Expertise in the Young Company Sector

We have a vast range of experience in providing legal services to young companies and investors from start-up through the various stages of a company’s life, to an exit event. Our solicitors are experienced in assisting and advising young companies in many different sectors on a variety of matters including raising finance, seeking and achieving an investment, shareholder rights and both IP protection and commercialisation. We also have extensive experience of advising investors who are investing in young companies, whether individually or through a business angel group. We provide practical and straightforward solutions to issues arising from a variety of complex intellectual property, commercial and corporate law matters.

LINC Scotland

We are a corporate partner of LINC Scotland, the national association for business angels in Scotland, and have worked closely with them on a number of projects including drafting standard legal documents for use in business angel investments in Scotland. The firm’s affiliation with LINC Scotland allows us to offer access to a network of angel groups, investors, useful information and appropriate professional advisors.

Seeking Investment and building wealth

We regularly advise entrepreneurs who are seeking investment in their company, whether it is for the first time or follow-on funding. Achieving an investment can be a challenging and time-consuming process. We understand that and will make sure that the legal aspects are dealt with as efficiently as possible. We have vast experience of drafting and negotiating the documents required for this type of investment including the Investment Agreement and Articles. We advise on investors’ rights, owner protections, decision making, EIS relief and the transfer of shares. We can also provide advice on matters such as commercial contracts, employment matters and directors’ service contracts. We will provide advice on what is required and ensure that sensible and commercial legal documents include all relevant provisions (including any Scottish Enterprise provisions, if applicable) and are agreed as quickly as possible. We will work with you to ensure that there is a focus on creating wealth in the company and an effective exit strategy.

Fundraising

We have experience of a broad range of financing transactions which involve various lenders, investors and angel groups. We can advise on equity finance, loans, share options and sophisticated tax driven financing.

We assist clients in looking at both traditional and innovative ways of funding their company to ensure that they have examined all options such as Crowdfunding and peer to peer lending.

Protecting and commercialising Intellectual Property

Innovation is vital to the future or continued success of a business. We strive to assist our clients to achieve and deliver future profitable growth by advising and helping them to identify, commercialise and maximise value from their intellectual assets, as well as offering advice as to how best protect these assets.

We advise on all aspects of IP protection and commercialization including advice on patents, trademarks, design rights and copyright.

We also assist clients in ensuring that they comply with all relevant legislation such as the Data Protection Act 1998 and have extensive experience in this area.

We offer clients an IP review and data protection compliance audit. Our IP review identifies key IP assets that require protection and ensures that you have a clear IP strategy. Our data compliance audit is designed to determine the extent to which our client’s organization is complying with the Act. Changes can then be implemented as required.