Larger companies:   You will get  “City” service and know-how but our average hourly rates are up to 25% less than most City firms. 

Start-ups and smaller companies:  we offer  flexible terms;  a system that is shaped to your cash flow by an upfront  payment and then a monthly retainer because  it is in our interests to help you grow into a successful business.  We will carry out the work you  require according to your timetable.

Start-ups and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises

The Corporate Group will provide you with an incorporation package for your start up to give you a solid foundation. We will help you select the correct corporate structure whether it is a limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or other legal entity e.g. a Community Interest Company.   We can ensure that you have up to date and robust contracts ranging from employment contracts and policies to trading conditions, agency and distribution agreements, franchising and licensing agreements.

Corporate Finance

We will help you prepare your business plan and introduce you to a network of contacts, from corporate sponsors to nominated advisers and others, to support you in raising your company's profile in the business and financial communities. We have wide experience in private placings and in using the equity markets. We can help you to give incentives and retain your employees through option schemes or to restructure your share capital to clarify the ground rules before an investment.  We also advise on corporate governance.

Business Services

The Corporate Group can help you prepare a new set of articles of association, shareholders agreement or partnership agreement to regulate the governance of your business. If you are looking to sell or buy, we have experience in dealing with all aspects of the sale or acquisition process.  Maybe you need help with insurance or competition law or advice on resolving a commercial dispute using mediation. Whatever your requirements are, we can provide you with the advice and level of tailored service that you need.

Company Secretarial Services

To reduce the administrative burden and risk of personal liability, we provide a company secretarial service for a fee, £500 plus VAT, through our secretarial company, Attorney Company Secretaries Limited. The service includes providing a corporate secretary and registered office, handling of communications received at the registered office, filing of the annual return and maintaining your statutory books.

Exit Strategy: AIM/Plus

We have the experience and knowledge to guide you to the correct market when you want to be rewarded for your hard work, by realising some or all of your investment, enabling you to retire or to start your second career.  Our contacts with corporate sponsors and nominated advisers means that we can provide you with focussed help to get you the best deal.

Commercial Contracts (we specialise in e-commerce conditions of trading)

Business operates on the basis of contracts every day.  Ensuring that you have a clear document setting out the rights and obligations of all parties is important, whether you are trading with consumers or other businesses.  We aim to set out a blueprint of how the parties view the relationship and cater for each eventuality, whilst ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.  If you are offered standard terms we will review them.

Intellectual Property

Intellectual property is becoming an increasingly significant asset within organisations; ensuring that the correct forms of protection are in place, as well as using suitable methods to exploit it, are vitally important.  With a variety of rights to be considered, ranging from copyright, trade marks and patents to confidential information, it is necessary to identify exactly what rights you have.  We can advise you on the existence and methods of protection for each form of intellectual property.  When you wish to exploit that asset, we can help you by drafting suitable contracts.  Additionally, if you find that your rights are being infringed, we can help you enforce the rights that you do have. 

Employment Law and Policies

Our approach is practical.  We guide you through each step of the procedures and prepare you for any changes that are approaching. It is vital that your employment contracts and policies are clear to prevent subsequent disputes but if you find yourself facing a claim, we will provide you with strategic legal advice to deal with it in a manner that is efficient for you.

The in-house and private practice experience of the members of the team enables us to give commercial and strategic advice for your circumstances and ensure that you are up to date with developments in this frequently changing area of law.

Insurance and Reinsurance

Members of our corporate group have particular experience in non-contentious insurance and reinsurance matters with in-depth experience in the London insurance market, particularly in acting for Lloyd’s and other insurance brokers.   We advise in connection with the purchase and sale of insurance brokers, the regulation of insurance brokers by the Financial Services Authority, compliance issues and technical matters such as credit write backs, terms of business agreements and risk transfer.  We can also assist with policy wordings and coverage issues.

Social Economy

We act for more than 60 charities and social enterprises, from start-ups to leaders in the field.
We understand the Social Economy, the relevant legislation and the surrounding marketplace.
Initially we can help you to select and establish the appropriate structure, whether that be a company limited by guarantee, community interest company, or charity.  We can then advise you on the best overall structure to maintain a sustainable model to give you the best chance of delivering the social benefit.

Corporate Responsibility 

Companies are part of the wider civil society in which we live. Besides creating employment, benefits derived by the company spread to the wider community. Even if establishing a Social Enterprise does not fit with your objectives, you may still reach a stage where it makes sense for your company and employees to provide social benefit by having a  Corporate Responsibility policy.

Your reason to become involved in Corporate Responsibility may be altruism but it also makes sound business sense to be seen to provide social benefit. Research shows that the prospects of a company implementing Corporate Responsibility are enhanced.   Employees become ambassadors and are more loyal.  Additionally you can improve the public perception of your company by publicising  in your company’s communications the fact that your company supports activities with a social benefit.

Corporate Responsibility is becoming an ever more important aspect of a company’s business and is now effectively enshrined in directors’ duties under the Companies Act 2006.

Non Domiciled Persons

If you are non domiciled in the UK and that can apply even if you live here, we can establish and maintain safe structures in relevant foreign jurisdictions with tax advantages, splitting capital and income, remittance of capital tax free into the UK and freedom from Inheritance Tax on non-UK assets.

International Legal Group

Globalisation is important to the delivery of most businesses products and services.  Through a network of firms across the world with relevant expertise we have an international reach enabling us to advise on cross border commercial and legal issues.  Our network gives you access to accounting and legal services in many major jurisdictions, in particular in Australia, Cyprus, India, China, Israel, Luxembourg, Malta and Spain.  Our advice will help you compete successfully in the global marketplace.

India/China

We work with L H Blenheim with a view to ensuring that if you  are operating, or intend to, in India, you get the right deal with the right party so that you can take advantage of that very large and expanding market.

The services that we offer in relation to China are through our preferred partner status with Reeve Hepburn Asia Pacific LLP. This organisation has the necessary skills to act as a one-stop shop to bring Chinese companies to the UK to take advantage of the EU market.   Your company may be matched to a Chinese company prepared to make an investment, in return for you opening up your distribution channels for their products. 

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