Shareholder Agreements

We help UK businesses of all sizes draw up shareholder agreements that are tailored to their needs.

Creating, reviewing and amending shareholders' agreements

Rights and responsibilities of shareholders

Dividend payment schedules

Transfer of shares policies

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Does your business require a Shareholder's Agreement?

Having a shareholders’ agreement in place can help protect your business and its owners, both current and future ones. It can clarify the roles, rights and responsibilities of all shareholders involved, making sure everyone is on the same page.

It also ensures that the company’s assets are used only for legitimate purposes and it provides an efficient dispute resolution procedure.

At Neathouse Partners, we understand that each business has its own set of needs, and our experienced lawyers will help you craft a shareholders’ agreement that is tailored to your specific requirements. If you already have an existing agreement in place, we can review it and make any necessary amendments.

What is a Shareholder Agreement?

A shareholders’ agreement is a legally binding contract between all the owners of a business that outlines their respective rights and obligations. It typically covers areas such as voting procedures, transfer of shares, dividend payment schedules, dispute resolution mechanisms, borrowing restrictions and more.

By having this agreement in place, it helps to protect the interests of all parties involved and clarifies key points in the event of any disputes. This agreement is important for companies of all sizes, from startups to larger businesses.

Shareholder Agreement checklist

Neathouse’s experienced commercial law specialists are here to help you make sure all the necessary elements are included and that your agreement covers all of your company’s needs.

If you’re considering having a shareholders’ agreement, there are several things you should include:

The roles and duties of each shareholder Voting procedures for decisions Assignment and transfer of shares Dividend payment schedules Company borrowing restrictions

Handling of intellectual property Dispute resolution mechanism Deadlock provisions Restrictions on competition or solicitation of other shareholders Duties and obligations in case of the dissolution of the company

Types Of Shareholding Agreements

Minority Or Equal Shareholdings Agreements: These are agreements that apply to shareholders who have equal or minority shares in the company. It outlines their rights and responsibilities, as well as any restrictions on voting power and other matters. Majority Shareholders’ Agreements: These are agreements that apply to shareholders who own more than 50% of the company’s shares. It outlines their responsibilities, voting power and other matters related to major decisions. Joint Venture Agreement: This is an agreement between two or more parties to set up a joint venture business. It sets out the terms of the venture, and how profits, liabilities and responsibilities should be shared between the parties.

Pre-Emptive Rights Agreement: These agreements give existing shareholders the right to buy new shares of a company before they are offered to external investors. This helps protect their ownership percentage in the business, while allowing room for new investments. Buy/Sell Agreement: A buy/sell agreement is a contract that outlines the conditions for share transfers in case of death, disability or retirement. It also sets out any restrictions around when and how shares can be sold. Investor Rights Agreement: This type of agreement applies to investors who have put money into a company. It defines the rights they have, such as voting power, dividend payments and other financial matters.

Benefits of having a Shareholder Agreement

Whether you are in the process of forming a new business or already have one up and running, Neathouse Partners can help you create customised shareholder contracts that meet all your needs. Our experienced team will guide you through the entire process and make sure your agreement is tailored to suit your specific requirements.

Having a shareholders’ agreement in place has many benefits for your business:

Provide clarity on the roles and responsibilities of all shareholders Establish decision-making procedures to prevent deadlocks Set out restrictions on competition or solicitation of other shareholders Clarify how intellectual property should be handled by the company Provide a plan for the transfer of shares in case there is an exit or death of a shareholder

Determine dividend payment schedules and other financial matters Set out dispute resolution mechanisms which can be used to quickly resolve any issues that may arise between shareholders Create confidence among current and future shareholders by providing a clear and comprehensive agreement Offer protection to all parties involved, including creditors.

We can help you with:

Minority Or Equal Shareholdings Agreements Majority Shareholders’ Agreements Joint Venture Agreement

Pre-Emptive Rights Agreements Buy/Sell Agreement Investor Rights Agreement

Why Neathouse Partners?

Renowned expertise

Our team comprises of industry leaders and specialists dedicated to staying ahead of the curve in the latest Employment Law, Health & Safety and HR developments.

Services tailored to you

A fully bespoke 1-2-1 client-adviser model, offering a dedicated, fully qualified and experienced advisor to each client, who can handle all documentation and queries on their behalf.

Fixed fees

We base our prices on fixed monthly retainers, so you and your business receive an unlimited service without unexpected bills. This helps you to budget for your HR and Employment Law spend.

