Structuring Your Business

Setting up your company

Becoming a director of a new company is an exciting and challenging prospect. There can be many pitfalls that you need to think about and a number of statutory duties that you must fulfil – as outlined in the Companies Act 2006.

We specialise in acting for entrepreneurs, owner managed businesses (OMBs) and directors, and can advise on a full range of corporate governance and directors duties, including:

• Conflict issues
• Issues regarding powers/authority/execution of document
• Policy documentation, including regarding anti-bribery and corruption, and anti-money laundering
• Drafting commercial contracts

For more information, please read our Corporate, Commercial & Finance page.

Director’s duties

As a company director you can be held personally liable for losses incurred by a business which are proven to be the result of board decisions or a failure to act properly. Each sector will have its own requirements and it is vital that you stay up to date if you are to protect yourself, your business and your reputation.

We advise and support professionals and businesses in all aspects of their dealings with UK regulators and can help you to understand all of the regulatory obligations that apply to your business –  especially across the financial services, finance, legal and healthcare sectors.

Our expertise includes:

• Meeting your Health & Safety At Work obligations
• Fire Safety Law
• GDPR & Data Protection
• Financial Services Regulation
• AML compliance

Employment considerations

When you become a director there are a number of new issues and challenges that you will face. You will need advice on your service agreement, your remuneration structure and ensure you are protected for future eventualities.

Our specialist employment lawyers will guide you every step of the way, protecting your interests and minimising the risk of disputes. So that you can provide strong leadership, reward excellence, and deal with any underperformance or difficulty that arises.

Our services include

• Contracts including non-executive director (NED) appointment letters
• Remuneration
• Directors’ indemnities and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance
• Employee Incentives
• Restrictive covenants
• Personal liabilities including whistleblowing, discrimination and health and safety
• Statutory duties and liabilities, including under the Companies Act Senior Managers & Certification Regime
• Remuneration

For more information, please read our Employment law page.