Company Law

If your business trades through a limited company, our team of expert company solicitors can advise and assist with the formalities of company law. We can provide comprehensive company legal advice in all areas of company law.

Company Law: Setting Up 

Our team of company law specialists will get to know your goals and aspirations and advise you on the setting up and running of your business. We can advise you on all issues relating to private companies; or, if you want to raise capital in a public limited company, we can offer company legal advice on:

• corporate tax and share options;
• limited Liability Partnerships; and
• finance and corporate structures.

We will advise on all aspects of company commercial law, including:

• Articles of Association
• Shareholders’ Agreements
• Demergers
• Finance and Exit Strategies

Articles of Association

Articles of Association are a key area of company commercial law. In essence, Articles of Association are the rules which dictate how a company is run and define the sometimes complex relationships between the company, its shareholders and the Directors. Articles of Association are crucial for any business, no matter the size or type. In fact, they are a legal requirement for any company in England and Wales.

Your firm’s Articles of Association must be thoughtfully drafted while following certain provisions found in the Companies Acts. In turn, it’s a good idea to seek company legal advice from solicitors specialising in company law.

In addition, it may well be that your company’s Articles of Association could benefit from a thorough legal audit. Often, it is only when a serious dispute arises that the Articles of Association of a company are examined in detail, and the results can be surprising!

Our team of solicitors specialising in company law can help you draft and implement Articles of Association, and conduct an in-depth legal audit if required.

Shareholders’ Agreements

Shareholders’ Agreements are agreements made between shareholders of a private company. They govern the relationship between the shareholders and set out rules on how the company is to be run.

A Shareholders’ Agreement pre-empts disputes and protects the interest of the shareholders. Without a shareholders’ agreement, there is a greater risk for disputes and disagreements to arise. Appointing a company law specialist can help you to draft and implement a detailed Shareholders’ Agreement in a cost-effective and timely manner.

Sometimes, these agreements can be appropriate where you are setting up a company with someone else, perhaps even family or friends. You may also need a Shareholders’ Agreement when a third party wishes to invest in your company.

A Shareholders’ Agreement typically includes clauses relating to:

• regulation, issue and transfer of shares;
• description of how the company is going to be run; and
• protection for minority shareholders.

Shareholders’ Agreements can range from the very simple to the very complex and, as there may need to be particular provisions in your Shareholders’ Agreement, company legal advice should be sought at an early stage.