Charles Russell Speechlys advises CareTech on the acquisition of Smartbox

Charles Russell Speechlys’ Healthcare team has advised long-standing specialist social care client, CareTech Holdings PLC, on its recent acquisition of a majority holding in Smartbox Assistive Technology Limited.

Smartbox is a market-leading creator of software and hardware that helps disabled people without speech to have a voice and live more independently. As well as CareTech, Smartbox also supports service users with learning disabilities, autism and acquired disability for example, through stroke or brain damage following an injury.

Farouq Sheikh, CareTech's Executive Chairman, commented: "This partnership opens up unprecedented opportunities to blend care and technology. This will benefit the service users supported by CareTech alongside disabled people more generally and enable the Group to offer innovative solutions to both NHS and LA commissioners. Many thanks to Michael and the Charles Russell Speechlys team for their continuous and instrumental support which enabled us to complete this transaction smoothly.”

Michael Lingens, Corporate Partner at Charles Russell Speechlys said: “We were delighted to support Farouq and the CareTech team on this transaction, having worked with CareTech for over 25 years as it has continued on its growth journey. We were able to field a multi-disciplinary, sector specific team from our London and Guildford offices. We look forward to seeing how the new partnership between CareTech and Smartbox goes from strength to strength.”

The Charles Russell Speechlys team, led by Michael Lingens, included Hannah Dawson, Nathan Lightman and Jamie McMurray (Corporate), Amelia Goodwin (Employment), Ingrid Saffin and Aidan Welton (Real Estate) and Helen Coward and Anna Reynolds (Tax).