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Corporate and commercial

We combine extraordinary ability with cross-sector expertise

Our corporate and commercial teams offer a full range of business services, providing strategic legal advice and solutions to clients across various industry sectors. We act for national and international entrepreneurs, directors, and members, as well as limited companies, LLPs, PLCs, and multinational corporations.

We command a keen corporate and commercial awareness and work hard to gain a clear understanding of your business from the outset. We work with you to evaluate a transaction’s potential merits/risks against the broader backdrop of your business’s objectives and intentions. Attention to detail is of key importance.

The team prides itself on its response times and draws upon expertise from across the firm to cater to your needs.

Speak to our head of corporate and commercial, Victoria Holland, today.

Articles

Transactional documents in a corporate sale: What sellers should know – March 2026
Planning for the future: What to include in a UK shareholders’ agreement – February 2026
Warranties and indemnities: Key protections in share and asset sales – February 2026
The role of due diligence in corporate transactions – February 2026
Understanding Heads of Terms in corporate transactions – January 2026
Chancellor takes centre stage for Budget performance – November 2025
What Companies Need to Know About the Management of Dormant Companies by Companies House – November 2025
Important Changes to Company Accounts Filing Requirements – November 2025
Confirmation Codes Become Mandatory in Companies House Filings from Mid-November 2025 – November 2025
Business structures in the UK: Choosing the right option for your new venture – July 2025
Navigating directors’ duties – May 2025
Preparing a business-lasting power of attorney – May 2025
Business First Magazine – Spring Summer 2025
Why is clear contract drafting important? – March 2025
Navigating the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023: What it means for your business – March 2025
When charity shouldn’t begin at home – February 2025
Disclosure against warranties in UK corporate transactions – November 2024
Comprehensive Guide to Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) – October 2024
Personal liability pitfalls for directors – September 2024
Terms and conditions for small businesses – August 2024
RIAA Barker Gillette (UK) act in major share sale – July 2024
Electronic signatures and digital contracts – July 2024
Agile AI Regulation: Moving with the times – April 2024
Key Aspects of the Chancellor’s March 2024 Spring Budget – March 2024
Starting a business? – March 2024
Are your business’s legal documents up to date? – January 2024
When dealmakers bite down on a MAC clause – November 2023
Directors must understand the implications of AI – November 2023
Legal considerations for launching a charity business – October 2023
UK approach to AI regulation – September 2023
Death of a shareholder – September 2023
Greenwashing attracts the wrong attention – July 2023
What is the reasonableness test? – July 2023
How could your corporate commercial lawyer make or break your business? – June 2023
To merge or acquire – May 2023
Artificial intelligence will be challenged – May 2023
Articles of association and shareholders’ agreements explained – April 2023
A Guide to the Economic Crime Act – January 2023
Protect SMEs from corporate criminal liability – December 2022
Embarrassing regulation breach for the MoJ – November 2022
Danger of Deceit – April 2022
Consumer credit and competition law reforms – January 2022
Business Interruption Insurance – December 2021
Excluding liability in commercial contracts – August 2021
Understanding if the force is with you – August 2021
Key English commercial law differences post-Brexit – June 2021
Small suppliers to get info on big companies’ payment performance – May 2017
Death of a shareholder – October 2016
Implied terms – January 2016

Commercial

We advise and assist with the drafting and negotiation of a wide range of commercial agreements, such as assignments and licences of IP rights, commercial agency and distribution agreements, contracts for the sale of goods or provision of services, non-disclosure agreements, standard terms and conditions, supply contracts, and website terms and conditions of use and disclaimers.

At a glance

  • Acquisition of a UK healthcare group through an assignment and refinancing of £70m of secured debt.
  • Acting for an FCA-regulated business, preparing a full suite of contracts, including customer terms and conditions, white label agreements and broker agreements.
  • Dissolution of multiple interlinked businesses in a complex partnership structure, entailing the sale of assets and goodwill of the underlying businesses.
Corporate

We provide a wide range of corporate services, including compliance, corporate governance, director arrangements and responsibilities, earn-outs, entry and exit strategies, equity capital markets, escrow arrangements, general counsel services, incorporations, investments and security offerings, joint venture arrangements, M&A transactions, partnership formations, restructuring and shareholder arrangements.

At a glance

  • Acting for beneficiaries on large corporate reconstruction and division of a trust involving a division of assets worth over £600m.
  • Advising on the partition of a property portfolio with a value over £350m.
  • Acting on a business separation agreement involving the division of assets and shareholdings and the dissolution of several interlinked partnerships and joint ventures.
  • Advising a project vehicle company on significant overseas developments, subscription agreements and placement memoranda.
  • Advising a publications holdings company in the sale of two of its subsidiaries.
  • All aspects of company start-up advice and guidance throughout.

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News/Insight

  • Transactional documents in a corporate sale: What sellers should know
    Once due diligence is complete and terms are agreed, the focus turns to negotiating the transactional documents that underpin a share or asset sale. This guide explains the purpose of the key documents involved in business acquisitions and why carefu


    Read more
  • Employer warning as immigration raids hit record high 
    Employers are being urged to review their recruitment procedures after new figures revealed that immigration enforcement raids have reached record levels across the UK.


    Read more
  • Planning for the future: What to include in a UK shareholders’ agreement
    A well-drafted agreement sets clear ground rules for how the company is run, how decisions are made, and what happens when circumstances change.


    Read more
  • Understanding Court of Protection applications in England and Wales
    When someone can no longer make decisions for themselves and has not put a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, the Court of Protection can step in. This article explains what the Court of Protection does, when an application may be needed, and what t


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  • Warranties and indemnities: Key protections in share and asset sales
    An overview of warranties and indemnities in share and asset sales, explaining key differences, common protections, liability limits and risk allocation.


    Read more

What they say...

  • Laura Kelly, February 2026
    Review of legal guidance received “I recently worked with Patrick Simpson on my settlement agreement. Patrick guided me through every stage with exceptional care and diligence. He kept the process moving efficiently, always updating me promptly

  • Prasanna Sooriakumaran, February 2026
    “Really good, especially at dealing with the company that tried to overplay their hand. I highly recommend.”

  • Sharla Munian, February 2026
    Outstanding Legal Support and a Brilliant Result “I cannot recommend RIAA Barker Gillette highly enough. My solicitor supported me throughout a very challenging property litigation matter, and thanks to her expertise, dedication, and strategic

  • Client, February 2026
    Very good service in disagreement with architect “RIAA assisted me in a conflict I had with my architect, who wanted to overcharge me. The end result was satisfactory, with invoices reasonable despite being slightly higher than expected!”

  • Sharla Munian, February 2026
    Outstanding Solicitor Who Delivered the Outcome I Hoped For “After a number of years navigating a complex financial settlement following my separation, my solicitor has been incredible from start to finish. Their professionalism, patience, and

Read more