2010 Dealmaker's Awards, the annual event that celebrates the outstanding achievements of the professional community. Guy was nominated as Lawyer of the Year and Cobbetts was a contender in the Law Firm of the Year category.

Alongside leading on a portfolio of impressive deals, Guy has also spearheaded the annual Rising Stars event that honours up-and-coming finance professionals in Yorkshire. Last year’s inaugural awards were a great success with over 150 people attending from some 35 of the regions premier businesses. This year’s event is to be held on 12 May.

Additionally, in June 2010, Guy was honoured with two senior appointments in recognition of his
expertise in the corporate finance community - he became a business centurion for the Faculty of Business and Law at Leeds Metropolitan University, and he was also elected as a member of Financial Leeds’ steering group, a private sector-led partnership organisation which promotes Leeds as a financial centre of excellence.

Guy commented: “It is extremely gratifying to be recognised alongside my friends, peers and business leaders and I feel very fortunate to be in a position where I can help grow the region’s economy by promoting inward investment and, also, champion the world-class talent and business opportunities in Yorkshire.

“Cobbetts, and in particular the corporate team, has had an exceptionally productive 2010, and the theme is set to continue into 2011 as we seek new and prosperous opportunities and markets - which is clear evidence that, despite the ongoing economic challenges, with business confidence and innovation, Yorkshire can continue to be a strong and vibrant market place.”