Stevens & Bolton advises the shareholders of Dales Evans & Co. Ltd on its successful sale to BKL

Stevens & Bolton has advised the shareholders of Dales Evans & Co. Ltd ("Dales Evans"), Lester Dales and Paul Makin, on the successful sale of the business to BKL, a leading accountancy, tax and business advisory firm backed by private equity investor CBPE Capital LLP.

Dales Evans is a highly regarded specialist accounting firm serving clients across the music and entertainment industry. The transaction marks an important milestone in the firm's development, bringing together Dales Evans' longstanding sector expertise with the scale and breadth of a larger professional services platform. By becoming part of BKL, Dales Evans will be well positioned to continue supporting its clients while benefiting from additional resources and investment to support future growth. For Lester Dales and Paul Makin, the sale represents a successful outcome following decades of commitment to building a respected specialist practice. 

Stevens & Bolton advised on all legal aspects of the transaction, supporting the shareholders from initial discussions through to completion. By combining strategic, legal and commercial advice with a pragmatic and solutions-focused approach, the team helped navigate the complexities of the deal and achieve a successful outcome aligned with the shareholders' objectives.

Reflecting on the deal, Nick Atkins commented: "We are delighted to have advised Lester and Paul on this important transaction. Over many years they have built a highly respected specialist practice with an outstanding reputation in the music and entertainment market. This transaction creates a strong platform for the next phase of the firm's development and is a testament to the quality of the business they have created. It was a pleasure to work alongside them on such a significant milestone, helping to guide the transaction from start to finish and achieve a successful outcome."

Lester Dales commented: "This transaction represents an exciting new chapter for Dales Evans. Having built the firm over many years, it was important to us to find a partner that would provide the right platform for the business, our clients and our team for the future. BKL's scale and ambitions make it an excellent fit, and we are confident the business will continue to thrive as part of the wider group. The transaction was one of the most significant decisions we have made as business owners, and Nick and the Stevens & Bolton team played a key role in helping us achieve a successful outcome. Their combination of technical expertise, commercial judgement and practical advice gave us confidence throughout the process. They took the time to understand our objectives and navigated the complexities of the deal effectively. We are grateful for their support and guidance."

The Stevens & Bolton team was led by corporate partner Nick Atkins and supported by associates David Draper, Meg Manganaro and Zoe Stewart. Working closely with specialists across the firm, the team delivered coordinated, commercially focused advice throughout the transaction process.