Company Law  

If you run a limited company, you must keep to the special rules and formalities set out in the Companies Acts. If you are a director or a secretary of a company, you will have special responsibilities placed on you. 

The consequences of getting things wrong are very serious. You may inadvertently commit a criminal offence, or you may lose the protection of limited liability, so that you become personally liable for your company's debts. 

We can advise you on these matters, and help you organise your company's affairs properly. 

If shareholders fall out, we can help you know your rights, and possibly help you extricate yourself from the company in the best way.

A partnership is like a marriage. You see a lot of your business partner, and your partner's fortunes are mixed up with your own. A partnership can be a good way to run your business. An unhappy partnership can be as bad as an unhappy marriage. 

Partnership law is governed by the Partnership Act of 1892. The Act is quite old fashioned in some ways, and doesn't always allow partners to do all they want to do. 

Before you go into partnership, let us help draw up a partnership agreement. This will give all partners a framework of rules in which to operate - but allows the partners to draw up their own rules. 

If partners fall out, we can help you to decide how best to dissolve the partnership, so that you may be able to remain in business, and perhaps retain the partnership assets. We know about partnerships - we are partners ourselves! We will give you practical and commercial advice. 

Buying or selling a business is complicated. You're dealing in so much more than merely property, and you're usually buying or selling your livelihood, not just the stock.

Last year we helped clients buy and sell many businesses worth millions of pounds in many parts of England and Wales. We reckon that we acted quickly and efficiently, and that our clients benefited from our expertise. In these dealings, we considered problems arising in many areas of law, such as employment, tax, property, licensing and contract law. 

We will consult your accountant and your bank, and we hope that we'll be able to help you get the deal that you want. This really is an area where our experience can help you.