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Corporate and M&A

Mergers & Acquisitions lawyers in London and Thames Valley

 

Our corporate legal team advises on all aspects of buying and selling businesses, management buy-outs and management buy-ins for deals up to £100m in value.  

Supported by a large, multi-disciplinary, specialist team of lawyers, we undertake a wide range of acquisitions and disposals. Our network of international law firms allows us to regularly work on international transactions. 

“Very professional, knowledgeable and accessible lawyers.” 

Chambers and Partners

FAQs – Mergers & Acquisitions

The term ‘mergers and acquisitions’ refers to the purchase (and sale) of companies and businesses by individual and corporate buyers (and sellers). There are two broad categories of acquisition – ‘share sales’ and ‘asset sales’. The term ‘share sale’ refers to the purchase (and sale) of a company through the process of selling and transferring the ownership of its shares, whereas the term ‘asset sale’ refers to the purchase (and sale) of a business (which may be owned and operated by a company) through the process of selling and transferring the ownership of its assets.

Mergers and acquisitions can be advantageous for multiple reasons, including: enabling companies and businesses to become more profitable through purchasing already profitable companies and businesses, enabling companies and businesses to grow through acquiring more resources, assets and expertise, and enabling those who own a valuable company or business to receive money by selling such a company or business.

As well as potential rewards, there are potential risks associated with mergers and acquisitions; the main legal risks include the risks associated with the provision of warranties and disclosure. When selling a company or business, amongst other things, the buyer and the seller will usually enter into a share purchase agreement or an asset purchase agreement; as part of this agreement, the seller will usually provide ‘warranties’ (a ‘warranty’ is a contractual promise that a given state of affairs is true) about their company or business, but also qualify/negate these warranties by making disclosures against them in a disclosure letter. If, following the completion of the acquisition, the seller is found to have breached a warranty (against which there is not adequate disclosure), they could be sued for breach of contract by the buyer and be required to pay damages. Legal advice should be obtained by both the buyer and the seller of a company or business in relation to the warranties given and disclosure.

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Read, listen and watch our latest insights

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  • 04 March 2024
  • Corporate and M&A

Treasury Shares – An Opportunity to be Treasured

Under section 658 of the Companies Act 2006 (‘CA 2006’), there is a general rule against companies acquiring and owning their own shares.

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  • 07 February 2024
  • Corporate and M&A

The Importance of S3 of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977

All entities which enter into business-to-business contracts should be aware of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 to ensure that their terms of business are legally binding

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  • 06 February 2024
  • Corporate and M&A

Clarkslegal’s Corporate team advise the exiting shareholders of leading human microbiome company

Corporate lawyers advised the shareholders of leading human microbiome company, Invivo Healthcare, on their multi-million pound sale.

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  • 24 January 2024
  • Corporate and M&A

Clarkslegal advises Kinectrics Inc on its acquisition of Cheshire based engineering firm

Canadian multinational, Kinectrics Inc was successfully advised by Clarkslegal’s corporate team on its purchase of Engineering Analysis Services for an undisclosed sum.

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  • 24 January 2024
  • Corporate and M&A

Clarkslegal act for Granahan McCourt Capital on acquisition of Strategic Imperatives

Clarkslegal’s corporate team, led by Ashan Arif and Jacob Montague, has advised Granaham McCourt Capital on its multi-million-pound acquisition of Strategic Imperatives.

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  • 19 December 2023
  • Corporate and M&A

Goodbye 2023, hello 2024 and changes to Companies House

As 2023 draws to a close, we look to the future, and it appears changes to corporate law and practice will be enacted next year, under the authority of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

“We would recommend Clarkslegal as a leading corporate legal advisor in UK M&A due to their ability to work under a closed budget while keeping the highest professional standards and delivering a top professional advise under total availability, impressive technical-legal know-how and capacity to focus on the key matters at stake.”

Santiago Corredoira-Jack , Partner, Granahan McCourt Capital

“I highly recommend Clarkslegal for their outstanding expertise in M&A transactions and general corporate/commercial work. With a stellar reputation in the legal industry, Clarkslegal has demonstrated a deep understanding of complex mergers and acquisitions, offering invaluable guidance to clients navigating intricate deal structures.”

Jeff Lewis, General Counsel & Director, Kinectrics Inc

“We are very pleased with the support and advice received from on the recent acquisition by BMW Group UK.  With clear, concise and timely advice and management, Ashan and his team helped us navigate through some complex arrangements and seamlessly bridged the gap between the legal and commercial issues”

Amit Kotecha, Senior Legal Counsel – BMW Legal Affairs UK & Ireland 

“I was impressed with the speed, turnaround and frequency of communication in my dealings with Stuart Mullins, in concluding my share purchase.”

Nigel Keene, Managing Director, Whiteknights Estate Agents

Ashan Arif is central to our working relationship – we have a high degree of trust and confidence in his work. He was interested in our business from the outset, clear about the firm’s capability and focus, and has provided high-value and cost-effective support.

Legal 500

“Stuart Mullins was great at understanding what my needs were and responded in a timely manner every time. It was great to talk to someone who understood our situation and moved my transaction to completion efficiently and diligently. I really appreciated the extent to which Stuart explained everything to me regarding the transaction agreement, which gave me so much confidence when speaking to the purchaser”.

Jan Tupper, Proprietor, Arniss Equestrian Ltd

“I had an excellent experience working with Stuart Mullins. He was thoughtful, pragmatic, and extremely efficient. Thank you very much for all your hard work to get the deal across the line.”

Jerry Izard, Director, Independent Optics Ltd