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LegalVision UK

Business Sale and Purchase Lawyers

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If you are looking at the next stage in your business journey, you may be ready to buy a business or sell your existing company. Business sales can be a daunting prospect. However, with careful planning and review, you can improve the outcome and reduce your risk.

When buying a business’ asset or a company, prospective buyers should:

  • undertake a due diligence process by gathering information about the business on offer;
  • find out about the business’ primary assets, who owns them, and whether there are any ongoing liabilities, such as tax liabilities, should you wish to make an asset purchase;
  • identify the employees within the business and understand the key terms in their employment contracts;
  • confirm if the business premises are suitable and will remain available; and
  • ensure the business is valued correctly, and the purchase price is accurate. 

When selling a business, business owners should:

  • get relevant documentation and intellectual property registration in place;
  • prepare for a buyer to undertake due diligence;
  • have an expert lawyer draft your sales agreements; and
  • where needed, inform parties such as landlords, suppliers, and or franchisors. You may need their permission to facilitate the sale.

Buying or selling business assets in the UK can be a complicated transaction. However, LegalVision’s experienced commercial lawyers can help reduce stress and manage the associated risks across the entire process.

Whether you are the buyer or seller, our commercial lawyers have experience with business purchases and sales across multiple industries. Our solicitors can provide specialist legal advice to help you with:

In addition to professional advice, our business solicitors offer price certainty, providing you with further peace of mind.

Contact our specialist solicitors today on 0808 196 8584 for a free quote or complete the form on this page.

Send an enquiry

How LegalVision Can Help

Experienced Business Sale and Purchase Lawyers

Buying or selling a business can change your group structure, capital position and exposure to liabilities. The terms agreed before detailed documents are drafted often determine how much room remains to negotiate later. Taking advice before signing heads of terms, agreeing an asset or share sale, or committing to funding arrangements gives you more control over the structure and risk allocation.

For an established business, the transaction may involve acquiring a competitor, selling a non-core division, bringing in a new owner or preparing for a founder exit. Our lawyers assess the commercial purpose of the deal alongside the legal position. We consider what is transferring, which liabilities should remain, what consents are required and where the transaction could affect employees, key contracts, intellectual property or premises. This allows the legal documents and negotiation strategy to support the deal you intend to complete.

Examples of when businesses come to us

  • a buyer has proposed an asset deal and the seller needs to test what liabilities, contracts and employees will transfer
  • due diligence has identified issues that could affect price, warranties or whether the acquisition proceeds on the proposed terms
  • heads of terms are being negotiated and the parties need to settle deal structure, payment mechanics and post-completion obligations

Our expertise

  • Deal structure: We advise on asset purchases, share purchases and business acquisitions, including how the proposed structure affects control, liabilities and what remains with the seller after completion.
  • Legal due diligence: We review material contracts, corporate records, intellectual property, employment arrangements, leases and other business matters, then report on issues that may affect price, terms or whether the buyer proceeds.
  • Seller preparation: We advise sellers on preparing due diligence materials, resolving issues before buyer review and managing disclosures, warranties and information requests that may otherwise delay negotiations.
  • Transaction documents and negotiation: We draft, review and negotiate heads of terms, asset purchase agreements, share purchase agreements and related documents, including deferred consideration, earn-outs, restraints and other negotiated protections.
  • Completion and transition: We advise on conditions, consents, contract and lease transfers, employee arrangements and completion requirements so ownership or business assets transfer on workable terms.”

Our Services

Drafting and Reviewing Documents

We can draft and review all documents related to the business sale process, including Heads of Agreement, Asset Sale Agreement, Sale of Business Agreement, Share and Unit Sale Agreement and Share Sale Agreement.

Assisting with Negotiation and Settlement

We can assist with all aspects of the transaction, including settlement assistance and liaising with you and the other party’s legal team on the sales process. We can also prepare for your attendance at settlement.

Advising on the Sale Process

If you experience any issues during the business sale process, our team can advise you on the next best steps, whether related to the lease, a contract dispute or a breach of agreement.

