Mergers and acquisitions
Specialist M&A solicitors for owner-managed businesses
Selling your company, buying a business or leading a management buy-out. We act on deals from £1m upwards on a fixed or capped fee agreed in writing, so the legal cost is known before you commit.
Regulated by the SRA
Solicitors Regulation Authority no. 816928
- Fixed or capped fees in writing
- Senior solicitors on every deal
- Deals from £1m upwards
- Reply within one working day
What an M&A solicitor does for you
We run the legal side of the deal from first conversation to completion: reviewing heads of terms, managing due diligence, drafting and negotiating the sale and purchase agreement, handling disclosure, and keeping the timetable on track alongside your accountant and any corporate finance adviser.
Selling your business
Share and asset sales for founders and shareholders. We protect the price you agreed by limiting warranty exposure, negotiating deferred consideration and earn-outs, and preparing a disclosure letter that holds up.
Buying a business
Targeted due diligence focused on what affects value, a clear report, and a purchase agreement that reflects what the diligence found. We coordinate warranty and indemnity insurance where it earns its premium.
Management buy-outs
Funding structures, new articles, shareholders' agreements and the employment and property points a buy-out always touches, managed under one timetable.
How our fixed fees work
Fee worries are the most common reason founders delay speaking to a solicitor. We take that away. After a free call we send a written quote that sets out the scope, the fee and what would change it.
- One agreed figure, or a cap, for the defined scope
- Clear list of what is and is not included
- No surprise invoices: any change is agreed with you first
- Disbursements such as Companies House fees shown separately
"Client testimonial about the business sale will appear here once consent to publish has been confirmed."
The deal process, step by step
01
Free 30 minute call
We talk through the deal, the timetable and what you want from it. No charge and no obligation.
02
Fixed fee quote
A written quote setting out exactly what is included, so you can budget for the legal cost from day one.
03
Heads of terms
We review or negotiate the key commercial terms before anything binding is agreed.
04
Due diligence
Selling: we prepare you for the buyer's questions. Buying: targeted diligence with a plain-English report.
05
Contracts and disclosure
The sale and purchase agreement, disclosure letter and ancillary documents, negotiated to protect your position.
06
Exchange and completion
We run the completion checklist, Companies House filings and post-completion steps.
Common questions
How much does an M&A solicitor cost?
It depends on the size and shape of the deal, but we quote a fixed or capped fee in writing once we understand the scope. You will not get an open-ended hourly bill. If the scope changes materially, we tell you before any extra cost is incurred.
How long does it take to sell a business?
Most share sales in the £1m to £10m range take three to six months from signed heads of terms to completion. Preparation before you go to market can shorten that considerably.
Should I sell shares or assets?
Sellers usually prefer a share sale for tax reasons, while buyers often prefer an asset purchase to leave liabilities behind. We explain the trade-offs early and work alongside your accountant on the tax side.
What are warranties and indemnities?
Warranties are statements about the business that the seller stands behind. Indemnities are pound-for-pound promises to cover specific risks. Negotiating these, along with limits on your liability, is where good legal advice protects the price you agreed.
Do I need a City firm for a deal this size?
No. For owner-managed businesses, what matters is senior attention and a timetable that holds. You deal directly with experienced solicitors, without the overhead built into large firm rates.
When should I speak to a solicitor?
Ideally before you sign heads of terms. Many of the points that cause trouble later, such as exclusivity, deferred consideration and restrictive covenants, are set at that stage.
Planning a sale or acquisition?
Talk it through with a senior solicitor. The first 30 minutes are free.