Mishcon de Reya advises Least on merger with Insight Technology

Mishcon de Reya has advised Least, the digital transaction toolkit, on its merger with propTech company Insight Technology, home to the UK’s market leading agency marketplace and CRM products, The Agents Society and AgentsInsight.

Mike Avery will be CEO of the new group, with Darryl Friend becoming CTO and Leon Ballard COO, working alongside board advisor Nick Kirby (a Partner at Mishcon de Reya).

The merged business has a crystal-clear vision to establish itself as the industry’s preferred operating system - a central source-of-truth and daily dashboard for agents and all stakeholders involved in transacting commercial property globally.

The combined products will enable agents to take advantage of rapidly evolving market conditions; to respond to building owner’s requirements for more accurate and timely reporting, as well as occupiers’ demands for speed and simplicity.

In order to better serve its existing customer base and to satisfy unprecedented demand from European and US clients, the company will be carefully deploying its significant funding to grow the team across the board. This will add strength in depth to the existing team, which includes talent from agency, investment, building owner, tech and legal backgrounds.

With no immediate changes to either the AgentsInsight or the Least platforms, the merged business will prioritise product development that will best serve agents, while working to improve the separate, agent-controlled, owner and occupier portals.

Mike Avery said: "Key to us and the societies we work with is to protect the agent-led ecosystem, whilst introducing significant efficiencies in collaboration, preparation, reporting and deal management. This merger gives us the firepower to grow and improve, while safeguarding the essential role of agents."

Leon Ballard said: "It was clear from the outset that we shared a broader vision: to improve the commercial property transaction process. As a result, we have now combined the sector’s best solutions for finding, negotiating and closing commercial property deals."

Least was advised by Lizzie Wilson, a Managing Associate in Mishcon de Reya's Corporate department. Insight Technology was advised by Rory Suggett, a Partner and Head of Corporate at Ashfords.