“The strongest transactions are shaped before the sale agreement is drafted. We advise owner-managed businesses, corporate groups and investors on asset sales, share sales, due diligence and negotiations, then remain available as related commercial issues arise. Our role is to keep the legal structure aligned with the commercial deal. Good transaction documents cannot rescue a deal that was poorly structured at the outset.”
Michaela Corley Michaela Corley Practice Leader, LegalVision

Providing businesses
with unlimited legal help.

Unlike other law firms, LegalVision provides businesses with ongoing and on-demand legal support through our unlimited legal services membership. When you become a member, you get access to an experienced team of lawyers to assist with all your business' legal needs. Your membership includes:

  • Unlimited Document Drafting,
    Reviews and Amendments
  • Unlimited Legal Advice Consultations
  • Unlimited Domestic Trade Marks
  • and more…

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a solicitor do when selling a business?

We advise sellers on deal structure, due diligence, disclosures, warranties and the sale agreement. Early involvement gives us more scope to identify issues before they affect negotiations, price or completion.

What is the difference between an asset purchase and a share purchase?

We assess what the buyer is acquiring and which liabilities, contracts, employees and assets need to move. An asset purchase transfers selected business assets and obligations, while a share purchase transfers ownership of the company itself, subject to the agreed transaction terms.

What does legal due diligence cover when buying a business?

We review the target’s material legal position, which may include corporate records, contracts, intellectual property, employment arrangements, property and disputes. We then identify issues that may affect valuation, negotiation, transaction documents or the decision to proceed.

When should I involve a solicitor in a business sale or purchase?

We recommend involving us before heads of terms or other key commercial commitments are finalised. At that stage, we can advise on structure, risk allocation and transaction mechanics while there is still scope to negotiate them.

What does the LegalVision business sale and purchase process involve?

We first confirm the transaction structure, commercial priorities and key risks. We then advise on due diligence, draft or review the transaction documents, negotiate agreed points and manage legal completion requirements, coordinating with your other advisers where needed.

How is LegalVision different from a traditional firm for a business sale or purchase?

Our fixed-fee membership is designed for ongoing business legal needs rather than a single isolated matter. During a sale or purchase, our lawyers can address transaction documents alongside related contract, employment or structuring issues as they arise, subject to the scope of the membership.

What our clients say about us

Beany

Charlotte Wass , GM

LegalVision is always so quick to deal with requests and queries. They go above and beyond and offer support in areas I hadn't considered.
Tecman

Kevin Porter , Director

It's like having our own legal team for a fraction of the cost, and their response time has been impressive.
Chronicle Software

Paul Bay , Director of Client Solutions

LegalVision has helped us modernise our contracts, protect the business, and resolve issues before they become problems. It’s transformed how we work.
Hamlin Studios

Luke Hamlin , Director

The team have been professional, knowledgeable and respectful throughout each meeting. Unlimited revisions and contracts made within one week.
Pinion Consulting

Laura Baird , Founder

The service is fantastic and all-encompassing! LegalVision has guided me through setting up and building a new company. I can't rate them more highly.
Bloblabs

Aaron Lee , Co-founder

LegalVision is a law firm made for today and the future. The turnaround times have been impressive. The overall experience is perfect.

How we help
our clients

  • Cost Certainty

    We offer our clients a range of pricing options to suit their needs and provide transparency around legal costs. Our membership offers unlimited legal services for an affordable monthly fee.

  • Specialist Lawyers

    LegalVision caters to a full range of commercial law needs. Our lawyers are specialists who bring extensive experience from working at leading law firms in Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and across the world.

  • Responsive Timeframes

    We understand that timing is critical, particularly for businesses that have a large number of legal projects. LegalVision is committed to delivering our services within short timeframes that fit the commercial needs of our clients.

  • Custom Technology

    We have built our tech stack from the ground up. Our team of developers build technology to help streamline the workflow of our legal team and improve the client experience for our members.

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LegalVision is an award-winning business law firm

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    2025 Future of Legal Services Innovation Finalist - Legal Innovation Awards

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    2023 Law Company of the Year Finalist - The Lawyer Awards