At Gates and Partners, we give advice on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) practice in the UK, including the representation of parties in virtually any transaction which results in a change in ownership or control over a commercial undertaking. Such a definition might overlap with definitions of other practice areas, most notably corporate-commercial, where acting on transactions that involve the purchase or sale of private company shares, partnership interests or business assets would be seen as mainstream activities.

We act on both private and public (listed and unlisted) M&A transactions. Public transactions involve representation of offerers, offerees and other interested parties in connection with takeover bids, amalgamations, arrangements and the like; as well as "defensive" advice to corporations that perceive themselves to be vulnerable to unwanted or unsolicited offers.

Our primary role is to lead a team of specialists and to coordinate their input on corporate, securities, finance, tax, competition, labour, employee benefits, real property, regulatory, environmental, intellectual property, litigation, tax and other areas of law that are likely to be implicated by a proposed transaction. At the same time, we provide senior management with strategic input in conjunction with other M&A specialist advisors such as investment bankers, accountants, communications experts and government relations consultants. As a significant percentage of M&A transactions in the UK have both national and multi-national dimensions, the deal management role usually encompasses working with and incorporating the input from legal and other specialists in various jurisdictions and countries.

Our aim is to provide strategic advice, apply seasoned business judgment and to creatively deal with the fast-changing moves and counter-moves of competitive bidding situations. We have the expertise and experience to make your acquisition a success. We can help you:

• Develop acquisition strategy, by working closely with all the parties involved, and advising you on the development of an appropriate acquisition strategy.
• Identify targets, by assisting in the clear identification of suitable merger or acquisition candidates.
• Evaluate targets, by undertaking a detailed evaluation and assessment of the proposed targets.
• Negotiate by conducting negotiations with potential targets and structuring deals to optimise your position.
• Manage completion, by project managing the completion of the transaction and coordinating your professional advisors, once terms have been agreed with a vendor.

Our employment team advises on all sides of contentious and non-contentious employment advice. We act for employers and employees in complex and high profile senior executive disputes or exits involving investment-related documentation and on multi-action termination claims.

On the non-contentious side, our lawyers advise on setting up HR policies and standard employment contracts, in addition to advising on employers and employees senior executive contracts and arrangements. They also advise on corporate and business immigration in relation to international group restructuring. We are retained by a number of companies to advise on issues as they arise in this area of law.

We advise on all aspects and types of bankruptcy and corporate insolvency, including administrations, company voluntary arrangements, liquidations, receiverships and partnership insolvency. Our team have advised directors, companies interested in acquiring, turnaround funds and insolvency practitioners on a wide range of issues surrounding insolvency matters.

We assist clients in developing business plans, assessing the optimal financial structure, and sourcing investor. We also advise on assessing the optimal financial structure for their business.

Offshore jurisdictions are popular locations to restructure ownership of assets, whether through trusts, foundations, or an existing corporation. Our offshore restructuring team advises on the set up of offshore companies, trusts, bank accounts, and the obtaining of banking licenses and gambling licenses. Partners and associates in the team have worked in numerous offshore jurisdictions including the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands.

IT

We offer advice on a variety of information technology issues including company and corporate finance, intellectual property and commercial agreements. We currently extend in-house legal services to a number of software solution providers. Our lawyers' combined years of experience in the IT market enable us to offer innovative and cost-effective legal support.

IP

We have advised various businesses on intellectual property law in areas such as aviation, IT, media and entertainment and biotechnology.

The Gates and Partners commercial department offers cost-effective outsourcing to suit changing business needs. We give professional advice, covering both technical and practical aspects, and provide in-house outsourced services in a wide range of businesses including software providers and consultants, textile designers and manufacture, film and television production companies, biotech companies, venture capital funds, and franchised fast food sellers. Outlined below is a selection of the services that we can provide.

• Commercial Contracts :General commercial agreements (including sale and purchase, manufacturing, supply, distribution, franchise, agency and consultancy arrangements).
  • Outsourcing and facilities management.
  • Merchandising, product endorsement and sponsorship.
  • E-commerce.
  • Data protection.
  • UK and EU competition law.
  • Terms and conditions of business.
  • Manufacturing and supply agreements.
• Commercial Property: We outsource property matters to a well-respected and trusted agent who can provide efficient and cost-effective advice.
• Company Structure: We have advised on numerous company structures, developing them to meet the specific needs of our wide range of clients.
• Company Secretarial: We can provide a fast, effective incorporation service and company secretarial services.
• Data Protection: We can advise on the statutory duties required applicable to different companies.
• Disaster Recovery: The structures and policies that need to be put in place in relation to disaster recovery are an important aspect of a company's planning. We can advise on the best means of reviewing, monitoring and maintaining the company's policy in this regard.
• Domain Names: A company must ensure that it has all the domain names necessary and appropriate for the conduct of its business. We can register domain names for your company and provide the necessary technical advice.
• Insurances: It is advisable that a company puts in place a variety of insurance policies such as professional indemnity, directors and officers, public liability, employee liability, commercial combined, furniture, healthcare, accident and travel, permanent health insurance and death in service. We advise on the appropriate insurances and level of cover.
• Licences and Regulatory Consents: A company should consider whether any licences or consents from regulatory or other bodies are required in order to conduct its business. Our years of experience mean that we can confidently advise on individual company needs.
• Trade Marks and Intellectual Property.