Shoosmiths has advised the management team of facilities management company Orbis Protect on its buyout (MBO) backed by private equity firm NorthEdge Capital.

Orbis Protect, which employs more than 400 staff across 19 depots, provides a range of vacant property management and lone worker protection services to public and private sector clients throughout the UK.

The Shoosmiths team comprised of private equity expert Maurice Dwyer, (a recent arrival at Shoosmiths), senior associate Gareth Cook and paralegal Sharon Nicholls, with support from tax partner Kate Featherstone and commercial partner Susie Wakefield.

Maurice said: “We are delighted to be part of this deal which is an important step towards the company’s long-term growth and aim to boost its service and innovation. We’d like to wish Guy and team the very best for what is bound to be an exciting future.”

The MBO was led by Orbis chief executive Guy Other and chief operating officer Ben Howard. NorthEdge has taken a significant majority stake in the business.

Guy Other said: “The Shoosmiths team, led by Maurice Dwyer, were right by our side throughout and provided excellent advice and guidance at all times. They were commercial, extremely responsive and their obvious experience shone through.”

Orbis is based in Uxbridge, West London, and has a significant presence in the Midlands, where its senior management team is based. It also has depots in Seaham, Port Sunlight, St Helens, Bromborough, Swinton, Horbury, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Dartford, Belfast and Glasgow.

Rob Freer, head of Midlands at NorthEdge, led the deal alongside investment director Andy Skinner.