I’ve found a business I’d like to buy. What happens next?
Andrew Dongworth, Company and Commercial Solicitor at HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors highlights the process that most buyers can expect when buying a new business.
April 21, 2026
Seeking a legal partner for your business? Need clear legal advice for your company’s day-to-day operations?
Running your business successfully demands your full attention, leaving little time for the complexities of legal work. Every day brings new agreements, compliance checks, and strategic decisions that require careful legal input.
At HRJ Foreman Laws, we understand these pressures. Our experienced company and commercial solicitors act as your legal partner, handling the essential legalities of robust contracts, regulatory compliance, strategic succession planning, and day-to-day operations. We free up your valuable time, ensuring your company remains legally healthy and ready to thrive.
When was the last time you gave your business a legal health check?
Robust contract law – protecting your agreements
Your business relies on clear agreements with suppliers, customers, employees, and partners. Our team ensures your contracts are relevant, robust, and protect you against risks and potential legal disputes.
We will:
Draft and review commercial contracts – From foundational terms and conditions of trading to specific supply agreements, distribution agreements, consultancy agreements, and software agreements.
Safeguard confidentiality – Prepare and advise on Confidentiality / Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to protect your sensitive information.
Address operational changes – Ensure your contracts are updated if you have changed business operations, expanded into new areas, began trading online, or opened new premises.
Review your online presence – Prepare or review your website’s terms and conditions for sales, cookie policy, and privacy policy to ensure they are current, applicable, and easily accessible to your customers.
Business contracts – The most frequently asked questions, answered.
Staying ahead with regulatory compliance
The regulatory landscape for businesses is constantly evolving, with new obligations arising from areas like data protection to industry-specific rules. Staying on top of these requirements can seem daunting, with real threats of fines for breaches.
We provide legal advice to ensure your compliance, covering:
Data Protection (GDPR) – Guidance on the General Data Protection Regulation, providing instructions for businesses to protect personal data and privacy.
General business regulations – Advice on a range of regulations applicable to every business, covering employees, finances, and consumer statutory rights.
Industry-specific compliance and licensing – Assistance with additional industry regulations and operational licenses that must be adhered to.
Strategic succession planning for business longevity
A well-defined succession plan is vital for the long-term health and continuity of any business, particularly for family-run businesses where the future can involve complex personal and financial considerations. Many businesses face unnecessary risk without a meaningful plan in place.
Our solicitors will help you prepare the necessary documentation to protect your business’s future, considering:
Business structuring – Advising on appropriate legal structures, including partnerships and limited liability partnerships (LLPs), to suit your operational and succession goals.
Family business inheritance – Guidance on transferring shares to the next generation, potentially utilising trusts for efficient capital gains and inheritance tax management. Our company and commercial legal team can work closely with experts in our Wills, Trusts and Probate team to provide the right Trust for you.
Business exit strategies – Planning for your eventual retirement or departure, ensuring a smooth transition that protects your interests.
Key legal services for your ongoing operations
Beyond specific contracts, compliance, and planning, we offer broader legal support essential for your day-to-day business health:
Settlement agreement advice – Reviewing and advising businesses and employees on their settlement agreements and ensuring a fair and legally sound outcome for both parties.
Intellectual property protection – Advising on the identification, protection, and licensing of your business’s valuable intellectual property, including trademarks and copyrights.
Debt recovery – Providing practical and timely assistance with recovering outstanding debts, helping to maintain your business’s cash flow.
Business disputes and troubleshooting – Resolving everyday legal issues promptly to avoid bigger problems.
Meet the team
To learn more about our company and commercial solicitors visit our ‘Meet the team page’.
Each team member brings a wealth of knowledge to meet your legal needs.
Why choose HRJ Foreman Laws as the legal advisor for your business?
Choosing HRJ Foreman Laws means partnering with a team that has a clear commercial business ethos and strong expertise.
We are dedicated to delivering legal advice that protects your interests, minimises risk, and helps you to achieve your business goals.
Our strength lies in the extended range of legal expertise at HRJ Foreman Laws. We also provide legal services for your commercial property and commercial litigation needs.
We pride ourselves on truly understanding your unique business to deliver advice that’s always personalised and actionable.
Legal insights and updates from our company & commercial solicitors
Three legal shifts that could affect your balance sheet
Over the next 18 months, 3 important legal updates are set to directly impact business operational costs & the value of commercial property assets.
January 6, 2026
Know your responsibilities as a company director
At the heart of corporate law is the principle that a company is an independent legal entity, crucially meaning that it has the capacity to contract in its own name. Therefore, directors will not generally be personally responsible for a company's liabilities. However, there are exceptions to this general rule.
