Girlings logo
TOP
Make an
enquiry

Make an enquiry

Please complete the form below and a legal adviser will contact you.
Select office:
Your data will only be used to contact you regarding your enquiry.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Disposals

Corporate, Banking & Finance

Meet Chris Brightling

Our highly regarded and experienced corporate team advise on corporate transactions across a broad range of sectors, acting for both buyers and sellers.

We focus on building long term relationships with our clients and pride ourselves on our service levels and our cost effective and commercial advice. Guiding you throughout the transaction, we use our experience to identify and manage the legal risks involved from heads of terms and the due diligence process right through to completion.

On corporate transactions we assemble a multi-disciplinary team involving experts from other departments to ensure that you get the best advice possible with the legal process being project-managed by a specialist in our corporate team.

Buying & selling a business

We assist businesses throughout their lifecycle but a significant part of our work involves the acquisition or disposal of companies and their businesses. We advise on transactions involving small owner managed businesses through to high-value deals for large national companies, working with and recommending corporate finance and other professionals to be part of your team. A corporate transaction can potentially be a complex, in-depth and lengthy process, so whether you are buying or selling, it is important to ensure you have the appropriate legal expertise on hand to assist you throughout to ensure the transaction proceeds as smoothly as possible.

Succession planning

In a world of ever increasing competition, succession planning is a key part of any business in terms of identifying and developing talent to take on the roles of potential future leaders. Here at Girlings, we are able to assist you and your organisation in ensuring your high-potential workers are prepared for such advancement and that your business has planned for future contingencies, including exit strategies for its current owners.

Management buyouts

Whether you are looking to sell your stake in a business to management or you’re part of a management team looking to acquire a business from its present owners, our corporate team are able to advise, assist and support you throughout the process, ensuring associated risks are minimised and the management buyout is a success.

Work highlights

  • Advised the corporate shareholders of a substantial manufacturer on the sale of their shares to an international buyer group for consideration of over £4.5m.
  • Advised on the sale of the entire issued share capital of a well-established fabricator and national supplier of precision sheet metal components, fabrications, assemblies and machine parts for a consideration of over £2m.

For further advice, please contact a member of our Corporate, Banking & Finance team. Girlings has offices in Canterbury, Ashford and Herne Bay.

Our Experts

Chris Brightling

Head of Department
Corporate, Banking & Finance; Commercial Law

Caroline Armitage

Consultant Solicitor
Corporate, Banking & Finance; Commercial Law

Jonathan Masucci

Partner
Corporate, Banking & Finance; Commercial Law

Elesha Bradford

Assistant Solicitor
Corporate, Banking & Finance; Commercial Law

Sarah Karam

Assistant Solicitor
Corporate, Banking & Finance; Commercial Law

Jessie Cloughley

Trainee Solicitor
Corporate, Banking & Finance; Commercial Law

Related Pages

RELATED CONTENT

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I want to involve my children in the business. Where should I start?

Getting your children involved is a big decision for any business – you might also see this as the first step towards your retirement! Due to the close relationships within a family, it is easy to overlook ensuring written agreements are in place that provide the same protections for your hard work and investment in the business that you would have if you were taking on an outside business partner.

The most common way to ensure these protections are in place is to amend the company’s articles of association – the rules governing the company, to include, amongst other things, pre-emption provisions to ensure ownership of the company remains in the family and set out the process for making crucial decisions, perhaps making certain decisions subject to your consent.

Finally, specialist advice should be sought to ensure the transfer of the business and its assets to the next generation in the most tax-efficient way.

Testimonials

Chris and the team were absoutely brilliant. This is the first time I have sold a business and Chris made a complicated process simple! The process was far more complicated than it should have been and Chris worked tirelessly to drive this forwards to the agreed completion date. I could not have asked for more than what he and the team delivered for me and with very reasonable fees.
Katie Aldred
Efficient and timely advice given with practicality and sympathy. A good mix of objective advice and understanding of a difficult emotional experience.
Legal 500