Business Legal Services
Investment Agreements
Optimise the investment potential of your business by using a professionally drafted investment agreement
Both companies and investors benefit from structuring funding in a way that balances the risks to both sides. Our expert team specialises in venture capital and private equity investments and advises both entrepreneurs and investors on the best way to allocate risk and stage investment, helping you to optimise growth potential using bespoke investment agreements.
Experts in corporate law
Our team can assist you across all areas of corporate law, including:
Drafting a balanced investment agreement between two parties
Our team of corporate solicitors will:
Help entrepreneurs and investors discuss the terms you should include to protect your respective interests.
Help you decide the nature of the investment
Including whether the funding will involve an equity stake for the investor or represents a loan.
Help investors carry out due diligence on the target company.
Advise you on tranches of funding and set milestones that must be achieved before the company receives each tranche of funding.
Help you define the parameters of any funding conditions
So that these are fair and balanced between the needs of the investors and those of the business.
Draft the completion mechanics
So that each party is comfortable with the process to be followed before initial funding and subsequent tranches will be paid.
Make sure that the warranties and any restrictive covenants offered by the founders are appropriate for the business’s trading history.
Help you obtain third party consents if these are required.
Advise and assist on appointments to the board of directors
Draft new articles of association
Or amend the existing articles of association, to be in line with the proposed investment agreement.
Draft exit conditions and advise on the appropriate exit points for investors.
Draft, negotiate and complete the investment agreement on your behalf.
Investment agreement essentials
A well-drafted investment agreement helps both investors and businesses monitor and contain the risks associated with the investment. Removing ambiguity and ensuring that the obligations and rights are clear will prevent any confusion or disagreement after the investment is complete. Working with you to understand what you need to achieve from your investment agreement, we will help you answer the following questions:
- How can I make sure that the investment agreement mitigates risk to both sides?
- If the investment will be staged (offered in tranches), what process should be followed as each tranche is made?
- What milestones should be achieved by the company before each tranche can be awarded?
- How can I make sure that these milestones are realistic and achievable?
- What warranties should the company or the founders give in connection with the award of funding?
- Will the terms of the investment require the adoption of new articles of association?
- Should founders be subject to restrictive covenants to restrict their ability to compete with the company? If so, what is fair and reasonable in the circumstances?
- How might existing shareholders be impacted by an investment agreement and will I need to get their consent to the new agreement?
- Should I have the right to appoint a director or an observer to the board?
Benefits of using a specialist to review your investment agreement
Rely on experts to negotiate on your behalf
We understand that both founders and investors need to maximise the benefits of the funding arrangement and minimise the risks associated with longer-term financing arrangements. We’ll be on hand to ensure that negotiations are as balanced as possible and protect the interests of all parties, while ensuring that the investment agreement does not create restrictions which will negatively impact the business’s objectives for the future.
Improve your access to capital
Sophisticated investors are experienced in protecting their interests and know what they’re looking for when entering into an investment agreement. We can ensure your business is attractive to investors by putting together an agreement that suits your business goals and balances the risk to both sides.
Stage investment to suit your strategic goals
Whether you’re an investor or an entrepreneur, you’ll want certainty when placing or receiving funding. A good investment agreement will provide comfort to all parties as to when, and on what conditions, staged funding will be advanced so that entrepreneurs can concentrate on operating and growing their business and provide good returns to investors.
Minimise the risks associated with funding early-stage businesses
Start-ups, early-stage, and rapidly growing businesses need to be sure that they will be able to unlock funding as their offering develops. Equally, investors need reassurance that the companies in which they invest are taking proper account of the risks involved as they scale and grow. We can help craft an investment agreement where risk is appropriately monitored.
Who we help: Founders, investors, and entrepreneurs
We support founders and investors with a range of complex funding arrangements, agreements, and transactions. As champions of entrepreneurship, we understand the complexities that come with scaling a business and how vital it is for you to access expert legal support at each stage in your business’ growth. That’s why we offer a holistic approach when providing legal advice across a range of services. Starting with your investment agreement and getting to know your business objectives, we can gain a clear understanding of your specific challenges and provide you with the ongoing legal support necessary to thrive.
Testimonials
What our clients say
Why choose Harper James Solicitors?
Harper James Solicitors has been purpose-built to give start-ups the legal advice they require quickly and in the most cost-effective way possible. With our legal subscription plans, you can swiftly access an expert team of solicitors across a range of business legal services on a continuous basis so that you can lean on our expertise as and when you need to.
More specifically, our corporate team has years of experience supporting high-growth businesses. Rest assured; we can provide you with pragmatic advice in plain English for all of your corporate matters. Our corporate lawyers have worked at some of the top law firms in the UK, as well as provided in-house counsel for large, international firms. This varied experience means that we are capable of identifying and targeting vital opportunities for further negotiation, and if there isn’t that opportunity, provide you with the necessary advice on the next steps to take.
Find out more about the corporate team here:
Pricing and service plans
Legal support designed
to fit your business needs
Our three transparent service plans are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:
Engage
Flexible access to senior solicitors at highly competitive rates
An alternative to our subscription plans, offering access to full service legal expertise on a project-by-project basis.
Enable
Purpose built legal support for start-ups and smaller businesses
Monthly subscription plan for £239 per month, with £159 monthly credit and access to all legal services at 50% discount on our Standard Rates.
Extend
Comprehensive legal partnership for established businesses
Fully account managed and scalable annual subscription plan with support from a curated team of partners and senior solicitors, with up to 33% discount on our Standard Rates.
