HCR Law tops Wales M&A rankings

HCR Law has been named the most active dealmaker in Wales, according to the latest Experian MarketIQ Q1 2026 report. The firm climbed from third place to first in the Wales rankings, reinforcing its position as a leading legal adviser for mergers and acquisitions across the region.

The achievement forms part of a strong national picture for HCR, which retained its position as the UK’s most active dealmaker by volume for the fifth consecutive reporting period. Nationally, the firm completed 48 deals in Q1 2026, maintaining a clear lead over its nearest competitors. In Wales, HCR advised on eight transactions, placing it firmly at the top of the regional league table.

The Wales team’s rise to the number-one position reflects the quality and breadth of transactional work being undertaken from our Cardiff office, spanning international acquisitions, domestic share deals and corporate disposals.

Headline deals

Head of the Wales Corporate team, Martyn Davies, led on a multi-million-pound cross-border share acquisition of an entertainment business, which completed in June 2026. The deal demonstrates the team’s strength in advising on acquisitions across a range of sectors.

Corporate Partner Theresa Grech was part of the team that advised US-based Quantum Design International, Inc. on its acquisition of the Oxford NanoScience Division of Oxford Instruments plc. This was a significant cross-border transaction, underlining the team’s capability in handling complex, high-value international deals.

Senior Associate Delyth Evans also contributed to the team’s strong performance, successfully completing the sale of her client’s trading subsidiary in May 2026. The transaction saw a leading trade association in the manufacturing industry sell its training arm as part of a strategic decision to sharpen its focus on core member services.

A strong platform for growth

The Welsh M&A market saw 61 transactions totalling £245m in Q1 2026, with encouraging momentum in the sub-£10m segment and strong activity across the professional services, manufacturing and hospitality sectors.

With HCR now leading the Wales league table, our Cardiff team is well placed to support businesses across the region with their transactional ambitions as the market continues to develop.