Russell-Cooke solicitors Southampton office.

About Hayleigh

I enjoy advising clients on all manner of corporate transactions. Having both taught and practised company law, I can combine technical expertise with a pragmatic approach. 

Hayleigh Southgate is an associate solicitor in the corporate and commercial team with a focus on company law and business acquisitions and disposals. 

Hayleigh advises business on all aspects of corporate and commercial law and transactions, including the preparation of key company documentation such as shareholders’ agreements and articles of association, business reorganisations, private company mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, and refinancing transactions. 

In addition to practising law, Hayleigh previously worked as lecturer before joining Russell-Cooke in 2025. 

Education

  • Read law at the University of Southampton, graduating with First Class Honours.
  • Completed the Legal Practice Course at the University of Law in 2014, obtaining a distinction.
  • Trained at a Top 100 law firm and qualified as a solicitor in 2016. 
  • Obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education teaching in 2022. 

Memberships

  • Member of The Law Society of England and Wales.

Hayleigh's highlights

News

05.03.2026

Russell-Cooke advises on sale of UK industrial extraction business to Swedish technology group Amplex Indu AB

Russell-Cooke has advised on the sale of Airbench LTD, a UK-based business specialising in the design, manufacture...
Peter Jeffery, Partner in the Russell-Cooke, corporate and commercial team. Thomas Clark, partner in the Russell-Cooke corporate and commercial team. hayleigh-southgate-russell-cooke-solicitors Oliver Ward, legal assistant, Russell-Cooke corporate & commercial team. Will Bond, Senior associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, real estate, planning and construction team. Isabella Lumsden, associate in the Russell-Cooke employment law team.
Multiple Authors
1 min Read
Peter Jeffery, Thomas Clark, Hayleigh Southgate, Oliver Ward, Will Bond, Isabella Lumsden
News

27.02.2026

Sports law and restraints of trade

It is highly common for corporate and commercial contracts to contain ‘restraints of trade’ clauses. These are contractual provisions...
hayleigh-southgate-russell-cooke-solicitors
Hayleigh Southgate
3 min Read
News

16.01.2026

Directors’ duties: what does the duty “to promote the success of the company” actually mean?

Associate Hayleigh Southgate explores the key responsibilities of company directors under the Companies Act 2006...
hayleigh-southgate-russell-cooke-solicitors
Hayleigh Southgate
3 min Read
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