This work covers planning for the orderly transfer of a business during the proprietor’s life or after death, to protect continuity, value and jobs. It includes arranging shareholder or partnership structures, buy-sell provisions, trust-based succession, and associated tax planning within wills, trusts, and estate provisions. A solicitor in this area drafts and reviews deeds, shareholder agreements, and in-specie transfers, coordinates with accountants, and helps organise lasting powers of attorney and testamentary arrangements to secure a smooth handover. Practical steps often hinge on tax reliefs, business asset transfers, and anticipated future control of the enterprise.
What a solicitor handles in these matters
The solicitor handles drafting and reviewing shareholder or partnership agreements, buy-sell mechanisms, and trusts that preserve business control and value. They coordinate with tax advisers on reliefs like inheritance tax Business Property Relief where relevant, and they ensure executors and successors understand ongoing obligations and governance structures during the transfer.
