Blake Morgan corporate team advise Toronto-based ContractorCheck

Blake Morgan’s corporate team have advised ContractorCheck, a Toronto-based software firm on its sale to Alcumus Group Ltd, a Cardiff-based safety company expanding further into Canada.

The purchase of ContractorCheck is the second Canadian acquisition for Alcumus in less than a year. Alcumus’ customers include major real estate developer Canary Wharf Group PLC.

Blake Morgan partner Rob Cherry and James Bowen worked on the deal.

Rob Cherry said: “This is excellent news for all parties. We’ve worked with the owner of ContractorCheck (Chris Kelson) before. He was a shareholder of Check Safety First (CSF) and we advised all CSF shareholders on the sale of CSF to Intertek earlier this year, leading to Chris choosing to work with us on this disposal.”

As well as having worked together previously, Blake Morgan’s TAGLaw membership proved crucial in getting the deal done. Although English law applied due to a UK buyer, ContractorCheck is part of a Canadian group of companies and so for various aspects, such as IPR, employment transfers and taxation issues, Blake Morgan worked closely with Canadian counsel and accountants to manage the deal. Blaney McMurtry, led by Steve Popoff, were Canadian counsel, appointed via TAGLaw.

ContractorCheck provide health and safety pre-qualification and contractor management accreditation. The business works with companies across Canada by assessing and accrediting contractors to legislative and client requirements. Its services help clients to maintain compliance and reduce risk when engaging with contractors.

Chris Kelson, CEO and co-founder of ContractorCheck said: “At ContractorCheck, we are committed to making workplaces safer and helping our clients reduce risk, by tackling the administrative legwork of health and safety due diligence and contractor management. Alcumus’ deep subject matter expertise and holistic vision to create better workplaces and stronger, more resilient businesses was inspiring and we are excited to become part of a global leader.”