Assisting WW+P in global expansion; through strategic planning and international capabilities
The client
Weston Williamson + Partners (WW+P) are a global architecture practice founded in 1985. In 2013 as part of their succession planning, the company became an LLP. As architects they specialise in urban transport, Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and infrastructure design.
Geographically, WW+P work both in the UK with studios in London & Manchester and internationally with studios in Sydney, Melbourne and Toronto. Further expansions are currently planned within Europe, the Middle East, China, and the West coast of America.
Having worked with their previous professional services partner for 30 years, WW+P felt their thinking and their systems needed to evolve to accommodate the growing needs of the business. They were looking for a global partner who could assist them with this ambitious expansion, particularly as they were quickly becoming more established in the international market.
The assignment
Menzies LLP (HLB UK) were invited to a competitive tender and appointed as WW+Ps holding company auditors and tax advisors in 2019. The scope of services included providing tax structuring advice, outsourced accounting and payroll.
Since the appointment, WW+P’s client relationship partner at Menzies (HLB UK), Ralph Mitchison, has led WW+P through several complex strategic and planning projects whilst also providing core services in audit and tax.
We assisted in restructuring the group, advised on international transfer pricing and international distribution policy, and implemented new payroll services and accounting systems across WW+P’s entities. These changes enabled greater governance and facilitated reporting of results from local companies to the parent group. Our team would also assist in corporate matters with the LLP, with ongoing succession planning and individual financial planning advice to partners.
As WW+P expanded, we advised on setting up a branch in Toronto with the help of our colleagues at HLB Canada, as well as setting up WW+P’s Irish branch with the assistance of HLB Ireland.
More recently, we advised on the sale of the global WW+P business to EGIS; a French state/privately owned international group following an 18 month acquisition process. Menzies (HLB UK) are now retained by EGIS, not only for WW+P but also as advisor to EGIS’s other substantial UK businesses.
The value we created
International capabilities were key to Menzies (HLB UK) initial appointment; WW+P were seeking an organisation who offered both global advisory and an accounting network that operated with a similarly high quality of service and values.
In addition to these capabilities, a firm that had experience in the construction industry was the final determining factor for Mohammed Malik, Finance Partner at WW+P:
“We are a people business that sells professional services in the construction industry. In our experience, HLB are also a people business who pride themselves on providing a high level of service and are particularly familiar with the industry we operate in. As our business has grown internationally and into new territories, we have been able to draw on the global HLB network for valued advice particularly when it comes to strategic planning and tax. As we continue to grow, we are confident that HLB will continue to service the needs of our business”.
More case studies
