Gorvins Solicitors prides itself on the top-quality legal services we offer to our clients. We can only achieve that with the very best people guiding clients through every stage of their legal matter.
In our Meet the team series, we shine a light on the people behind the work. This time, we meet Christian Mancier, Partner in the Corporate team.
What’s your role at Gorvins?
I’m a partner in the corporate commercial team and jointly run it with Senior Partner, Andrew Curwen. I work primarily with owner-managed and family businesses on transactions such as company sales, acquisitions, corporate governance, succession and wider corporate matters. I think family businesses are such a crucial part of the UK economy and it’s a great privilege to support them with the legal services they need.
Much of what I do involves helping clients through the process of selling their business or supporting them when they’re looking to acquire or invest in another company. This is a highly significant moment for a business owner, so the role is not just about the legal work but about helping them navigate the process and understand what’s ahead as for many sellers, the sale of their business is the culmination of their life in business.
This is one of the big joys of working with family businesses. Every business has a story and every story is different. They’re often fascinating journeys that span decades, generations and major life decisions. Clients are usually very open about sharing those stories, which makes the work all the more rewarding.
What led you to a career in law?
I grew up in Stockport and went to Cheadle Hulme School before heading off to university to study law and history at what was then Anglia Polytechnic University.
One of the reasons I chose that combined degree was because I’ve always enjoyed history. The idea of studying only law for three years felt slightly daunting at the time, so the balance between the two subjects was the right fit for me.
After finishing my degree, I stayed on at the university for two years as an elected sabbatical officer responsible for finance and commercial services within the students’ union. When I think back, it was quite an unusual role for someone in their early twenties. I was effectively a director of a business with a turnover of around £1.5 million, employing a mix of 35+ full-time and 100+ part-time staff across bars, nightclubs, shops and catering outlets on three campuses. When I look back it was a huge responsibility to entrust in a fresh-faced graduate!
It ended up being an amazing experience and gave me early exposure to how organisations operate commercially.
At the same time, I completed a master’s degree in international sports law. Sport has always been a big interest of mine, so it was a natural area to explore academically as well.
After that, I returned to the College of Law in Chester to complete my legal training before starting my training contract with Gorvins in September 2001. I’ve been here ever since.
Why Gorvins?
A big part of the attraction was not only the opportunity to stay in Stockport while still doing the sort of high-quality work you might normally associate with a city centre firm but the fact that I would get more hands on experience and client exposure at an earlier stage in my career as opposed to being a junior member of a large team working behind the scenes with little client exposure or responsibility at say a much bigger firm.
Gorvins offered that balance. You could work on interesting, complex matters with direct client exposure from the start but within a firm that had a strong local presence and a culture that allowed for a better work-life balance.
That combination made it the right fit for me. I’ve spent my entire career here and that says something about the culture and ambition of the firm and the amazing colleagues I get to work with on a daily basis.
How did you end up specialising in corporate law?
My first seat as a trainee was actually in commercial litigation.
Litigation requires a very broad knowledge of the law because you never quite know what issues are going to land on your desk. You’re also often dealing with clients in very stressful situations and working closely with the courts.
During that seat, I had the opportunity to assist on a murder trial at Manchester Crown Court, which lasted around three weeks and attracted a fair amount of media attention. I recall being on the local news each night and my parents recording the news on a VHS tape which they labelled “Christian’s Court Appearance” which was perhaps not the best title they could have used!
However, on a serious note, These kind of legal proceedings are obviously a result of very serious real-life circumstances that change people’s lives. Being able to play a part in something so important was an incredible experience for a trainee.
When I moved into the corporate commercial team afterwards, I worked on my first deal with Paul Lupton and within a few weeks I realised that corporate work was where I wanted to be.….and here I am nearly 25 years later!
You get such an energy around transactions and as a deal builds momentum, there’s a certain buzz and sense of anticipation that comes with it. That’s what drew me in.
I qualified into the corporate team in 2003, became a senior associate in 2006, a salaried partner in 2010 and an equity partner in 2021.
What advice would you give to clients?
If you’re planning to sell your business, preparation is key.
Ideally, you should start planning two or three years before the sale process begins. That gives you time to get everything in order so that when a potential buyer asks for information during due diligence, you can provide it quickly and confidently.
The other thing I always say is never underestimate the change in mindset once the deal is done.
For many owners, the business has been their life’s work. They’ve spent years building it up and then suddenly, after an intense sale process involving lawyers and accountants, the transaction completes and the business is no longer theirs.
In some cases, they’re sitting at the same desk the following day, but reporting to someone else who is now calling the shots. That can be quite a significant mindset change and it’s something people don’t always anticipate or cope particularly well with.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Sport plays a big role in my life, particularly through my children’s activities.
My son plays both football and cricket and I also manage his under 14’s football team, which adds another string to the bow. My daughter plays hockey, netball and cricket as well, so a lot of our time is spent on the sidelines of sports pitches or acting as the family taxi service.
I’m also a lifelong Manchester United fan and have recently been getting to more Stockport County games as well which offer a different, but equally enjoyable, experience much closer to the action.
Away from spectating, cycling is probably my biggest personal passion. I ride regularly and follow the sport closely as a fan. Last summer my son and I were lucky enough to watch the final stage of the Tour de France from the grandstands on the Champs-Élysées, which was a truly unforgettable experience.