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Becoming a minority shareholder or investor in a business may lead you to believe that, given the limited rights you will have, there are not many important considerations to take into account. However, even a minority investor needs to protect their interests as much as possible and to be able to share or exit its investment in a fair manner. While minority shareholders may not usually benefit from voting rights, it is important to ensure they have access to drag…

February’s cabinet reshuffle saw the creation of a new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), headed up by Michelle Donelan. The new Secretary of State says the department will promote growth, encourage the creation of new jobs and bolster innovation.   For the first time, the five technologies of tomorrow: quantum, AI, engineering biology, semiconductors and telecoms, will be brought together under one umbrella department. Also included within its remit will be life sciences and green technologies.   But what exactly…

Mergers can offer many benefits to two smaller partnerships with good cultural alignment, including sharing costs and resources, access to economies of scale, and reduction of competition. There are a host of commercial issues that one has to be aware of when contemplating a merger of two partnerships. An in-depth analysis of the two businesses is crucial, as is ensuring that required documentation is completed correctly. The process of merging will inevitably require many moving parts, and you'll be better…

An employment settlement agreement is a legally binding contract in which one person, usually an employee, agrees to waive their rights to bring a claim in the employment tribunal or a court in return for another person, typically their employer, agreeing to do something, such as paying them a sum of money and agreeing to give them a reference.

Whilst there are many pros that social media can create for a business it is not without its cons. As the internet continues to grow at a rate that the law has failed to keep up with, organisations have had to adapt to deal with a wide range of online problems. There is no ‘social media law’ you can call on to address these issues. Instead, a mix of long-established legal principles and new laws are used in a bid…

Across the UK, fintech has been growing at an exponential rate throughout the last decade. As of 2022, the UK owns more than 10% of global market share. In 2020, there were more than 2,500 fintech companies operating in the UK and that figure has continued to grow since then. While investment in the global fintech landscape is now slowing, in the first half of 2022 the UK saw a 24% increase year-on-year in fintech investments, defying the global trend.…

Did you know that employees received an estimated £480m in income tax and national insurance contributions (NIC) in the tax year ending 2021 from Employee Share Schemes - with EMI schemes forming the largest contributor to tax relief? EMI share schemes (Enterprise Management Incentives)  have clearly become a popular way of motivating, retaining and attracting employees in the UK, as they offer significant tax benefits for both the business and its employees. By allowing companies to grant options (the right…

Today, the smartphone in your pocket is capable of more than the most advanced supercomputer available 25 years ago. In the past couple of decades, we have seen technology push boundaries further than we could ever have imagined, but more recently, this trend has exploded - innovative tech is growing at an exponential rate. What the next 50 years hold is anyone’s guess, but what we do know is that, right now, there is no shortage of funding sources for…

In light of the spiralling cost of traditional forms of energy and an increasing urgency to hit clean energy targets, renewable energy solutions are becoming more attractive, which is why, more companies are investing in sustainability, cleantech and the drive to net zero. The period 2000 to early 2002 alone saw £80.95bn invested from 2,400 investors into the sector in the UK – equivalent to 18% of all European investment in the sector. Energy production had the highest level of…

Companies across the UK are facing changes to GDPR regulations but assurances have been given that new arrangements for UK companies will remain compatible with EU digital protection rules. Michele Donelan MP, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has reaffirmed the government intention to redraft rules on data protection following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. The Secretary of State believes the current data protection laws bind businesses with “ unnecessary red tape” and says this…