Our experienced lawyers provide practical, cost-effective advice on all the legal issues involved in starting up and funding a new business venture or in connection with a non-resident party establishing an operation in the UK.

We will advise you upon the best structure for your business (limited company, limited liability partnership, joint venture, etc) the types of funding available and how to protect your business idea and any intellectual property rights you have or will be developing.

 

Once the structure is agreed we will prepare and negotiate any necessary documentation which might include:

 
  • Constitutional documentation;
  • Shareholder or investment agreements;
  • Funding documentation (debt or equity);
  • Standard terms of business (including any website terms and policies, if required);
  • Other bespoke commercial agreements such as supply, distribution, agency, licence, franchise, consultancy and manufacturing contracts;
  • Knowledge transfer including intellectual property ownership, licensing and registration;
  • Confidentiality agreements;
  • Employment contracts and service agreements; and
  • Property ownership or occupancy documentation.

We recognise that for many start ups the budget for legal expenditure is limited. Therefore, our focus is on the key documentation require from the outset, tailored to meet the initial requirements of the founders, on the basis that advice and assistance on other ancillary legal matters can sometimes be deferred until it becomes relevant as the business grows.

 

We are actively involved with various local business support networks including:

  • Solent Innovation Growth Network Ltd (a not for profit company, funded by SEEDA and focused upon supporting innovative and high growth businesses within the Southern, Mid-Hampshire and Isle of Wight region) of which Paris Smith is a member and Head of Department, Douglas Cooper, sits on the board;
  • SETsquared (an organisation set up to nurture and promote high quality technology based start up businesses, including spin outs from the following four quality Universities - Southampton, Surrey, Bath and Bristol), where Douglas Cooper regularly sits upon business review boards for resident start ups, helping to give them feed back on their business models and fundability;
  • Solent Synergy Ltd (a not for profit company supporting fast growth knowledge economy based businesses in the Solent region) of which Paris Smith is a member and Head of Department, Douglas Cooper, sits on the board;
  • Southampton & Fareham Chamber of Commerce;
  • Institute of Directors;
  • Southampton Networking Lunch Club (a monthly lunch club at the Royal Southampton Yacht Club which Paris Smith organises for professionals and business people from the local area).

For further information please contact Douglas Cooper, Kim Walker or Jonathon Roy