Solicitors For Your Business

Corporate Solicitors in Reading, Henley-on-Thames & Wokingham

Advising clients based nationally, from our offices in Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Wokingham, we are recognised as one of the most established and experienced teams of Corporate and Commercial solicitors in the Thames Valley. Whether you choose to work with us in person or remotely, you'll receive the same expert legal advice and exceptional client care on which our leading reputation is based.

Looking for expert legal advice?

Leading Corporate Solicitors in Reading, Henley-on-Thames & Wokingham

In any corporate transaction - a merger, acquisition, or disposal - you need dealmakers, not dealbreakers, advising you. Specialist Corporate lawyers who, whilst protecting your interests, will work tirelessly to ensure that the deal is completed smoothly and successfully.

We offer comprehensive legal support throughout a business's lifecycle, from advising start-ups on forming and running a new company, to guiding established businesses through mergers and acquisitions and advising on areas such as joint ventures, corporate finance, shareholder agreements and investment agreements, share option schemes and incentives, corporate governance and company secretarial matters.

If you are seeking an exit strategy, we can advise on the different routes, ranging from a management buy-out or buy-in to a company sale.

We also work closely with distressed companies, advising on restructurings and reorganisations, and insolvency.

Supported by specialist teams across our firm, we can deliver a full range of legal services to businesses, their owners and senior management teams.

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Working With Our Corporate Team

Typically, we work closely with chief executives, business owners and directors, and the relevant experts in their teams, whether that is in finance, legal, HR, operations or commercial areas. We also regularly provide training and guidance to boards of directors and senior management teams.

Based nationally, our clients include companies spanning a wide range of sectors, with annual turnovers ranging from under £1 million to over £100 million. In particular, we have significant experience in working with large private companies, or SMEs, including family or owner-managed businesses.

Our relationships with other leading professional services firms across the Thames Valley and our experience in working closely with other advisers, who may be representing you or involved in matters, can also help to ensure a smoother process and minimise the likelihood and impact of any unforeseen issues or costly delays.

As members of the Law Firm Network, a global network of over 50 law firms, we can advise international clients, including UK subsidiaries and other companies investing in the UK, and refer clients based here to like-minded lawyers overseas. We have considerable experience of advising on cross-border transactions.

Trusted Expertise & Experience in Corporate Transactions

We can provide expert legal advice and hands-on support throughout the lifetime of your business and are proud to have worked with a large number of our clients for many years. We are equally adept at stepping in at crucial moments should you need us to.

Listening carefully to our clients’ needs and aims, we are committed to delivering clear, practical, and effective legal advice, a responsive and highly personal service, and, crucially, value for money.

Our continued recognition in The Legal 500, coupled with the excellent feedback that our clients kindly continue to share, means you can be confident that you are in safe and expert hands.

Our Corporate Solicitors

For expert legal advice call our Corporate team
Reading 0118 951 6800 or Henley-on-Thames 01491 572 323 Wokingham 0118 951 6888

Debbie Brett

Partner, Corporate & Commercial

Email 0118 951 6826

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Nick Burrows

Head of Charities & Education

Email 0118 951 6851

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David Murray

Partner, Dispute Resolution - Commercial Disputes & Insolvency

Email 0118 951 6827

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Peter Woolley

Partner, Corporate

Email 0118 951 6874

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Emma Ford

Associate, Corporate & Commercial

Email 0118 951 6828

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Oliver Newbery

Trainee Solicitor

Email 0118 951 6912

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Common Questions

Where are your offices located?

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Our offices are conveniently located in Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Wokingham. We can also advise you remotely and you can expect the same legal advice and client care on which our leading reputation is based, however you decide to work with us.

How quickly can I expect to hear back after making an enquiry?

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We aim to respond to enquiries the same or next day where possible (subject to weekends, holidays and bank holidays).

What services does Blandy & Blandy provide for companies?

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We operate a Registered Office Service and a Company Secretary Service to private limited companies and charities. Our Registered Office Service involves changing the registered office of your company to this firm’s address, after which we will receive all correspondence on behalf of the company and forward this in accordance with your instructions. Our Company Secretary Service involves various administrative and filing duties, in addition to receiving all correspondence on behalf of the company, with this firm being appointed as Company Secretary at Companies House. Please contact us for further information.

