Family Businesses and Owner Managed Businesses

Overview

Family businesses and Owner Managed Businesses come in many shapes and sizes, requiring a multitude of different services to enable the smooth and efficient running of the company. We have a wealth of legal expertise and commercial experience that enables us to assist you in achieving your objectives, leaving you to get on with what you want to do.

Our corporate and commercial team works particularly closely with our commercial property, intellectual property, employment and private client teams to find innovative solutions to all your legal needs.

Our lawyers have the breadth of experience and knowledge to deal with all types of contractual, commercial, and employment issues. Whether you're setting up a business, growing your business, thinking of selling your business or succession planning. We can help.

We are partnering with Family Business Place holding Growth Clubs in the region offering advice, help and support to family businesses.

By applying our heritage to your business, we ensure you have peace of mind.

Stages of the business cycle and how we can help

Latest Updates

What happens to a family business in divorce?

We look at some of the ways in which the courts in England and Wales approach the family business within divorce proceedings.

Navigating Family Business Politics

Family businesses have their own internal dynamics and complexities - this article examines some of the pitfalls and challenges both for family members, and those on the outside.

Avoiding disputes in Family businesses

For any business litigation is an expensive and time consuming process. For small to medium sized businesses (SMEs), where time, money and staff are at a premium, the resolution of disputes in an efficient and cost effective way is essential.

How family business can stay entrepreneurial

Every business needs to remain entrepreneurial. However, a family business faces unique challenges as growth and changing needs of the business will often come at the same time as the family grows and the involvement of family members in the business changes.

Handing over the reins: Tips for planning succession

For the founder of a business, putting in place a succession strategy and exiting the business can be a difficult process. Where some of the founder’s family are also involved in the business, that process can be further complicated by competing interests and differing visions.

Succession planning ‘vital’ for family business

Family businesses are central to the UK economy, accounting for approximately a quarter of the UK’s GDP and employing over 12.2 million people. However, in a recent PwC survey, 43 per cent of these family business owners confirmed that they do not have any sort of succession plan in place.

£25 million independent tyre dealer and autocentre completes acquisition

Leading South East law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore have advised Kent based family-run tyre dealer and autocentre company, Watling Tyre Service Limited, this week in connection with a share purchase and restructuring transaction for an undisclosed sum.

How would your business cope without you?

What would happen if you went under a bus tomorrow? It is not a question most of us consider but if most of your wealth is in your business your family’s future might depend on the answer.

Family Business - Planning for the future

For those in family businesses, planning for the future is not only important individually, but also for their family business. Whilst many people have there own will in place, those individuals must also consider these in the context of their business and whether they reconcile with the future plans of their business.