About the Team
Our Corporate and Commercial team provides clear, technically assured and commercially focused advice to businesses, entrepreneurs, investors and high net worth individuals across a range of sectors. Clients rely on us for the clarity of our guidance, our depth of technical expertise, and our ability to deliver pragmatic solutions that align with the commercial realities of their business.
We take the time to understand the mechanics of each transaction, the commercial ambitions and strategic objectives of our clients, and the sector-specific dynamics at play. This enables us to provide proactive, tailored advice – whether you are a start-up taking your first steps, a growing SME navigating your next investment round, or an established business pursuing a significant corporate transaction or international expansion.
We handle a spectrum of corporate and commercial work, from routine day-to-day advisory and contract drafting, shareholder and joint venture agreements, through to cross-border M&A and corporate restructurings. Our team works seamlessly with colleagues across the firm to provide a holistic service addressing all aspects of your business and personal interests.
Our corporate and M&A team advises on the full range of corporate transactions across a variety of sectors. We act for buyers, sellers, investors, management teams and lenders on deals of varying scale and complexity - from small business acquisitions and disposals through to significant multi-million-pound transactions and international deals.
We handle:
Acquisitions & Disposals (M&A)
We routinely draft and negotiate heads of terms, confidentiality and exclusivity agreements, and full share purchase or business sale agreements, ensuring the right warranties, indemnities and protection mechanisms are in place. We guide clients through every stage of the transaction process, from initial structuring and due diligence, negotiation and completion, coordinating closely with employment, intellectual property, and real estate specialists where needed.
Management Buy-outs & Buy-ins (MBO/MBI)
We advise management teams, vendors and investors on structuring and executing management-led transactions, including management participation, funding arrangements and equity structuring.
Corporate Funding
We assist with early-stage equity finance rounds, debt financing, and the restructuring of existing funding arrangements.
Corporate Restructuring & Reorganisation
We advise on group reorganisations and solvent restructurings.
Shareholder & Partnership Matters
We advise on director duties, general meetings, notices and resolutions and corporate governance compliance.
We are particularly experienced in the UK SME sector.
Well-drafted commercial contracts are the legal foundation of every successful business. They provide the framework that protects your rights, defines your obligations, and reduces the risk of future disputes.
Our team advises on and drafts the full range of commercial contracts, ensuring they reflect your commercial objectives and provide appropriate risk protection:
- Supplier and customer agreements
- Manufacturing and supply arrangements
- Agency, distribution and licensing agreements
- Franchise agreements
- Outsourcing and service agreements
- IT and technology agreements
- Consumer contracts and terms and conditions
- Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements
- Intellectual property licences and assignments
We take a practical, commercial approach to contract negotiation, working closely with you to achieve the outcome you need while protecting your long-term interests. Our experience across a broad range of sectors - including technology, media, retail, hospitality, manufacturing and property - means we bring relevant market knowledge to every engagement.
Effective corporate governance is fundamental to the smooth operation of any business. Strong governance frameworks build trust with investors and lenders, protect directors from personal liability, and are critical in any sale or investment process.
We advise businesses on the full range of governance and compliance matters, including:
- Directors’ duties and board effectiveness
- Shareholders’ agreements and articles of association
- Employee share schemes and executive incentives
- General meetings, notices and resolutions
- Policies and procedures
- Regulatory compliance
- Succession planning
- Data protection and privacy
- Commercial advice on strategic matters
Our advice is always grounded in an understanding of your commercial aims and long-term plans, enabling us to structure governance arrangements that work in practice, not just on paper.
Joint ventures enable businesses to combine resources, share risk, and pursue opportunities that may be too large or complex to tackle alone. But a joint venture without a comprehensive agreement creates the potential for serious problems.
We advise on the full lifecycle of joint ventures - from initial structuring and partner selection through to negotiation, implementation and eventual exit or unwind. Key areas we cover include:
- Structuring the joint venture (for example, corporate entity vs contractual JV)
- Management and governance structures
- Allocation of costs, contributions and liabilities
- Profit and loss sharing arrangements
- Decision-making and voting thresholds
- Reserved matters and control rights
- Funding arrangements
- Non-compete and exclusivity provisions
- Intellectual property ownership and exploitation
- Dispute resolution mechanisms
- Exit, termination and unwind provisions
- Share transfer and pre-emption rights
We consider each deal holistically, identifying not only the commercial opportunity but also the potential risks and pitfalls to enable you to be confident that the structure, agreements and protections are right for your specific circumstances.
We advise high-growth companies and their investors at every stage of the funding journey, from pre-seed and seed rounds through to later-stage investment and exit. Our clients include founder-led businesses, angel investors and family offices, particularly in circumstances where commercial agility, clear structuring and speed of execution are critical.
We support clients across the full range of venture capital transactions, including term sheets, subscription agreements, shareholders’ agreements, convertible instruments and governance arrangements. Combining technical corporate advice with a strong sense of market practice, we help clients negotiate and complete transactions efficiently while protecting the foundations for future growth.
We are particularly well placed to advise on early-stage fundraising, including investments structured to qualify under the EIS and SEIS regimes. We advise companies, founders and investors on structuring and documenting tax-efficient investments in a way that is both commercially practical and aligned with HMRC requirements.
Our work includes advance subscription agreements, seed investment documents and the corporate housekeeping needed to support ongoing compliance. Because we act for both companies raising capital and investors deploying it, we bring a balanced view of what is market, what is workable and what helps transactions complete smoothly.
Many corporate transactions have a significant real estate component - whether through the acquisition of property assets, the transfer of leases, or the real estate implications of a share sale. Our corporate team works closely with the firm's real estate and financing specialists to ensure that the property aspects of corporate transactions are handled seamlessly alongside the corporate paperwork.
We advise on
- Corporate acquisitions and disposals with property assets
- Transfer and assignment of commercial leases in M&A transactions
- Property-related due diligence
- Development joint ventures and corporate vehicles for property investment
- Corporate structuring for property holding companies
We act for UK businesses expanding internationally and for international businesses entering or expanding in the UK. Our experience includes:
- Cross-border M&A and investment transactions
- Advising on UK subsidiaries and corporate structures for international groups
- International supply, distribution and licensing arrangements
- Representing overseas investors in UK acquisitions
- Coordinating multi-jurisdictional transactions with overseas law firms
In an increasingly digital economy, businesses need clear advice on the legal issues affecting technology and data. We provide practical commercial guidance on:
- IT and software supply and licensing agreements
- SaaS and cloud services agreements
- Data processing agreements and GDPR compliance
- Technology development and licence agreements
- Digital platform terms and conditions
- Intellectual property protection
Why Choose Us
Commercially Focused
We understand that corporate law is about more than documents. It is about protecting value, managing risk and enabling growth. Every piece of advice we give is grounded in a genuine understanding of your business objectives.
Experienced Team
Our corporate solicitors bring strong transactional expertise and sector knowledge, having acted on a wide range of deals across numerous industries.
Tailored Advice
Whether you are a start-up, a growing SME, or an established business, we deliver advice and documentation tailored to your specific circumstances and strategic goals.
Responsive & Efficient
We pride ourselves on clear communication and delivering reliable service for fast-moving corporate and commercial matters.
Integrated Approach
We work closely with colleagues across the firm – in employment, intellectual property, real estate, construction, and dispute resolution – to provide a genuinely holistic service.
