Mergers and Acquisitions Solicitors

Specialist M&A support for SMEs. Our mergers and acquisitions solicitors advise business owners and growing companies on sales, acquisitions, exit planning and investments, helping you structure the deal, manage the legal process, and protect your position from heads of terms through to completion.

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Buying or selling a business is one of the biggest commercial decisions an owner will make. The right advice at the right time protects value, avoids surprises, and keeps the deal on track. Our Manchester-based mergers and acquisitions solicitors advise SMEs and growing companies across the UK on transactions typically in the £1m to £20m range, covering business sales, acquisitions, exit planning and investments. From early-stage deal structuring through due diligence, drafting and negotiation, the aim is a deal that closes cleanly and protects what matters most.


How our mergers and acquisitions solicitors help businesses buy and sell

Whether you are selling, acquiring or raising investment, the legal foundations of the deal shape what value you keep at the end.

Selling a business and exit planning

Owner exits and trade sales handled end to end, from heads of terms through to completion. Sale structure agreed, exit timing planned, and the legal process managed so the deal lands on the terms you signed up to.

Buying a business

Acquisitions, bolt-ons and trade purchases. Deal structure, due diligence and transaction documents supported so you understand exactly what you are buying and the risks that come with it.

Investments and equity raises

Bringing investors on board without giving away more than you need to. Term sheets, shareholder arrangements and investment documents structured to keep founders in control.

Heads of terms and deal structuring

The early decisions shape the whole deal. Heads of terms, letters of intent and structural advice to make sure the framework supports the outcome you want.

Legal due diligence

Detailed review of the target business, contracts, IP, employment, property and risk areas. Findings translated into commercial advice on what to negotiate, what to fix, and what to walk away from.

Transaction documents and negotiation

SPAs, APAs, disclosure schedules, warranties and ancillary documents. Drafted and negotiated to protect your position, with input throughout to keep the deal moving toward completion.

Why business choose MAR Legal for mergers and acquisitions advice

Solicitor led advice

Direct access to an experienced legal team from day one

No obligation consultation

Speak to our team before you commit, no-obligation.

Transparent Pricing

You know what to expect from the outset, no hidden costs or surprises

Manchester based, UK wide

20+ years of combined mergers and acquisitions experience

Commercial office buildings in Manchester city centre

What This Means for You

  • Clarity on what you are buying or selling
  • Protection against hidden risks and liabilities
  • A stronger negotiating position throughout the deal
  • A smoother process with fewer delays and surprises
  • confidence at completion that the deal reflects what was agreed

Trusted by businesses across the UK for clear mergers and acquisitions advice.

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How our mergers and acquisitions process works

01

Book a consultation

Tell us about the deal.

02

Structure and heads of terms

Deal structure agreed and key commercial terms drafted.

03

Due diligence and drafting

Target reviewed, transaction documents drafted and negotiated.

04

Signing and completion

Final documents agreed and signed, supporting the deal through to completion

Types of transactions we support

  • Owner-managed business sales
  • Trade acquisitions and bolt-on purchases
  • Management buy-outs (MBOs)
  • Equity investments and growth funding
  • Founder exits and succession planning
  • Cross-border transactions (where applicable)
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We provide legal advisory and documentation support in relation to business transactions. Where a matter involves reserved legal activities, we work alongside appropriately regulated professionals.

Mergers and acquisitions FAQs

A mergers and acquisitions solicitor advises on the legal side of buying, selling or investing in a business. That includes structuring the deal, drafting and negotiating heads of terms, leading legal due diligence, preparing the main transaction documents, handling disclosure, and supporting the deal through to completion. Our mergers and acquisitions solicitors approach this work as part legal, part commercial, with the aim of protecting your position and keeping the deal on track.

A share purchase agreement, or SPA, is the main contract used when one party buys the shares of a company from another. It sets out the price, the warranties given by the seller, the conditions to completion, and what happens after the deal closes. The SPA is typically the most heavily negotiated document in a business sale, because the warranties and indemnities determine who carries the risk if something goes wrong post-completion. Our Mergers and acquisitions solicitors draft and negotiate SPAs for both buyers and sellers across a range of transaction sizes.

A share purchase means buying the shares of the company itself, so the buyer takes on everything: assets, liabilities, contracts, employees and history. An asset purchase means buying selected assets out of the company, leaving the company and most of its liabilities behind. Asset purchases are often preferred by buyers because they offer more control over what is acquired. Share purchases are often preferred by sellers because they are usually more tax-efficient. Which structure works best depends on the deal, and our mergers and acquisitions solicitors advise on both routes before any structure is committed to.

Heads of terms is a document setting out the main commercial terms of a transaction before the formal legal documents are drafted. Sometimes called a letter of intent or term sheet, it is usually non-binding apart from specific clauses on confidentiality and exclusivity. Getting heads of terms right matters because the early decisions on price, structure and conditions tend to anchor the rest of the deal, even when they are not legally binding. Our mergers and acquisitions solicitors advise on and draft heads of terms as a standalone instruction or as part of a full transaction.

Most SME business sales take three to nine months from heads of terms to completion, depending on complexity, due diligence findings, and how prepared the business is for sale. Acquisitions follow a similar timeline. The earlier mergers and acquisitions solicitors are involved, the more likely the timeline holds and the more value the seller retains at completion.

Solicitor fees for buying or selling a business depend on the size of the deal, the complexity of the transaction and the structure used. Fixed-fee and staged-fee arrangements are common for SME transactions, and most mergers and acquisitions solicitors will provide a quote once they understand the scope of the work. At MAR Legal, we provide a clear written quote before any work begins, so you know exactly what to expect from the outset with no hidden costs.