Corporate & Commercial Law Solicitors in Yorkshire.

Holden Smith’s expert corporate & commercial solicitors advise a wide range of clients across multiple sectors on a range of legal matters, including buying, selling, and restructuring their businesses.

We understand that managing a business can bring its legal challenges. Our corporate & commercial team strive to ensure that our clients receive the best possible advice and guidance to overcome any obstacles they face.

Call one of our offices today for professional advice. You can also complete our online form to get a callback.

How our corporate team can support your business

Our corporate and commercial team has a lot of experience helping businesses of all sizes. Here are some practice areas we can support you with:

  • Business purchases and acquisitions

  • Business sales (where a company is selling a business rather than owners selling their shares in the company)

  • Company reorganisations, e.g. de-mergers, growth shares, employee ownership

  • EMI Schemes

  • Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs)

  • Family Investment Companies (FICs)

  • Intellectual Property (IP)

  • Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)

  • Settlement agreements (for employment purposes)

  • Share purchases and company purchases

  • Share sales/company sales.

  • Shareholder agreements & articles of association

  • Shareholder disputes

  • Succession planning – whereby shares are sold in a tax efficient manner to the next generation of managers

  • Tax-led reorganisations, e.g. alphabet share schemes

Why choose Holden Smith?

We understand the challenges that you and your business face. Our team of corporate law solicitors are ready to provide you with legal advice to complete the task at hand. Our due diligence ensures that our work is watertight, future proofing your business interests.

Our dedication to client care keeps you up to date with the progress of your case. Our one Holden Smith approach means we can collaborate with other departments within the firm to deliver a single excellent offering.

Sectors we work with

We have helped clients across a wide range of sectors including:

  • Retail

  • Manufacturing

  • Construction

  • Investment

  • Commercial property

  • Residential property

  • Technology

Our Corporate Team

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Rob Kelly – Director & Corporate Lawyer

Having spent several years in industry working in finance director and managing director roles before becoming a solicitor, Rob has the commercial knowledge his clients demand, and an empathy with their business needs.

Rob understands numbers inside out and can guide and advise clients through the corporate finance/business sale/business purchase process. He also holds a number of non-executive director roles with companies across a broad range of industries.

Find out more about Rob
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Neville Moore – Consultant

Nev has significant expertise in company and commercial matters, having worked for leading international law firms in London and Yorkshire for almost 20 years. His experience covers the full range of company issues, from advising founders on setting up their businesses and obtaining investment, through reorganisations and succession planning, to exits, whether by sale to trade buyers, private equity investors, or employee ownership trusts.

Nev combines technical excellence with a down-to-earth commercial approach to help clients achieve their goals, whatever the size and nature of their business.

Find out more about Nev
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Brittany Clark – Corporate Solicitor

Brittany joined Holden Smith in January 2021 on the SQE apprenticeship. Brittany qualified as a solicitor in 2023 and actively participated in our expansion into Manchester.

Brittany manages many types of transactions. These include company restructuring, share and business sales, and shareholders’ agreements. She can also handle the property aspects of these commercial deals.

Find out more about Brittany

Frequently Asked Questions

What does corporate law cover?

Corporate law focuses on the structure, governance and operation of companies. Our team advises on company formations, shareholder agreements, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, corporate governance, and ongoing compliance with English law.

Do I need a solicitor to set up a company?

Many companies can be set up online. However, getting professional advice is important. This helps ensure your share structure, articles of association, and governance arrangements are well written. This is especially true if you have co-founders or investors. There are a number of “flaws” with the model articles which can be avoided if bespoke articles are adopted.

What is the difference between corporate law and commercial law?

Corporate law concerns the company itself, its structure, legal frameworks, company law, shareholders, directors, and major transactions. Commercial law concerns the day-to-day contracts, contract law and trading activities of a business such as distribution agreements or franchise agreements.

Can you help with shareholder or director disputes?

Yes. We regularly advise on shareholder stalemate, unfair prejudice claims, breaches of directors’ duties, and disputes arising from corporate decision-making.

Do you do pro-bono work?

Unfortunately, we do not offer pro-bono work.

Start your journey.

Get in touch. 

Holden Smith Law are ready to help you on a broad range of legal issues. Discuss your legal requirements with our corporate solicitors today. To begin your consultation, call one of our offices or complete our online enquiry form to request a callback