Our corporate team has a wealth of expertise. It is recognised in the Legal 500 for providing clear, pragmatic and commercially focused advice to companies, management teams, entrepreneurs, investors, lenders and individuals.
Our corporate and commercial solicitors advise businesses of all sizes. Our client base ranges from start-ups, SMEs, and owner-managed businesses to subsidiaries of overseas companies, institutional lenders, and large corporates.
For immediate support, please contact our team, or you can read our FAQs to learn more about corporate and commercial law.
Our corporate and commercial team
Clifton Ingram is one of the leading commercial law firms in the Thames Valley and M3 Corridor, ranked by respected client guide The Legal 500 for our expertise in corporate and commercial law.
We pride ourselves on building lasting professional relationships with our clients and their professional advisers, understanding their business and legal needs so that we can provide practical, effective commercial advice when required.
We provide a multidisciplinary service, working closely with other specialist departments within Clifton Ingram, including Commercial Property, Employment, and Intellectual Property when required. Our relationships and experience with other professional advisers and lenders allow us to meet our clients’ corporate transactional needs.
Our corporate and commercial services
Our team is highly experienced in advising on corporate transactions and regularly advises on:
- Commercial contracts
- Mergers, acquisitions and disposals
- Management buy-outs and management buy-ins
- Joint ventures, shareholders’ agreements and investment agreements
- Share buy backs
- Share investment schemes
- Demergers and reorganisations
- Private equity
- Corporate finance
- Setting up and running a business
- SME and owner-managed businesses
- Corporate governance
Commercial contracts
Getting the correct terms in place for commercial contracts helps establish fruitful business relationships, reduces the potential for friction, and protects your business against risks.
Our commercial law solicitors can assist with drafting and reviewing all manner of business contracts and agreements and advise on the terms of your existing contracts where clarification is required.
Mergers, acquisitions and disposals
Mergers, acquisitions and disposals tend to be highly complex and require careful handling. It is essential to ensure that any deals negotiated and structures agreed offer the best possible terms and the strongest chance of a business’s future success.
Our corporate business lawyers have extensive experience advising on mergers, acquisitions, and disposals, so they can ensure that you make the right deal and that all commercial considerations are properly accounted for.
Management buy-outs and management buy-ins
Management buy-outs and buy-ins are often the best options when a business owner wishes to exit the business and their current management team wishes to take over or when a new management team will be taking over.
Our business and corporate lawyers can advise management teams on the process for a buy-out or buy-in and then guide you through every stage of the transaction.
Joint ventures, shareholders’ agreements and investment agreements
When working with another business, an investor or other shareholders, having a clear legal framework in place is critical. This both protects you and helps to ensure a productive working relationship.
Our business solicitors can help with negotiating, drafting and reviewing joint venture, shareholders’ and investment agreements so that you get the right terms for your objectives.
Share buy backs
If a company wishes to buy back its shares, it must do so in accordance with the terms of the Companies Act 2006. A transaction that did not comply with the Act would be considered unlawful and void.
Our legal experts can guide companies through buying back their shares, ensuring full compliance with the Companies Act 2006.
Share investment schemes
Share investment schemes allow company employees to be granted and/or to purchase shares in the business. They can be a tax-efficient means of rewarding and incentivising employees.
If you wish to set up a share investment scheme or need help with the operation of a scheme, our team will be happy to support you.
Demergers and reorganisations
Demergers and reorganisations can be very effective ways of turning around a struggling business, helping to make it more profitable and/or better able to respond to changing market conditions or other challenges.
Our corporate lawyers can guide companies through all the legal aspects of demergers and reorganisations, setting them up for future success.
Private equity
Whether you are seeking private equity or looking to invest in a business, sound legal advice and support are needed. This helps ensure the right finance can be secured on terms that will meet your medium—and long-term goals.
Our commercial law solicitors can assist with negotiating, drafting and reviewing private equity investment agreements to facilitate timely investments while keeping you protected.
