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Some business decisions create legal and tax questions at the same time.
A change in ownership can affect share rights and tax treatment. A business sale involves transaction documents as well as consideration, structure and shareholder tax issues. Bringing in contractors can involve both contractual arrangements and employment tax considerations.
Adroit Legal provides the legal advice, working alongside Adroit Accountax where the matter also requires tax or accountancy input. Instead of managing two separate workstreams without coordination, you can bring the wider commercial decision to one team and have the legal and tax considerations addressed together.
It is common for businesses to separate legal and tax advice.
Your lawyer deals with the legal documents. Your accountant deals with the tax position. Each adviser may give technically sound advice within their own area, but the business owner still has to bring the two pieces together.
That can become difficult when the timing or structure of one decision affects the other.
Our combined legal and tax service is designed for situations where the two workstreams need to be considered together.
You bring us the commercial decision. We identify the legal work required and involve Adroit Accountax where tax advice is needed.
The result is coordinated advice based on the same commercial objective.
The work depends on the circumstances of the business. Common areas include:
A business transaction can involve legal due diligence, purchase or sale documentation, warranties, indemnities and completion requirements alongside questions about transaction structure and tax treatment.
We can coordinate the legal transaction work with Adroit Accountax where tax advice is required.
Issuing shares or introducing an employee share incentive can require consideration of the legal rights being created alongside the relevant tax treatment.
We can advise on the legal documentation and coordinate with Adroit Accountax on the tax aspects.
Changing the structure of a group can involve company law, ownership, contracts, governance and tax considerations.
The legal steps and tax consequences can be considered together before the restructuring is implemented.
A contractor arrangement can involve both the terms of the engagement and the tax rules governing employment status and off-payroll working.
Our legal advice can cover the contractual position, with Adroit Accountax involved where tax advice is required.
Certain employment decisions can create both legal and tax questions.
These can include termination payments, benefits and share incentives. The relevant employment documentation and tax treatment can be considered as part of the same wider matter.
Loans involving directors or companies within a group can require appropriate documentation alongside consideration of the tax treatment.
We can coordinate the legal documentation with Adroit Accountax where accountancy or tax input is required.
A major investment, restructuring, change in ownership or other commercial transaction can create legal and tax considerations that need to be considered before the transaction is implemented.
The precise scope is established at the outset based on the decision you are making.
Where a commercial decision involves tax reliefs, capital expenditure or R&D considerations, Adroit Accountax can advise on the relevant tax position while Adroit Legal handles the legal work that forms part of the wider matter.
The legal documentation needs to reflect the rights being granted to employees. The tax treatment also needs to be considered.
The legal and tax work can therefore be coordinated rather than treated as two unrelated assignments.
Before going to market, the owner may need to address contracts, shareholder arrangements, corporate records and other legal matters.
At the same time, the proposed transaction structure and shareholder position can have tax consequences.
A coordinated review gives the owner an opportunity to consider both sides before important transaction decisions are finalised.
Bringing in an investor can require changes to ownership, company structure, shareholder rights and corporate documentation.
The restructuring can also create tax considerations.
Legal and tax advice can be coordinated around the same proposed structure and transaction timetable.
This does not mean every legal matter needs tax advice. Many do not. The combined service is intended for decisions where the two areas materially overlap.
You do not need to arrive with the matter divided into separate legal and tax questions.
Start by explaining the business decision you are considering and what you need to achieve.
The legal structure of a transaction can affect its tax consequences.
The tax position can also influence which legal structure makes commercial sense.
For example, changing the ownership of a business may require new legal documentation, but the timing and form of the transaction can also have tax implications for the owners.
Looking at one side in isolation can leave an important question unanswered.
Our approach is to bring the two disciplines together when the matter genuinely requires both.
You do not have to change accountants to use our combined legal and tax service.
Where you already have an accountant or tax adviser, we can work with them as part of the wider matter, subject to the scope and arrangements agreed with you.
The aim is to make the legal work fit into your existing professional relationships rather than create unnecessary duplication.
If Adroit Accountax is involved, the teams can coordinate directly on the relevant tax and accountancy work.
Owner-managed businesses often make important decisions without maintaining separate in-house legal and tax teams.
That can leave the business owner coordinating several advisers while trying to make the underlying commercial decision.
Our service is designed for situations where legal and tax advice need to be considered around the same business objective.
The work can be relevant to founders, shareholders, directors and business owners dealing with ownership changes, investment, restructuring, transactions, contractors or other significant commercial decisions.
Combined matters can vary significantly in complexity.
We establish the legal and tax work required and agree the scope before the work begins. Where appropriate, the matter can be handled under a fixed or capped fee arrangement.
Tax services are provided by Adroit Accountax alongside the legal services provided by Adroit Legal, depending on what the matter requires.
The fee structure and responsibilities for each part of the work are explained before you commit.
Adroit Legal provides legal services. Tax and accountancy services are provided by Adroit Accountax.
Where a matter requires both legal and tax input, the two teams can work together so that the relevant issues are considered around the same commercial decision.
Yes. We can work alongside an existing accountant or tax adviser where appropriate. You do not need to change your accountant to obtain legal advice from Adroit Legal.
The cost depends on the legal and tax work required.
We scope the matter before work begins and can agree a fixed or capped fee where the scope allows. Any tax or accountancy services provided by Adroit Accountax are explained as part of the agreed arrangements.
Some commercial decisions affect both areas.
A business sale, restructuring, share issue or ownership change can require legal documentation while also creating tax considerations. Coordinating the work gives you an opportunity to consider the two sides before the relevant decision is implemented.
The combined service is designed for matters requiring both disciplines. Tax and accountancy services are provided by Adroit Accountax, while Adroit Legal provides the legal services.
If you only require legal advice, you can use the relevant Adroit Legal service directly.
No.
Many legal matters can be handled entirely through Adroit Legal without tax input. The combined service is most relevant when the legal structure, transaction or commercial decision has material tax implications.
Yes. Adroit Legal can handle the relevant legal transaction work, while Adroit Accountax can advise on the tax aspects of the transaction.
The two workstreams can be coordinated around the transaction structure and timetable.
Adroit Legal can advise on the legal and contractual aspects of contractor arrangements and IR35 matters. Adroit Accountax can provide tax advice where required.
If you are considering a transaction, restructuring, investment, ownership change or another significant business decision involving both legal and tax considerations, start with a conversation.
We can understand the decision, identify the relevant work and explain how Adroit Legal and Adroit Accountax can work together.
Book a free 20-minute call with the lawyer who will handle the legal work.
Legal support for acquisitions, disposals, business sales and pre-sale preparation.
Advice on share ownership, control, transfers, deadlock and shareholder exits.
Legal advice on contractor arrangements, status reviews and IR35 considerations.
Ongoing legal support for businesses that need regular access to legal advice.