- 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 and sellers of UK small and medium-sized businesses: share purchases and sales, asset purchases and sales, and the due diligence, negotiation and documents in between. Having handled over 250 transactions on both sides, I usually know what the other side is going to ask for before they ask.
If you are selling a business, I can prepare it for sale, deal with the buyer’s due diligence and negotiate the sale agreement. If you are buying, the business purchase page explains how I run an acquisition.
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
Share Sale vs Asset Sale: UK M&A Solicitor Explains
One of the first decisions in any deal is whether to buy or sell the shares of the company or just its assets. Malcolm explains the difference and how it affects buyers and sellers.
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 run a deal
Each deal is run to an agreed timetable, with a fixed fee quoted before work starts. I only take on a limited number of transactions at once so that each gets proper attention, and you deal with me throughout rather than being passed to someone else. Property, employment and tax points are handled with colleagues at Kingsley Wood where a deal needs them.
Who I work with
Who I act for
I act for:
- Owner-managers selling the business they built
- First-time and repeat buyers of UK companies
- Management teams buying out the founders
- Investors and private equity firms acquiring or backing SMEs
- Shareholders negotiating an exit
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 M&A
What to expect when you instruct me on a purchase or sale.
- Do you act for buyers or sellers?
Both, though never on the same deal. Acting on each side over many transactions means I know where the usual sticking points are, which tends to make negotiations quicker.
- What does your support cover through a purchase or sale?
Heads of terms, legal due diligence (or responding to it if you are selling), the share or asset purchase agreement, disclosure, restrictive covenants, completion and the filings afterwards. I negotiate directly with the other side’s solicitors.
- How long does a deal take, and how will I be kept informed?
Most SME deals I handle complete within two to three months of heads of terms, though it depends on due diligence and funding. We agree a timetable at the start and I update you as each stage completes. I aim to answer or return calls within 24 hours, and emails sooner.
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.