Every business is filled with opportunities and risk. Those wishing to maximise their potential must not only comply with the requirements of company law but also be prepared to tackle the complexities of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and the full range of corporate finance. This has made skilled, flexible and commercially minded legal advice not only desirable, but essential.
At Avisons we have the expertise and experience to provide a quality service allowing you to continue to run your business without the hassle of worrying about the legality of what you are doing. Our commercial team is able to draw upon a wealth of experience and knowledge over a wide variety of sectors to enable your business to move in the right direction by giving you a "value for money" service.
Our commercial team can advise on all aspects of corporate and commercial law affecting companies, partnerships and unincorporated businesses including sole traders. Our approach and experience in this field means we are able to protect your interests whilst you get on with the job of running your business.
We are a team of experienced lawyers with an interest in our clients and their businesses. We support our clients through the business life-cycle from start-up, through growth and acquisition, to sale or exit from the business.
We seek to develop a clear understanding of your commercial objectives, and the business environment within which you operate, in order to provide you with focused and practical advice. You will benefit from our high-level expertise which comes at a sensible price.
We like to develop long-term relationships with our clients so that we can tailor our service delivery to your exact requirements.
We can help you with:
Acquisitions, Mergers and Sales
If you have your business goals set high, it is likely that at some point you will be thinking about a merger or acquisition. It is also likely that you will do a handshake deal subject to due diligence and contract. Once that has happened sometimes there is only a small window of opportunity to tie up all the loose ends and check everything. This is when you need expert advice on all aspects of your transaction. Our corporate lawyers can make things happen and will make it happen. Specialists at Avisons have advised on deals of all sizes involving many different types of entities. We always focus on what our client is seeking to achieve and aim to deliver the solution in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
Business Structures and Joint Ventures
If you are buying or selling a business, or going into business with another company on a specific project, unless you have the right advice you may end up facing unexpected difficulties if things do not go according to plan.
It is essential that all due diligence checks are carried out. It is also important that you receive specialist advice as to whether the structure of that business is suitable and matches your ambition.
Even seasoned business people leave it to lawyers like us to help protect their interests so that they can carry on with their business. Each and every business is unique and so are the individuals that run that business. It is therefore important that the purpose of the business is properly understood prior to advising how that business needs to be structured.
We at Avisons not only consider the objectives of the business but we also consider what the individuals hope to achieve from the business prior to providing any advice. The way in which a business is structured will determine what documents are necessary to manage and govern the business. Our specialists will also prepare the necessary documents to include important aspects such as exit strategy and resolutions to resolve disagreements which may occur during the decision-making process.
Commercial Contracts
Whether you are going into business with your family or friends, or whether you are placing your business for sale and are looking for potential buyers, we can advise on all aspects of commercial contracts which will ensure that your interests are protected in the event that the transaction does not complete or if something does not go to plan.
A brief list of some of the most common contracts is found below:
- Bailment & leasing
- Consultancy agreements
- Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements
- Heads of Terms for commercial transactions
- Joint Venture agreements (national and international)
- Letters of engagement
- Manufacturing & Supply agreements
- Outsourcing agreements
- Terms & Conditions
Setting up a business
Our experts will provide you with advice to match your ambition. We can ensure that we take care of the legalities leaving you to focus on your new start up. Whether that is advising and establishing the correct structure or ensuring that the relevant and appropriate terms and conditions are in place.
Shareholders Agreements & Options
Most company sales and purchases take place via share purchases. This is essentially when you buy all or a portion of the shares of a company. The actual share transfer process is a relatively simple process however, it is important that all legal documentation is drawn up correctly giving you adequate rights and protections should things go wrong. Not all share purchases happen immediately, on occasions employers give employees options which they can exercise in the future.
This is when you need us. We will check everything for you and ensure the legal documentation is drawn up correctly.
Our specialists are well versed with the various schemes that are approved by HM Revenue & Customs. We can provide appropriate advice which is not only tailored to what the individuals are seeking to achieve but also takes into consideration tax implications for the parties concerned.