Exiting your Business

Whether you’re selling your company, handing over ownership, or restructuring, a successful business exit demands careful planning and legal precision. Our experienced corporate and commercial lawyers work closely with business owners to ensure the exit process is smooth, compliant, and aligned with your strategic and personal goals.

What does exiting your business involve?

Exiting a business typically means transferring ownership, assets, or shares to a new entity, whether through a sale, merger, management buyout, or other restructuring. The legal and commercial issues that arise will depend on the structure of the deal and the nature of your business.

There are important legal considerations that need to be addressed, such as:

• Ensuring the business is in a sale-ready state
• Managing due diligence requests
• Drafting and negotiating sale agreements
• Handling employee matters, including potential TUPE implications
• Managing regulatory compliance and tax efficiency

When should you start planning?

Early legal and strategic planning for a business exit allows time to:

• Prepare financial records and legal documents
• Resolve potential liabilities or risks
• Maximise business valuation
• Structure the transaction in the most tax-efficient manner
• Ensure compliance with employment and regulatory law

Key legal steps in a business exit

Our team can guide you through all legal aspects of the process. The typical exit process includes:

• Preparing for Sale
  Legal health checks and share restructuring if necessary to improve deal value and minimise risk of price negotiation and to spot issues early.
• Due Diligence Support
  Helping you respond to buyer enquiries, thoroughly, systematically and in a way that protects sellers through the disclosure process.
• Transaction Structuring
  Advising on whether an asset sale or share sale is more suitable for your goals.  We have considerable experience in both and will liaise with other advisers to ensure that the structure suits you best.
• Drafting and Negotiating Legal Documents
  Including heads of terms, share purchase agreements, warranties and indemnities, and non-compete clauses.  Getting the heads of terms right at the outset can save considerable time and resources down the line and will often streamline the sale and purchase process.
• Managing Third Party Consents
  Including regulatory approvals, landlord consent, or customer and supplier contract assignments together with any bank or finance approvals.
• Employee Transfers
  Advising on obligations under TUPE and assisting with consultation and communications, if applicable.

Build the right team: Strategic advisors matter

One of the most important steps in the exit journey is choosing the right advisors. At Clarkslegal, we not only bring deep expertise in M&A and commercial transactions—we also have trusted relationships with a select group of corporate finance advisors. We can introduce you to professionals with a strong track record in your sector and size bracket, ensuring your deal is in safe hands from day one.

How can our Corporate Exit Solicitors help?

At Clarkslegal, we understand that selling your business is a significant step—both financially and emotionally. Our lawyers offer practical, business-savvy advice tailored to your objectives.

Whether you’re selling to a third party, passing the business to family, or stepping away via a management buyout, our team can help you exit with confidence and clarity.