I am considering selling my company, where do I begin?

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The sale of a business is an important and rewarding milestone for business-owners, yet the process can appear complex to navigate. With many factors to consider from the outset, such as current market conditions and obtaining a suitable valuation, we would advise that professional guidance is sought to establish a suitable course of action. If you are considering selling your business, or would like to get a better understanding of the process, we would be pleased to arrange an initial discussion with you. You may also find our blog article, 'Selling Your Business - A Guide to the Process', helpful.

What are a company director's duties and responsibilities?

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You may find our blog article, 'A Company Director's Duties and Responsibilities Explained', helpful.

When and how can a director be removed from a company?

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You may also find our blog article, 'When and How Can a Director Be Removed from a Company?', helpful.

What is the difference between a business sale and a share sale?

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A sale transaction can either comprise of a sale of the business (often called an ‘asset sale’) or a sale of the share capital of the company. The key differences between share sales and business sales lie in what is being sold and how liabilities and obligations are transferred between the parties. It is important to determine the nature of the sale that you wish to enter into, prior to commencing the negotiation of terms. We have prepared a guide to outline the main differences between the types of transactions and some of the key factors that should be considered.

What are statutory registers and do I need them for my company?

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Statutory registers (also called statutory books or company registers) are official records that a company is legally required to maintain under the Companies Act 2006. These typically consist of a register of members, register of directors, register of secretaries, register of charges, registers of people with significant control (PSCs), register of allotments and register of transfers. Investors and buyers will request copies of the statutory registers as part of the due diligence process. Companies can be fined for not updating or maintaining these registers. Our firm can prepare the full set of statutory registers for your company and advise on the information that is required to ensure that your company is operating in compliance with all statutory requirements. Please get in touch with us to discuss.

What is a written resolution?

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A resolution (ordinary or special) can be passed either at a physical general meeting of the shareholders of a company, or by way of a written resolution.

If a physical meeting is held, the board of directors should approve notice of a general meeting, at least 14 clear days before the proposed date of the meeting. At the meeting, the resolution will be passed, either by way of a show of hands (where every member present has one vote) or by a poll (where each member has one vote for each share held).

Alternatively, a written resolution can be passed by the shareholders, without the need to call a general meeting. The statutory procedure for this involves the circulation of the proposed written resolution to the company, accompanied by a statement informing the shareholders how to signify agreement to the resolution. We can advise in relation to the most suitable approach with regards to decision-making for your company, in accordance with your company’s articles of association and with company law. Please contact us for further information.

Why Choose Us?
Leading Reputation

We are widely acknowledged as one of the Thames Valley’s leading firms of solicitors advising on Corporate transactions and related matters, with conveniently located offices in Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Wokingham.
Outstanding Client Care

Listening carefully to our clients’ needs and aims, we are committed to providing clear, practical, commercially focused and effective legal advice, a responsive and highly personal service and, crucially, value for money.
Recommended By Our Clients

More than 650 clients have shared their experience of working with our firm via Review Solicitors. 99% would recommend us, 99% were satisfied with the outcome of their matter and 98% felt that they received value for money. You can also explore our clients' feedback via Google Reviews and Trustpilot.
Trusted Relationships

Our relationships with other leading professional services firms across the Thames Valley and our experience in working closely with other advisers, who may be representing you or involved in matters, can also help to ensure a smoother process and minimise the likelihood and impact of any unforeseen issues or costly delays.
A Joined Up Approach

Supported by specialist teams across our firm, we can deliver a full range of legal services to businesses, their owners and senior management teams.

Who We Work With

“Blandy & Blandy has a strong corporate and commercial practice.”

The Legal 500

“The advice I have received is sensible and laser focused on what is important, and then time is taken to explain why.”

The Legal 500

“Blandy's understanding of modern business practices is excellent. It also has a genuine international network.”

The Legal 500

“An established corporate practice.”

Chambers UK Guide

“Blandy & Blandy covers a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, with expertise in M&A, joint ventures, and restructurings.”