What our clients say about us

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“As a company, we have used Neathouse for a number of years. The service throughout has been exceptional. All matters are dealt with in a prompt and efficient manner. James and Gwyn are always on hand to deal with any issues and have provided detailed employment contracts, staff handbooks and advised on complex matters. I would highly recommend Neathouse as a trusted HR partner.”

Amanda Chalmers Executive Assistant Stretton Capital

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“A great service - fast, professional and friendly with accurate information on all things HR.
Full outsourced HR service is provided giving us peace of mind that we remain compliant”

Steve Griffith Business Manager St Gerard's School Trust

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“Having used the services of Neathouse Partners for many years, I’m confident to say that their employment law advice is commercial and focused on the answer rather than the journey! I have recommended the team to many other businesses and have never heard a bad word said.”

Scott Young Director - Corporate Services RedEye

“The experts on hand have been exceptional, their service is excellent and such value for money. If you are considering outsourcing your HR then I recommend you do.”

Courtney Nangle Charity Manager Sue Young Cancer Support in Leicestershire and Rutland

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Neathouse Partners.

What geographical areas does Neathouse Partners cover?

We offer services to all businesses and organisations located in England, Wales and Scotland.

Does Neathouse Partners cover my industry?

We provide HR and employment law services across a range of industries, including:

Health and social care
Retail
Hospitality and leisure
Charities
Construction
Engineering and manufacturing
Commercial cleaning
Healthcare

Visit our industries page for more information on the sectors we cover. If you can't find what you're looking for, get in touch and we'll let you know if we can cover your industry.

What makes Neathouse Partners different from other service providers?

We pride ourselves on our professional yet personal service, and build close working relationships with our clients so that we remain accountable for the advice we give. We provide personalised solutions to our clients, tailoring them to their unique business challenges while making them compliant with UK employment law and HR best practices.

As a business owner, you need to focus on what’s really important to your business, with the peace of mind that we're looking after your HR requirements. We draft, edit and prepare your documents on your behalf, so that you can focus on your business knowing you’re fully compliant.

We're a small collective of specialist qualified employment lawyers and HR experts, delivering an outcome-focused end-to-end service that helps you to operate at your best and comply with both UK law and HR best practices.

You’ll be given your own personal HR Consultant or Employment Lawyer, who'll take their time to really get to know you, your business, and how you operate. This enables us to support what’s right for your business, whenever you need it. Our unique offering of lawyer-led employment law services, combined with expert HR advice, means that we can provide a seamless and consistent service to our clients. Unlike other companies offering HR solutions, our services always come at a fixed cost, enabling you to easily budget for your HR requirements, with no financial surprises later down the line. There’s no usage limits and no hidden extras. You can rest assured that all of your HR and employment law requirements are covered.

Which sizes of companies does Neathouse Partners help?

Neathouse Partners caters to a diverse clientele, accommodating the needs of everyone from small businesses with a single employee to large-scale organisations with 7,000 or more employees.

Have inquiries?

Contact our experts

Contact us, and our team will get back to you within 24 hours. We value your questions and are committed to getting them answered quickly.

We offer unlimited HR and employment law advice, covering all matters throughout the employee lifecycle.

Neathouse Partners provide redundancy advice for employers. Our solution-driven, personal service ensures that employers have access to a named and dedicated HR or employment lawyer to help them expertly navigate HR best practice and employment law, regardless of how complex the issue may seem.

Plan, manage, and monitor health and safety in the pre-construction and construction stages of your project.

Support your staff when they are struggling.

Lawyers at our firm can draft, prepare, review, evaluate and resolve numerous commercial agreements on your behalf.

We provide specialised HR and Health & Safety services for the health and social care.

We offer unlimited HR and employment law advice, covering all matters throughout the employee lifecycle.

Neathouse Partners provide redundancy advice for employers. Our solution-driven, personal service ensures that employers have access to a named and dedicated HR or employment lawyer to help them expertly navigate HR best practice and employment law, regardless of how complex the issue may seem.

Plan, manage, and monitor health and safety in the pre-construction and construction stages of your project.

Support your staff when they are struggling.

Lawyers at our firm can draft, prepare, review, evaluate and resolve numerous commercial agreements on your behalf.

We provide specialised HR and Health & Safety services for the health and social care.

Shareholder Agreements

Experience the undeniable success of our services – as reflected in our exceptional ratings