Business - Early growth
Services on this page are designed for equity-backed and developing businesses. They are geared to help fast growing, entrepreneurial companies that need accessible and reliable legal services.
Our entrepreneurial business team is cross-disciplinary with members from our corporate, commercial and technology, employment and property team. It brings together individuals with the expertise and experience of dealing with early-stage clients and the particular issues and problems they face. The range of services we offer are listed below.
Our location amongst the Cambridge technology cluster also helps us to keep up to date with the fast changing requirements of this dynamic market.
Frequently Asked Questions - click here to download
Shoots Forum Overview, June 2010 - click here to download
 |  |  |
Types of work
We are used to handling all kinds of commercial transactions for early-stage companies. Specifically, we have extensive experience with, among other things:
Funding your business (venture capital, private equity and angel investments)
For many companies to succeed they need external investment either through business angels or venture capital. Such investment throws up many considerations, not only pricing, but also the types of shares to be issued...
Company formation
A company is a very popular vehicle through which to operate a business. It provides limited liability, can hold property and enter into contracts in its own right and, in the case of companies with a share capital...
Company restructuring
Companies, and their business, will often change hugely over their life cycle. What was the most suitable ownership structure in its early days may not be suitable as it grows. Subsidiary companies may be formed...
Debt financing
While many early-stage companies find it difficult to obtain debt financing from banks and other financial institutions due to a lack of tangible assets or a history of profitable trading, some, because of their...
Distribution, agency and reseller arrangements
Distributors are often your window on your client base. If relationships turn sour there is every chance that your customer base will be damaged.
Employment contracts, confidentiality and restrictive covenants
Employment law is one of the faster-moving areas of legislation and keeping abreast of relevant developments can put a strain on your own resources.
International transactions
With business becoming ever more global even the smallest of companies often require assistance with cross-border transactions. That might involve establishing an office or subsidiary in a foreign jurisdiction...
IP protection and exploitation
It is common to try and capture, divide up and cross-licence IP in commercial agreements.
Leasing and property licensing arrangements
Most businesses, upon reaching a certain size, will require their own space to operate out of, whether for use as offices, storage, manufacture or research. Given most early-stage companies are in no position to buy...
Licensing
In and out licensing of technology is the lifeblood of modern business.
Manufacturing agreements
Many early-stage companies in the business of supplying products often do not possess the space, equipment, manpower and resource to create their own manufacturing unit. For them it is necessary to...
Share options and other incentives
A key part of attracting and retaining employees in an early-stage company is providing suitable incentives. Given that most such companies struggle with cash flow, and that one of the big attractions of early-stage...
Shareholders' agreements
In our opinion, once signed, the best shareholder agreements rarely get looked at again.
Alternatively, why not view our full range of services by A-Z list.