Representing Entrepreneurs and Investors Worldwide
Rollingsons Solicitors is a prominent corporate law firm representing business clients in the UK and around the world. We are experienced in supporting our clients looking to enter into joint ventures. We provide guidance throughout the process, from advising our clients in the pre-contractual due diligence process to negotiating on their behalf and preparing the necessary joint venture contractual documentation and shareholder agreements.
Common Joint Venture Scenarios
Our London business solicitors have the experience and skill needed to negotiate and manage the successful completion of business transactions across a broad range of industries. Some common transactions that we handle include:
- Acting on behalf of investors purchasing a minority interest in a company
- Acting on behalf of "silent partners" taking a majority stake
- 50/50 joint ventures
- Research and development collaborations
- Domestic and foreign entrepreneurs forming joint venture companies and strategic alliances
- General partnership agreements (including Limited Liability Partnerships)
The process typically begins with high level negotiations, in order for the parties to establish that they are broadly in agreement on the terms of their potential joint venture. Heads of Terms, also known as a Memoranda of Understanding, are then agreed after which a due diligence process is commonly carried out before the final contracts are prepared, negotiated and signed.
Our solicitors draft agreements that clearly outline the rights and obligations of the parties, focusing on language that business people can understand.
Shareholders' Agreements
No matter the size of the business, a shareholders' agreement is an essential way of defining the relationship between shareholders and spelling out how the company should operate internally. Such issues are sometimes difficult for business partners to discuss, because they require contemplation of what happens should they have a falling out. One of our best skills as a commercial law firm is our ability to facilitate these discussions and help clients openly communicate. We help clients decide issues related to:
- Intellectual property rights
- The number of directors
- Who makes management decisions
- Transferability of shares
- Resolving deadlocks
- Dividend policies
Some clients come to us having already worked out the details of their agreement. In that case, we use our drafting experience to prepare a shareholders' agreement that accurately reflects what the parties had previously contemplated combined with our own technical input.
Contact a UK Company Lawyer
If you have questions about embarking on a joint venture or entering into a shareholders' agreement, call the skilled business solicitors at Rollingsons on 020 7611 4848 or contact our London law firm online.
