We are on hand to provide specialist expertise to businesses on all aspects of financing strategy and on a wide range of fundraising and investment arrangements including seed rounds, Series A and follow-on rounds.
We pride ourselves on building long-standing relationships with successful businesses and their owner managers through the business life cycle from the start-up stage ultimately through to an exit.
Our venture capital team is continually supported by lawyers from our other specialist and sector focused teams including our IP & IT and tax teams giving us the ability to advise clients not only their financing needs but also on other value-impacting issues.
How we can help
STRUCTURE & FORMATION
Working alongside your corporate financiers and tax advisers to advise on the most advantageous corporate or equity structure for your business. Ensuring that arrangements between founders are properly addressed and appropriate governance documents are in place to ensure that the business is investor ready.
TAX ADVICE
Working alongside clients’ tax advisers and corporate financiers to structure investments in a tax efficient manner and advising on tax reliefs available under Enterprise and Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS and SEIS).
INVESTMENTS – INVESTOR ADVICE
Advising investors in connection with venture capital and growth capital investment, including early-stage funding, series A and follow-on rounds. Advising on all aspects of the investment process including negotiation of investment documentation.
INVESTMENTS – INVESTEE COMPANY ADVICE
Advising investee companies in connection with their investment needs. Assisting with the investment process including preparation and negotiation of investment agreements, drafting disclosure letters and preparing share issue documentation.
FULL SERVICE LEGAL SUPPORT
Drawing upon the specialist expertise of lawyers across our firm in key areas for start-ups and high growth companies including intellectual property, technology, commercial contracts, employment, tax and employee incentives.
SHARE SCHEMES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Advising on tax-efficient share schemes and incentive arrangements for senior management, including advising on enterprise management incentive (EMI) share options to incentivise key employees.
EXITS
Advising founders, management teams and investors on exits from high growth, venture capital backed businesses. These include via trade sales, secondary and tertiary buy-outs and other exit options.
