Corporate Law

In a share purchase, the buyer acquires ownership of the company itself, taking on all its assets and liabilities. In an asset purchase, the buyer acquires specific assets of the business, such as equipment, intellectual property or customer contracts, rather than the company as a whole.

Each approach has different legal and tax implications. We advise buyers and sellers on the most appropriate structure for their deal and manage the process through to completion.

Yes. A shareholder agreement is just as important in a two-person business as in a larger company. It sets out each shareholder’s rights and obligations, how decisions are made, what happens if one shareholder wants to leave, and how the business is valued and transferred.

Without one, disagreements are much harder to resolve and the outcome may not reflect what either party intended. We recommend putting one in place when the business is set up, before any issues arise.

Yes. We handle business acquisitions and disposals of all sizes. When buying, we help you structure the deal, carry out legal due diligence to identify any issues with what you’re purchasing, and draft or review the purchase agreement to make sure you’re properly protected.

When selling, we help you secure the best terms available while protecting yourself from potential claims after completion. We guide you through due diligence requests, negotiate the sale contract and advise on any warranties (contractual assurances about the business) or restrictions the buyer requires.

We help you identify the right structure for your new business, whether that’s a limited company, partnership or another arrangement. We handle the incorporation process and put in place any initial documentation you need, such as a shareholders’ agreement or employment contracts. We make the process straightforward and ensure everything is set up correctly from the start.

We support directors and shareholders on day-to-day corporate governance matters, including board decisions, regulatory filings, share allotments, director appointments and resignations, and other company law obligations. We can also support you if your business is growing and you need to restructure its ownership or management.