If you are on the brink of setting up a business then your focus is likely to be on key issues like securing the money you need to get off the ground, finding premises from which to trade, recruiting members of staff and building a loyal customer base.
However, also on your list of priorities should be speaking to a lawyer about the legal obligations you will assume as a business owner, the documents needed to regulate your relationship with investors, employees, customers and suppliers and the steps you can take to protect yourself against known or foreseeable risks.
Many new business owners see these things as optional extras, which only need to be thought about further down the line or in the event a problem arises. Running a business can be a minefield and you will save yourself considerable time, money and stress by getting your legal affairs in order from the outset.
At IMD Corporate, our commercial solutions team specialise in helping start-ups to arrange their affairs so that when you open for business you are armed with everything you need to operate as safely, securely and profitably as possible.
We are readily accessible, with lawyers based in several offices across the UK and Europe and can offer most services on a fixed-fee basis so costs are predictable.
Our service includes:
We can also refer you to our employment team for help with drafting employment contracts and director’s service agreements and to our corporate team for help in establishing a company, LLP or registered charity.
Our commercial lawyers have vast experience in helping start-up businesses to put their affairs in order and over the years have supported hundreds of enterprises which have gone on to become hugely successful. This includes a social media and communications company which now operated internationally and a sporting events business which works with global celebrities.
The advice we give is tailored to your needs and is designed to ensure that, from the moment you begin to trade, you have everything you need from a legal perspective to run your business as effectively and efficiently as possible — which is far better than trying to assemble everything in a piecemeal fashion as you grow and develop.
Every business needs key documents in place from the outset — including a written agreement between co-owners and investors about how commercial decisions will be made, contracts with staff to ensure employment laws are complied with, policies and procedures to ensure any activities are carried our safely and lawfully and a set of standard terms detailing the basis on which you are prepared to trade.
Our start-up service is designed to provide you with these things for a reasonable cost — the amount of which will be agreed with you upfront so that you can budget for what you need and prioritise the order in which things are provided.We are not just here for you in the early days. Our lawyers will be on hand to provide you with ongoing legal advice as your business grows and to support and guide you though any difficulties you encounter, working alongside our respected dispute resolution team and other members of our business services department.
IMD Solicitors LLP,
1st Floor,
63 St Mary Axe,
London ,
EC3A 8AA
(meetings by appointment only)
IMD Solicitors LLP,
Suite 1N-C, 1st Floor,
Trafford House, Chester Rd,
Manchester,
M32 0RS
(meetings by appointment only)
IMD Solicitors LLP,
One Victoria Square,
Birmingham,
B1 1BD
(meetings by appointment only)