LAVA Advisory secures £8m growth debt from Beechbrook Capital

London-based mid-market mergers and acquisitions advisory firm LAVA Advisory Partners has secured £8m in growth debt financing from European small and medium-sized enterprise funder Beechbrook Capital. The transaction provides the corporate finance specialist with capital to execute its expansion strategy while maintaining its status as a 100 per cent employee-owned business through an Employee Ownership Trust. By opting for structured debt rather than equity investment, LAVA has avoided dilution that might otherwise necessitate a future trade sale or private equity exit.

The firm intends to deploy the new funding across three primary strategic pillars. These include expanding its partner base through both internal promotions and lateral hires, scaling its international deal network, and upgrading its operational infrastructure. The financing follows the recent promotion of Tom Rowe-Jones to partner, joining existing partners Simon Woodcock, Hamish Martin, and chief executive Bridget Austin. This leadership reinforcement underscores the company’s commitment to organic growth and professional development within its ranks.

Simon Woodcock, a partner at LAVA Advisory Partners, stated that the team had established a solid foundation over the past five years. He noted that the firm now has ambitious goals aligned with its strategic pillars and expressed confidence in moving forward with the support of an institutional investor like Beechbrook. Elliot Gargan, investment director at Beechbrook Capital, highlighted LAVA’s clear vision and strong market opportunity as key factors in the decision to invest. He emphasised that the firm’s momentum, driven by a well-structured growth plan and experienced leadership, provided confidence in its ability to deliver on its objectives.