Corporate finance
Depending on the circumstances, a business can access various types of corporate finance. Finding the right funding on favourable terms is not always straightforward, and expert legal support should be sought before entering into a finance agreement.
Our team can assist with all aspects of corporate finance agreements, helping to make sure that any funding you secure will best support your overall business objectives.
Setting up and running a business
Starting a business can offer many opportunities but also presents many risks. Many important decisions must be made, including choosing the proper structure, creating the necessary documents and agreements, and implementing effective risk management measures.
Our startup lawyers can guide you through the entire process of setting up and operating a business, acting as your trusted advisers through every stage of your business journey.
SME and owner-managed businesses
SMEs and owner-managed businesses face a wide range of issues where legal expertise can be invaluable. Getting the proper cost-effective and time-efficient legal support can be critical for the success of these types of businesses.
Our commercial law firm works with a wide range of SME and owner-managed businesses, supporting them with their full range of business legal needs.
Corporate governance
Companies must follow strict corporate governance rules to remain in regulatory compliance and ensure their businesses can operate effectively.
Our commercial and corporate solicitors can support businesses with all of their corporate governance needs, helping business owners and management teams maintain compliance.
Contact our corporate and commercial solicitors in Wokingham, Reading and Farnham
Our team of experienced business and corporate lawyers work from offices in Farnham, Reading, and Wokingham. We deal with business legal matters for clients from all over Berkshire, as well as Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and further afield.
Speak to one of our corporate business lawyers today by calling 0118 978 0099 or using the contact form at the bottom of the page.
What others say:
"We have a very varied workload and Clifton Ingram have always been able to meet our needs with a strong team of specialists. The sound advice has protected our long-term interests on a number of occasions."
Legal 500 - 2025 Edition
"The team at Clifton Ingram had a strong focus on our business needs and was successfully able to challenge a City law firm where required."
Legal 500 - 2022 Edition
“Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors has a ‘strong presence in the local market’, particularly among owner-managed businesses; the team adopts ‘a commercial approach on fees without compromising on service and quality’.
Legal 500 – 2017 Edition
“Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors stands out for its ‘thorough responses, good value for money’, and for its ‘attentiveness’. Barry Niven is an ‘expert problem-solver with extensive knowledge’”.
Legal 500 – 2016 Edition
“Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors offers ‘good industry knowledge, quick response times and practical solutions’. Barry Niven ‘provides clients with clear advice grounded in commerciality’”.
Legal 500 – 2015 Edition
Frequently asked questions about corporate and commercial law
What does a corporate commercial solicitor do?
Corporate and commercial solicitors help businesses with their legal needs, including those related to contracts and agreements, business structures, and governance issues. A vital part of a commercial and corporate solicitor’s role is to help a business make the most of its opportunities while effectively managing its legal risks.
What is the difference between corporate law and commercial law?
Corporate law covers legal matters involving companies, including their formation, governance, mergers, and acquisitions. Commercial law generally refers to legal matters involving contracts and agreements. Business lawyers may practice both corporate and commercial law or be more specialised, depending on the size and focus of the firm for which they work.
How do our corporate and commercial solicitors help you?
At Clifton Ingram, our corporate and commercial solicitors can assist you with your full range of legal business needs. You can read more about our expertise above or use the contact details below to speak to a member of our team about how we can help you.
Contact our corporate and commercial solicitors in Farnham, Reading and Wokingham today
We can advise you on all aspects of corporate and commercial law. Our Corporate & Commercial Team offer a professional and diligent approach coupled with high-quality legal and technical knowledge.
Our depth of experience enables us to offer commercial legal advice that helps you exploit business opportunities while successfully managing risk. We are a proactive and down-to-earth team of highly experienced solicitors who bring you a high-quality and professional service.
As one of the leading firms of solicitors in the Thames Valley and M3 Corridor, through to Surrey and surrounding areas, we regularly advise clients across the South East, including Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Wiltshire and London.
Speak to one of our team today to see how we can help on 0118 978 0099.
Alternatively, talk to someone now via our .