Our first stop was NatWest in Birmingham - our designated BL clearing bank. Don Walker was given the task of visiting NatWest. He ‘returned’ with Gordon Wayne, manager of the Birmingham branch. The first advice given, had we thought of using David Haggart of Eversheds in Birmingham? No?
Gordon explained that David was an evangelist MBO lawyer. A leader in this emerging phenomena. As managers, we didn't have pots of money to pay lawyers. Haggart would work for nothing if he thought there was a chance of pulling off the MBO. We only paid Eversheds fees if it was successful. No success = no fee. Plus, Gordon added, we needed guiding through the process. It was a first for us. Not so, for David Haggart.
David Haggart came to Rearsby to see what we were about. He wanted to walk the business. Measure us and our commitment. He was a larger than life character. Confident, bright and quick thinking. The type of character, when discussing face to face issues, is mentally working on at least two other problems/opportunities, whilst still giving 100% attention. David was still playing hockey, approaching 50 and the Senior Managing Partner in Eversheds, a legal practice growing through merger.
Later I learnt he took a strong personal interest in his young trainee lawyers who he addressed as ‘Officer Cadets’. He liked his Officer Cadets, not straight from University or a Law School, but converted lawyers from other disciplines, who had seen a bit if the world before commencing law or joining Eversheds. These Officer Cadets were good. Very good. Indeed one Mark Spinner has been our company secretary for twenty-seven years.
I liked David. Very much.