Corporate Structure

The first two years of a new venture are crucial to its development. You need to set up your corporate structure, build your team and fund your growth. We can help you do all that and more with our ‘survival kit’ for young and fast-growing firms.

Shareholder agreements

Shareholder agreements are drawn up when the company is founded. They protect the individual investments of the shareholders and set out how the firm will be managed.

At the time, shareholder agreements might seem like a formality. But they can be crucial if there are disagreements later on.

If founders disagree on what direction to take, or if someone isn’t meeting their obligations, the agreement provides a solid basis for resolving disputes.

We can draw up shareholder agreements that accurately reflect your commitments, your responsibilities and how you want to work, so you’re all supported and protected no matter what happens in the future.

Share option schemes

Share option schemes are an excellent way for young and fast-growing firms to reward their most valued or important employees.

Essentially, they give team members a stake in the future success of the company, by allowing them to buy stock in the firm at a certain price at some point in the future. Sometimes, the option can only be taken when a certain level of performance is reached.

We can help you set up your scheme so you offer the right incentives to the right people, without letting go of more equity than you need to. We’ll help you sort out details such as purchase price, timings and conditions.

Bank introductions

For many young firms, getting the right finance in place can make the difference between failure and success.

We can introduce you to banks who are sympathetic to the needs of fast-growing firms, and can provide the funds you need for your next stage of growth.

Personal guarantees

Directors of fast-growing firms often use personal guarantees to secure bank funding. However, you can end up very exposed if things go wrong, because creditors can decide who they want to pursue to try and recover a debt. So, it’s very important to understand what you’re signing up for.

We’ll help you set up the arrangement so the burden is shared fairly between shareholders. You may also want to cap your liabilities, or limit the duration of the agreement.

IP protection

Patents, trademarks, plans and other intellectual property (IP) can be vital to the success of a young firm, particularly in hi-tech sectors.

We can help you put the right legal protection around the IP you’ve created, so you can get the most value out of it without fear of theft or imitation.