July 17, 2025
Why leaving your legal documents to AI is risky business
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly, and its impact is impossible to ignore. At HRJ Foreman Laws, we embrace technology and innovation. However, from a legal perspective, a growing number of businesses are relying on AI tools, including ChatGPT, to quickly draft important legal documents, such as policies, contracts, and terms & conditions.
June 12, 2025
The good, the bad and the ugly truth about shareholders’ agreements
Andrew Dongworth, partner and company and commercial solicitor at HRJ Foreman Laws shares the good, the bad and the ugly side of business partnerships. If your business has shareholders, an up-to-date shareholders’ agreement is essential to protect both the business and the shareholders
August 8, 2024
Business contracts – the most frequently asked questions answered
The needs of each business and the promise they make to their clients will differ, so the details within each contract will be different. Read on, for Company and Commercial Solicitor, Andrew Dongworth’s answers to the most frequently asked questions about business contracts.
February 1, 2024
Congratulations Rachel
Congratulations to Rachel Clark who has qualified as a solicitor. She will continue to work with Andrew in our company and commercial department in Welwyn Garden City.
September 21, 2023
What is a Management Buy Out and a Management Buy In?
Read our article where Andrew Dongworth talks in more detail about MBOs and MBIs.
September 29, 2022
Top legal tips when preparing your business for sale
If you are planning to sell your business in the future, there are several things to consider. Andrew Dongworth, Company and Commercial Solicitor at HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors, Welwyn Garden City office provides answers to some frequently asked questions about the role a solicitor will...
November 18, 2021
Read these top 3 items to kick start your business legal health check
Andrew Dongworth, senior associate solicitor, company and commercial law, at HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors, Welwyn Garden City office, highlights the top three areas to kick start a legal health check for your business. To watch the video ‘What are the top 3 items to kick...
October 28, 2021
Read our top 5 things to do before you begin trading online
If you are a retailer seeking to widen your client base with an online presence, it is important to be aware that your website must adhere to certain legal requirements. So, before you begin trading online within the United Kingdom, Andrew Dongworth, Company and Commercial...
July 20, 2021
Step into Spring with a legal health check
As we reach the end of the financial year, you’ll have a good idea of your business goals to March 2022. Are you ready to achieve them, or do some areas still need a bit of a spring clean? Read our top legal tips to...
March 23, 2021
5 reasons to love the legal health of your business
What gift could you give to your business this valentine’s day? What about a legal health check, protection against legal risk and being ready for the future? Read our top 5 reasons to love the legal health of your business. To minimise legal risks As...
February 11, 2021
Top tips to a legally healthy 2021
Whether your business year starts now, or you are in your final quarter of your financial business year, you will have a good idea of what direction you want to take your business in 2021. What does the future have in store for you? Whatever...
January 26, 2021
How can a shareholders’ agreement protect your business?
Like any good relationship, even the best business partnerships can sometimes go awry. While it’s not a situation you want to find yourself in, it’s always best to be prepared. Andrew Dongworth, one of our specialist company and commercial solicitors answers the top 5 questions...
October 15, 2020
Succession Planning for a Family Business
It’s never too soon to have a well thought out succession plan for your business. As a business owner, you’ll be aware of its importance, but have you been able to take the time from your busy schedule to finalise a legally binding succession plan? ...
August 7, 2020
Business owners, in these uncertain times, know that we’re here to help.
Right now, business owners are facing many difficult questions – how will we manage our finances? How can we keep our loyal clients? How can we retain our employees? The silver lining is that this situation will come to an end. In the meantime, all...
March 30, 2020
When was the last time you gave your business a legal health check?
What is the overall legal health of your business? Andrew Dongworth, Company and Commercial Lawyer at HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors, provides a few helpful points to determine if your business is legally healthy, or if you’re putting yourself at risk. Company structure / ownership documents...
March 22, 2020
HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors hires new Company and Commercial Solicitor for Welwyn Garden City
We are delighted to welcome Andrew Dongworth as the newest addition to our Company and Commercial legal team. Andrew is a Senior Associate Solicitor and will work from our Welwyn Garden City office in Hertfordshire. Andrew has extensive legal experience working with a wide range...
May 7, 2019
Ready to discuss the legal needs of your business?
Whether you’re looking for advice on a complex contract, planning a significant acquisition, or need guidance on shareholder agreements, our team is here to help.
Call us on: 01462 458711
Email us at: info@hrjforemanlaws.co.uk
Or simply fill out the form below, and we’ll get back to you promptly.
Contact us today
Hitchin
01462 458711
Welwyn Garden City
01707 887 700
Old Harlow
01279 709100
London
0203 327 9001
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