Blake Morgan supports AllBright’s acquisition of everywoman
Leading law firm Blake Morgan has played a key role in AllBright’s newly announced acquisition of everywoman, the international learning and development organisation.
AllBright, the global organisation advancing women’s professional growth at all career stages, has acquired everywoman for an undisclosed sum, bolstering both firms’ ambitions for women’s advancement and enhancing their collective impact on gender equality and professional development. AllBright and everywoman’s client base has a combined footprint of over 8.25 million employees and by 2030 will expand to 20 million professionals worldwide.
Blake Morgan acted for the selling everywoman shareholders: Chair Rosaleen Blair CBE, and Co-Founders Karen Gill MBE and Maxine Benson MBE. The firm offered advice and support on the sale of the shares and the shareholders’ moves to new ongoing roles with AllBright InvestCo Ltd.
The acquisition will be through a new holding company, AllBright InvestCo Ltd, created to pave the way for future growth. AllBright will continue to be led by CEO Viviane Paxinos under the new structure, with everywoman founders Ms Gill and Ms Benson investing in the new company and remaining as advisers. Ms Blair will also be an investor alongside majority shareholder, Cain International.
Blake Morgan’s team working on the deal was led by Partner Dov Katz and Legal Director Michelle Davenport, alongside tax specialist Partner Rob Thomas and fellow corporate team members Associate Toby Price, and Trainee Solicitor James Robinson. Associate Hannah Waterworth supported the team on employment law matters.
The acquisition will support AllBright’s ambition of addressing the gender parity gap projected by the World Economic Forum to take 132 years to close. everywoman’s offerings will enhance the business with events, awards, top-tier training programs, and content collaborations, promoting women’s progress, driving business growth, and reducing gender inequality, which could add $7 trillion[1] to the global economy.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, everywoman has provided training to over 200,000 women across its 70 global corporate clients, including Accenture, Amazon, FedEx, Bupa, American Express, Meta, Google, Lloyds Banking Group, and The Ministry of Defence. Established in 2018, AllBright’s community consists of nearly half a million individuals globally, with a client list featuring industry leaders such as Guggenheim Investments, British Airways, Chelsea Women’s Football Club, Pandora, HSBC, BNY Mellon, Tissot, Google, and Samsung.
Following the acquisition, AllBright will focus on four key areas of growth to deliver comprehensive, transformative solutions for members and clients:
- Learning & development for women and businesses: With an expanded suite of B2B and consulting services, AllBright will leverage the expertise of both organisations to help companies advance gender equality and women’s leadership.
- Dynamic learning platform: Its integrated technology will tailor development programmes to the needs of women at all stages of their careers.
- Enhancing, high-value global memberships: It will combine the very best of AllBright’s and everywoman’s member benefits, learning resources, awards, forums, online and in person communities.
- Amplifying partnership business: With women set to drive 75% of consumer decisions[2], AllBright will further invest in its creative studio, crafting compelling content, media solutions, and experiences tailored for brands seeking authentic connections with women.
Dov Katz, Partner at Blake Morgan, said:
We are proud of the part we’ve played in the smooth transition of these two incredible female-led organisations into a single partnership. The work both organisations have done over the past decades has been both important and inspiring, and we’re confident that together they will have an even greater ability to transform the professional world, break down barriers, and improve gender equality for the benefit of all.
Michelle Davenport, Legal Director at Blake Morgan, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have guided our female entrepreneurial clients in this matter, bringing together complementary teams to improve women’s opportunities and skills in business. I look forward to seeing how their combined efforts advance the success of women and the businesses they work in.”
Darren Murphy, CEO of Rafalie Corporate Finance advising the selling shareholders said:
“This transaction combines two of the most forward-thinking consultancies in the industry, creating an exciting proposition for clients to continue their journey of changing the world of work for women across the globe. It was a pleasure to have been involved with such dynamic individuals and I wish them the best of luck in the future.”
Founders of everywoman, Karen Gill MBE & Maxine Benson MBE, said:
Twenty-five years ago when we started everywoman, we were pioneering in this approach. Today, the world of work is totally different, and as we enter into our anniversary year coinciding with a new economic and political outlook for Britain, we couldn’t be more positive about this next step for everywoman. The power of the combined everywoman and Allbright offerings will give our clients and women around the world, access to more resources and networks.
Viviane Paxinos, CEO of AllBright and AllBright InvestCo said:
“We are super excited to announce our partnership with everywoman. Founded by two brilliant and successful women, it has a proven track record of changing the world of work for women. Together we will double down on our shared mission to create a world where every woman can thrive and achieve her full potential. We are thrilled to see progress being made at board level with 42.6%[3] of FTSE 100 boards having a woman, but there’s still a lot of work to do across the business ecosystem given all female teams only received 2% of funding in 2022[4] and only 1% of all businesses that sold a majority stake in the past 10 years were female-founded[5]. Our partnership is a great example of a female-led organisation, selling to another female-led organisation and doing it successfully and collaboratively.”
[1] Moody’s Closing the Gender Gap
[2] Nielsen Wise Up To Women Report
Share:
