Arnold & Porter and Travers advise Lerner on Aston Villa acquisition

Arnold & Porter, Hammonds and Travers Smith all won places on Randy Lerner’s £62.6m takeover of Aston Villa Football Club.

Arnold & Porter is a main adviser to American billionaire Lerner and his family estate in the US, and was brought in to advise on the bid.

The team was led by London corporate partner Jeremy Willcocks, with Joe Howe in the firm's Washington office advising on international tax issues.

Travers corporate partners Philip Cheveley and Spencer Summerfield led the team advising Lerner’s acquisition vehicle, Reform Acquisitions. A close relationship with the financial advisers to the vehicle, Seymour Pierce, helped win the mandate for the firm.

Hammonds corporate partner David Hull and M&A head Simon Gordon advised Aston Villa.