Corporate & commercial law

Our approach to your business is crystal clear, drawing on a wealth of combined knowledge and experience to provide effective solutions to any given situation.

Get in touch

head of department Ian Sherburn

Grimsby 01472 262610

National expertise

We are a highly regarded team with a national reputation. We advise on a diverse range of large corporate transactions with a variety of national and international businesses.

Track record

From complex multimillion-pound transactions to the day-to-day essentials that keep a business running efficiently, our solicitors have the experience and knowledge to help you maximise the value of your business.

Business start-ups

Set up your start-up for success with expert advice and guidance.

Find out more about Business start-ups

Our corporate & commercial solicitors

Our corporate and commercial team is distinguished from its competitors in the region by virtue of their experience and specialist knowledge. Our lawyers can draw upon a wealth of knowledge and experience, having previously worked for top 10 London and regional law firms, providing cost-effective solutions on complex corporate and commercial matters and day-to-day issues alike.

We are a highly regarded team with a national reputation. We advise on a diverse range of business matters from large corporate transactions with individual values up to £200 million, to helping new business owners start their ventures from a position of strength.

As part of your team, we share the journey with you, applying our wealth of knowledge to give a unique perspective and true value to our long-lasting relationships.

Our teams across the region, led by Ian Sherburn, are highly recommended in the Legal 500, the leading UK independent guide to law firms, for their significant expertise and experience in this area.

See our experts

Related services

Our corporate law services at a glance

Whether advising on complex corporate law matters or the day-to-day issues of running a business, our team provides focused, but cost-effective solutions, to help maximise the value and profitability of your business for you and the future.

With experience acting for a wide range of clients, from national plcs and multinational companies, to owner managed businesses and SMEs, we have a solid understanding of the world of corporate law.

The team is best known for high value company sales and acquisitions, re-organisations and re-financing transactions with deal values ranging from £1.5 million to £200 million. In 2021, the team completed corporate transactions with aggregate deal values in excess of £400 million.

Get in touch

Mergers and acquisitions

Organisations undertake mergers to increase market share, capture synergies, take advantage of supply chain benefits, diversify, and increase shareholder value. Problems can arise at each stage of the merger and acquisition process and it is estimated that over half of all M&As result in failure.
We are experienced in spotting and overcoming problems, some of the more common issues we help firms with include correctly estimating synergies, ensuring the correct valuation, assessing risk and adequate due diligence.
Management Buy Out (MBOs) and Management Buy In (MBIs)

These are two types of significant changes to a business’ life cycle. We are familiar with the legal issues that could arise during these changes to a business’ structure and are experienced in advising companies, investors, sole traders, limited companies, and management teams on private equity deals and mitigating risks.
Regulatory aspects of both internal and external share issues

Experienced in dealing with shareholder restructures, including shareholder exits, disputes and agreements, we can support organisations of any size ensuring we maximise saving in both cost and time.
Areas we typically consider include the initial planning stage, the impact of tax, project management of time and resource as well as the analysis of key KPI’s and director accountability.
Corporate and group reorganisations

We provide guidance on the legal considerations involved in a corporate or group reorganisation. We also assist with taxation, considering the best interests of a business when a group is undergoing a reorganisation, and what options are available to them.
Joint ventures

We have worked on all aspects of joint ventures from contractual agreements to partnerships and merging businesses. We will talk you through the process and often cover key areas such as the ventures’ objectives, how it will be managed and financed as well as agreement on the sharing of information, profits and intellectual property that might be created.
Corporate finance including banking facilities and security documentation

The correct amount and type of funding can be critical to a business as it grows through its life. We will advise on various types of corporate finance including corporate lending and re-financing, acquisition finance and asset-based lending. The key to our success is communicating a balance of pros and cons for each potential project, helping you to choose the right type of facility to achieve your commercial goals.

Our commercial law services at a glance

We are meticulous in the execution of commercial law and give regular advice to our regional, national, and international client base on both contractual and commercial matters.

The team is best known for complex long-term and high value commercial agreements which are of a multi-million pound value involving detailed and specific drafting and negotiations for the clients involved.