The Legal 500

“Having dealt with many legal firms in the past, Blandy and Blandy treat me as a person first and a client second. I originally thought this was down to my main contact, but this was the same when dealing with different departments and people.”

The Legal 500

“A thoroughly professional approach, high standards and flexibility are the distinguishing hallmarks of this practice.”

The Legal 500

“Blandy’s has provided us with legal advice and an excellent service for several decades. They make the effort to really understand our business and provide us with the right legal support, when required.”

Chief Executive Officer, Reading Transport Limited (Reading Buses)

“Blandy & Blandy’s consistent, unwavering advice and support throughout the contracting process were invaluable in ensuring that fairness was obtained for all of the stakeholders of Winchester Wines Employment Ownership Trust. They acted professionally and diligently, at all hours, to secure the outcome that provides all of the team members a bright future moving forward. ”

CEO, Winchester Wines Group

“We are happy to have reached this agreement. I would like to extend our thanks to Blandy & Blandy for all their help and assistance with the transaction, including ensuring that the deal was completed on time.”

Joint Chairman, Higgs Group

“The team, headed by Debbie Brett at Blandy & Blandy, provided us with the most professional, personable and expert advice for a complex business sale. Nothing was ever too much trouble, information and answers were provided promptly and efficiently, and the team were always on hand to answer questions, offer advice and reassurance when the going got tough. Absolutely brilliant service and we were delighted with the final sale outcome, all very much down to Blandy & Blandy’s support.”

Managing Director, Engineering Services Partnership Limited

“We already knew some of the people at Blandy & Blandy, from an office lease which they very successfully negotiated and concluded 18 months ago. When it came to a sale of the business, it was even more important to us that we had a team which we felt comfortable working with, and who would help us through what we expected could be a complex and potentially stressful process, and something which none of us had any experience with before. As soon as we spoke with the team, we had every confidence that Blandy & Blandy would be the right team for us. From beginning to end, the team’s experience and ability were extremely useful and they deftly guided us to an outcome which we were very pleased to achieve.”

Managing Director, Badger Software Limited

“Blandy & Blandy has provided us with legal advice for over 12 years, supporting the growth of our company. They are a valued partner, understand our business needs and provide us with the right legal support, when needed.”

Managing Director, Collard Group

“From the inception of Parago in 2010, Blandy & Blandy have provided services around incorporation, recruitment and HR, property and our customer licensing. We have always found their service efficient and professional, and this was reflected when they acted on our behalf in the sale of the company.”

Director, Parago Software Limited

“We were expertly guided through this process by the Blandy & Blandy team. It was not something we have done before and so having the team's’ experience behind us was vital and reassuring at every stage.”

Chief Executive, Cold Chain Federation

“Blandy and Blandy have taken time to understand the detail of Ambic’s business which has enabled them to provide excellent advice and timely service over many years. Their involvement has ranged from matters of contract law and employment strategy to advice on complex M&A projects. At times this has involved several countries and has thrown up challenging matters of compliance and corporate governance. Their service has always been professional, prompt and personal.”

Managing Director, Ambic Equipment Limited

“They were brilliant to work with and we feel like we have been in a safe pair of hands. We have been impressed with Blandy & Blandy. ”

Director, Science Media Partners Limited

Examples of our Team's Work

Advised the selling shareholders of Engineering Partnership Services Limited, a Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health (MEP) Engineering services company, in relation to the sale of the entire issued share capital to Contollo Group.
Acted on the cross-border sale of VJ Tech Limited, a manufacturer of advanced technical equipment for the geotechnical and construct industries, to US company Nova Measurements LLC.
Acted for Higgs Group in relation to the sale of The Henley Standard and various other newspaper and magazine titles to Baylis Media.
Advised Winchester Wines EOT Limited on the sale of Winchester Wines Group Limited to The Heritage Wine Company.
Advised a large family business valued at close to £20 million on a complex corporate restructuring.
Acted for a large international company headquartered in Europe regarding the set-up of its UK subsidiary.
Acted for Pets’ Kitchen Limited in relation to the sale of its pet food division to Pets Choice Limited.
Advised a client in the manufacturing sector on the implementation of an EMI share scheme.