Legal help with buying and selling shares in a company

Buying and selling shares in a company is a big step to take. With specialist legal support from our share sales solicitors, it can be one in the right direction.
A share sale or purchase is an alternative to buying or selling a company’s assets. It can mean a smoother transition of ownership because it often enables the buyer to take over the running of the business without having to deal with transfers of customer contracts, licences, consents or premises.
While share sales offer distinct advantages, they are not free from complicated issues and big decisions for both sides. The process can be intense, requiring the seller and the buyer to focus on detailed factual and legal documents, take a view of problematic areas and maintain perspective and context.
At the heart of any transaction is the due diligence process. It is a critical part of any proposed sale or purchase. Not only does it flush out any issues, but it allows both sides to properly assess the viability of the deal and kick-start negotiations. For buyers, a well-executed due diligence process will reveal the extent of the liabilities they will inherit post-sale, many of which they can limit through sellers’ warranties and indemnities.
Need advice? Contact us today!Share sale and purchase solicitors
At Nelsons, our experienced team of corporate law solicitors in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham advise buyers and sellers on all aspects of share sales and purchases. They identify the key points in any deal and guide clients through due diligence, always keeping in mind the overall objectives.
Our team helps sellers and buyers negotiate and structure a deal which gives them the outcome they’re looking for. For sellers, this includes getting a good price and limiting ongoing liability. For buyers, it’s protecting their position through restrictive covenants and other contractual promises from the seller. In every type of transaction, our team works quickly and thoroughly to help make deals happen.
Our team is recognised by the independently researched publications, Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500, as one of the top teams of specialists in the country.
For further details of how we can assist with share sales and purchases, please contact us on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form for a guaranteed response.
"Nelsons’ Leicester team is particularly strong in commercial transactions; Harpreet Sandhu, who splits his time across the firm's various East Midlands offices, leads the commercial and technology team which advises on outsourcings, product development, supply agreements and licensing work. On the corporate side, Chris Rees is praised by clients for his 'practical, innovative' approach to his work, which includes advising on private equity and investment transactions, corporate acquisitions and restructurings. Rees also has an extensive banking and finance practice, assisting with secured lending and asset finance matters."
Legal 500
"...lawyers are "all very personable, down-to-earth and easy to work with.”
Client Feedback
"Nelsons has a very strong corporate law team… Chris Rees is practical, innovative in his solutions and an excellent client facing partner who delivers reliably every time. Ziaur is an excellent technical lawyer as well as being friendly and approachable for clients. Together they make a tremendous team in terms of client delivery."
Client Feedback
"...team of "super people" who are "cost-effective and technically reliable."
Client Feedback
"With a presence in both Nottingham and Derby, Nelsons, which primarily focuses on corporate issues, advises a mix of owner-managed businesses, SMEs, PLCs and multi-national conglomerates. Duncan Taylor and David Kaplan lead the Nottingham and Derby teams respectively; both work extensively with shareholders on share sales and management buyouts. Harpreet Sandhu focuses on commercial work in the technology sector, including software development agreements, outsourcings and franchising issues."
Legal 500
“Represents a broad portfolio of family-managed and owner-managed clients, as well as multinationals and plcs. Continues to be involved in a variety of transactions on both the buyer and seller sides, with particular activity in the healthcare sector as part of a broad offering. Offices across the East Midlands ensure local clients benefit from an impressive depth of resources to assist on transactional work. Active on deals across a variety of sectors including aerospace, banking and charities among others. Strengths - clients appreciate that the lawyers are 'approachable and transparent,' and that 'they become part of your team'."
Chambers & Partners
"We have been able to rely heavily and with complete confidence in Duncan Taylor and his colleague Alice Rees… clearly supported by an excellent, competent, efficient, charming and approachable and diverse team of fantastic people."
Client Feedback
"Duncan Taylor is clearly an expert in his field. He has an unparalleled breadth of knowledge and wide experience of his specialised fields …a well deserved reputation and is highly respected throughout the region’s professional sector. Alice Rees works alongside Duncan Taylor and is a truly wonderful person to deal with. She is clearly an expert in all things connected with company law."
Client Feedback
"David Kaplan demonstrates considerable strategic thinking and gets to grips with the salient matters in a transaction."
Client Feedback
"Definitely the best corporate and commercial team in the East Midlands."
The Legal 500 2023
"Personal service by professional people with a comprehensive service offering. Good use of technology particularly when in house meeting were not available."
The Legal 500 2023