Get in touch

Partnership and shareholder agreements

Taking early advice is essential when it comes to putting shareholder agreements in place, creating the foundations for long-term success. A shareholder agreement can set out rules around transfer of shares, often a source of tension when it comes to the time to sell.
We are often asked to facilitate partnership agreements that prioritise the distribution of profits and assignment of liability and our commercial lawyers will give you the correct advice for your specific needs.
Drafting and reviewing commercial contracts

Our commercial lawyers understand the complexities involved in drafting and reviewing commercial contracts and agreements which include supply and purchase agreements, distribution, franchise, and agency agreements.
We deliver robust contracts that mitigate risk while allowing your organisation to operate effectively, providing you with the best protection when entering into a new legal agreement.
Distribution, franchise and agency agreements

We work with a number of established growing businesses helping them to rapidly expand geographically. When breaking into new markets, distribution agreements can be the key to scaling your business quickly while de-risking some of the unknowns that might only be known to local agents.
Our team support you with everything from clarifying responsibilities to setting up exclusivity arrangements as well as limited liability and planning exit agreements.
Intellectual property matters including trademark and design right registrations
Our specialist intellectual property experts are equipped to help you protect your business's trademarks, logo, ideas, and products from infringement. Where required, we work closely alongside patent attorneys to provide up-to-date guidance on the protection of new business products, processes and features, including through patent applications.
We can help you with:
- The registration and protection of trademarks (including ‘logo’ or ‘device’ marks) and design rights
- The exploitation of IP rights, including through trademark and patent licences, software licence agreements and software as a service (SaaS) agreements - from the perspective of both licensors and licensees
- Providing support on the unlawful use or disclosure of confidential information
- Drafting and negotiating confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements
- The establishment and maintenance of franchises
- Providing IP “audits”; advising on how best clients may protect and manage their IP portfolios
- Handling an extensive caseload of IP litigation, including dealing with both the sending and receipt of “cease & desist” letters

The team has good quality throughout and that depth of expertise is important on larger transactions. It is clear from the outside that the team have excellent communication and work closely to ensure they achieve the desired outcome for their clients.
Wilkin Chapman Rollits are a corporate and commercial firm of the highest quality. They seamlessly navigated the technical and cultural challenges of a complex cross-border deal.
They are able to offer agile high-quality advice to SME and mid-market clients in ways larger corporate firms do not, whilst possessing the size and expertise to stand toe to toe in larger transactions.

They have great diversity across the team and are able to offer great quality advice in a commercial manner. They are able to offer agile high-quality advice to SME and mid-market clients in ways larger corporate firms do not, whilst possessing the size and expertise to stand toe to toe in larger M&A transactions when there are far larger international firms advising the acquirer or investor.
Nasim Sharf and Sarah Kemp are well trained, personable, hard-working, and operate under the highest quality standards.
The team is proactive in planning matters, communicates well with all parties throughout a transaction and has demonstrated it is a leading team in this area.

The Hull and East Yorkshire corporate team have a client first approach. They work as a team unit and collaborate very well. The team is proactive in planning matters, communicates well with all parties throughout a transaction and has demonstrated it is a leading team in this area.
The team are very friendly and helpful as well as being excellent lawyers.
A very knowledgeable, broad team that don’t use jargon. Individuals seem to be empowered to make decisions and support customers.

A very knowledgeable, broad team that don’t use jargon. They have supported me in both business and private matters over the last 20 years. Individuals seem to be empowered to make decisions and support customers.
She has a breadth of experience which is invaluable and I am always confident that every angle has been covered and executed in full.

Limara Rickell is a fantastic advert for Wilkin Chapman Rollits. She has a breadth of experience which is invaluable and I am always confident that every angle has been covered and executed in full. Furthermore, her light demeanour always makes working together a pleasure.
The breadth of experience and team working approach. Lateral thinking and quick turnaround.
A very personal service from a committed team who acted as if they were part of our organisation rather than a third party.

What can you expect from us?

We genuinely enjoy the privilege of working with all types of businesses and gains immense pride from the level of quality and service we provide.

Applying lateral thinking and pragmatism, our collective skills are comparable to any city law firm, but without the associated fees.

We have an outstanding reputation for our work in the world of business and commercial law. We are dedicated to helping businesses, organisations and entrepreneurs to reach their goals and maximise their financial success.

We go on a journey with you, and rigorously apply our wealth of knowledge to give a unique perspective and true value to our long-lasting relationships.

New businesses are the future

If you are starting a business, start how you mean to go on. We are well-known for our work with large companies, but behind the scenes, we are helping many small and new businesses like yours every day.
It is vital to future success that you access the right legal advice on matters such as business structure, terms of business, financing, intellectual property, employment law and considerations around business premises.
We will guide you so that all bases are covered and the potential for disruption to your operations is minimised, allowing you to concentrate on the idea that inspired your entrepreneurialism at the outset.
Sector-specific work

We draw on our specialisms in particular sectors, partnering with other departments across the firm to provide truly comprehensive solutions.
We understand that as solicitors, we are expected to understand and advise on the law, but we pride ourselves on the knowledge and expertise that we have in specialist sectors, including education, agriculture, energy and renewables, tourism and leisure, insolvency and charities amongst others.
We aim to act as your legal partner, working hard to understand you, your business and your particular industry, helping you to make the right decisions and develop your business into the future.