Business purchase solicitor
Buying a UK business or company? I run the legal side of the acquisition: due diligence, the purchase agreement and completion, on a fixed fee agreed up front.
Highly recommended. 100% of surveyed clients would recommend my services.
Fast turnarounds. I return work in days, not weeks.
Hands-on service. An involved approach to solving problems.
- M&A and corporate transactions completed
- 250+
- average from 90+ five-star client reviews
- 5.0
- regulated through Kingsley Wood, a City of London firm
- SRA
- professional indemnity cover on every matter
- £30m
Overview
I act for buyers of UK small and medium-sized businesses, from first-time buyers to groups making their third or fourth acquisition. That covers the structure of the deal (a share purchase or an asset purchase), legal due diligence on the target, negotiating the purchase agreement with the seller’s solicitors, and completion.
Many of the deals I handle are funded creatively: seller finance, deferred consideration, earn-outs, invoice finance or an SPV structure. The recent deals page has examples.
How it works
- 01
A free initial consultation
Call, WhatsApp or book a video call. We talk through what the work needs, what it does not, and whether I am the right fit for it.
- 02
A fixed fee, agreed up front
You get a written quote before any work starts. The scope and the price are agreed in advance, so there are no surprise invoices.
- 03
Done for you, start to finish
I draft the documents, negotiate with the other side where needed, and deal with Companies House, and keep you informed throughout.
- 04
Completion, and what comes after
Signing and completion, with a clear list of anything you need to do once the work is done.
Video guide
How To Buy A Business In the UK | Solicitor Explains The Legal Side
An overview of the legal steps involved in buying a business in the UK, from structuring the deal as a share or asset purchase through to due diligence and completion.
More videos on the Malcolm Zoppi YouTube channel.
Client reviews
90+ five-star reviews, 5.0 average
Verified reviews from clients on Google and Facebook, collected independently by Trustindex.
“Outstanding legal guidance during a complex and stressful company sale.”
“Pragmatic, clear advice, and genuinely responsive to our needs.”
“Clear and helpful advice, and the deal was finished at short notice on completion day.”
My approach
How I approach an acquisition
Due diligence is where most of the value is protected, so I focus it on what actually matters for your target rather than running a generic checklist. The purchase agreement then deals with what diligence finds: price adjustments, warranties, indemnities and retentions. You deal with me directly throughout, and the fee is fixed and agreed before I start.
Who I work with
Who I act for
I act for:
- First-time buyers acquiring their first company
- Business owners buying a competitor or supplier
- Groups making add-on acquisitions through an SPV or holding company
- Investors and private equity firms
- Management teams buying out the owners
Free initial consultation
Tell me what you need
Book a free call and I will tell you what the work involves, what it is likely to cost and how long it should take. No questionnaires or onboarding forms.
FAQs
Common questions about buying a business
What to expect when you instruct me on an acquisition.
- What does the legal work on a purchase cover?
Heads of terms, legal due diligence on the target, the share or asset purchase agreement, disclosure, any seller-finance or earn-out documents, completion and the Companies House filings afterwards. I negotiate directly with the seller’s solicitors.
- Can you help if I have limited funds for the purchase?
Often, yes. Many of the acquisitions I act on use seller financing, deferred consideration or asset or invoice finance rather than cash up front. The structure has legal consequences, so it is worth discussing before heads of terms are signed.
- How quickly will I hear back from you?
I aim to answer or return calls within 24 hours, and emails sooner. During a live deal we agree a timetable at the start and I update you as each stage completes.
Book a free call with me or my team
Leave your details and you’ll hear from me or my team within one working day, usually the same day. Or call, email or WhatsApp directly.