We advise employers on ways to avoid problems – making sure they have the appropriate contracts and policies in place, and helping on redundancy programs and disciplinary / termination issues.

We have particular experience in advising in relation to the termination of employment of directors and senior employees, including dealing with the corporate side of the process such as share scheme entitlements.

We also prepare share schemes for companies, and have particular experience in preparing EMI schemes and agreements

We advise employers when claims or other problems do arise, acting for employers in Tribunal proceedings but always endeavouring to settle claims where possible and appropriate.

We prepare and advise on Compromise Agreements.

We also advise employees on claims against their employers, and on the rights they may have. Again, where appropriate to do so we will always try to settle claims early rather than prolong litigation.

Examples of recent work include:

• advising a company on terminating the employment of a director who had inadvertently suggested he was planning to set up a competing business
• advising a business on its program to reduce its workforce by redundancies as part of cost cutting measures
• advising a company on reducing the salary of a senior executive both to save costs and as a result of the executive not performing as expected
• advising a director on his constructive dismissal claim, and in respect of the valuation of his shares in the company which were required to be sold as a result of his resignation
• advising both employers and employees on Compromise Agreements, and where appropriate advising on the appropriate level of compensation

We advise a number of companies on trademark, design right and copyright issues.

We prepare, negotiate and advise on software licence agreements, and licence agreements for trademarks and copyright.

We advise companies on registering their IP rights. We advise on both infringement claims by others, and where others are infringing the IP rights of our clients.

Examples of recent work include:

• dealing with the trade mark applications of a professional firm
• preparing trade mark licences and assignments
• acting for a business in resisting IP infringement claims made by a competitor
• assisting a company in enforcing its IP rights against others copying its products
• drafting a variety of software licences for different types of software, and for different uses, both nationally and worldwide

We advise companies, and their directors and shareholders, on buying and selling companies and businesses, corporate finance and fund raising, joint ventures, restructuring, and shareholder arrangements and agreements.

We prepare the necessary agreements and other paperwork, being involved in the negotiation of the documents as required. Although legal agreements by their nature have a certain structure and contain legal language, we endeavour to draft documents in a straightforward way so that they are readily understandable.

Examples of recent work include:

During 2010

• advising the shareholders of Avisa Aviation Safety Systems Limited, a Sussex based airwothiness management and safety company, on the sale of the company to Swiss based private equity company, Enex Group SA
• advising the shareholders of Insulated Tools Limited, an East Grinstead based company involved in the manufacture of insulated tools for live line working, on the sale of the company to its US agent
• advising the shareholders of Waviatech Limited, a Gatwick based company specialising in the management and scanning of aircraft records, on the sale of a majority shareholding to Dutch Group AerData BV
• advising an East Sussex based manufacturing company on its acquisition of a home counties based wholesaler and distributor
• advising Waviatech Limited during its successful contract negotiations to provide its aircraft record management and scanning service to easyJet
• advising on a s110 Insolvency Act reconstruction to effect the demerger of two South East based based manufacturing and wholesaling companies
• advising a London based advertising agency on its acquisition of a digital marketing agency
• advising two South Eastern based aviation support companies on their joint ventures in the Gulf with UAE partners
• advising on shareholders agreements for companies including a recently formed advertising agency, and a company developing mobile phone technology

During 2009

• advising the shareholders in the sale of their fire protection business
• advising the board of a retailing company on the company’s refinancing and private equity investment
• advising on the management buyout of a UK subsidiary of a New Zealand company
• advising a financial services firm on its corporate restructuring
• advising shareholders in the reverse AIM takeover of an advertising agency
• advising an internet retailer on its initial and second stage fundraising.