Businesses evolve, their needs change at each stage, from establishing the right structure to negotiating investment, acquiring new ventures or managing internal governance, clarity matters. The decisions made during a company’s early days, periods of growth, or times of change have long-term consequences. They shape risk, value, control and opportunity.

At Fortis Rose, we advise companies, founders, directors, investors and shareholders across the full spectrum of corporate and commercial matters. Our approach is grounded in a clear understanding of how law interacts with day-to-day business realities. We support clients through significant decisions, complex transactions and the routine governance that keeps a business secure.

Our advice is thoughtful, commercially informed and centred on practical solutions, helping businesses grow with confidence while avoiding avoidable legal and regulatory complications.

A Complete Corporate Law Offering, for Businesses of All Sizes

We act for new ventures, established companies, family-run businesses, investment-backed growth companies, and international clients entering or expanding in the UK market. The breadth of our practice allows us to advise across the full lifecycle of a business.

Many clients first instruct us at the beginning, choosing a structure, drafting shareholder agreements, allocating equity and establishing the foundations for stable growth. Others come to us during periods of expansion, when investment, acquisitions or commercial partnerships require careful planning. And many rely on us for ongoing governance, risk management, contract negotiation, compliance and director advisory work.

Where matters are urgent or sensitive, disagreements between founders, investor tensions, deadlocked boards, compliance concerns or unexpected transactional issues, we provide steady, discreet intervention to protect the business and guide decision-makers.

Building Strong Foundations: Formation, Structure & Governance

The structure of a business influences everything that follows: ownership, voting rights, investment conditions, tax efficiency, succession and risk. We help clients choose the right corporate framework and document arrangements clearly, avoiding the misunderstandings that often lead to conflict.

We advise on company formation, shareholder agreements, partnership and LLP structures, group organisation and corporate governance frameworks. Directors rely on us for clear guidance on their duties, responsibilities and potential exposure, particularly where decisions carry commercial risk or require sensitive handling.

A well-structured business is not just compliant; it is resilient. It can grow, admit new investors, withstand challenges and adapt to opportunity. We help lay those foundations.

Transactions and Growth: M&A, Joint Ventures and Investment

Transactions are often the moments that define a business. Whether buying, selling, merging or forming a joint venture, each step requires strategy, negotiation and meticulous attention to detail. Our work spans domestic and cross-border acquisitions, disposals, mergers, asset transfers, group reorganisations and joint ventures across a range of sectors.

We manage the transaction process from initial heads of terms through due diligence, negotiation, drafting and completion. Clients rely on us not only for legal drafting and risk management, but for commercial judgment, understanding where negotiation should be firm, where compromise is sensible, and how to structure a deal so that both legal and commercial objectives are secured.

For businesses seeking investment, we advise on private equity and venture capital rounds, investor rights, term sheets, equity structures, founder protections, vesting arrangements and dilution issues. Our aim is to create investment frameworks that support growth without exposing founders or the business to unnecessary risk.

Commercial Agreements That Protect and Enable Your Business

Commercial contracts are the operating framework of a business. We draft, review and negotiate the full range of commercial agreements, from supply and distribution contracts to licensing arrangements, consultancy agreements, NDAs, confidentiality terms, SaaS and technology agreements, outsourcing contracts and multi-party commercial frameworks.

Our approach is pragmatic: contracts must protect the business without becoming blockers to commercial progress. We focus on clarity, risk allocation, enforceability and practical operation, ensuring that agreements are robust, fair and fit for purpose.

Internal Challenges: Founder Disputes, Board Issues & Corporate Risk

Even well-run companies face internal challenges. Directors may disagree, shareholders may become misaligned, or governance issues may surface. These situations require discretion, balance and clear advice, especially where the business is at risk of stagnation or disruption.

We advise on board conflicts, shareholder disagreements, deadlock mechanisms, director duties, conflicts of interest, resignation or removal processes, and emergency corporate governance steps. Our experience in both corporate advisory and corporate disputes enables us to guide clients calmly through situations that could otherwise escalate.

Corporate Restructuring, Reorganisation & Insolvency Contexts

Companies undergoing change, whether due to valuation shifts, investor pressure, commercial realignments or financial difficulty, need structured legal support. We assist with reorganisations, group structuring, share reclassification, capital changes, hive-ups, hive-downs, demergers and solvent restructuring steps.

Where distress becomes a factor, we provide advice at the intersection of corporate and insolvency law: directors’ duties in the vicinity of insolvency, risks relating to transactions at undervalue or preferences, and engagement with administrators or liquidators. Our aim is always to protect value and minimise exposure.

International and Cross-Border Corporate Work

In an increasingly global environment, many clients have cross-border operations, assets or stakeholders. We assist overseas companies establishing a UK presence, advise on UK entity structuring, and coordinate with international advisers to ensure that transactions and governance decisions align across jurisdictions.

Whether forming a UK subsidiary, entering into an international joint venture, or managing a multi-jurisdictional transaction, we ensure that clients receive advice that is coherent, coordinated and commercially realistic.

Why Clients Choose Fortis Rose

Clients often describe our corporate offering as both steady and strategic, a combination that allows them to make confident decisions. They value a commercial outlook, clear practical drafting, strategic foresight, strong negotiation skills and a calm and human approach.

We do not take a transactional view of our clients. Many work with us over years, through periods of growth, transition and change.

Illustrative Example

We recently advised a business involved in a multi-party acquisition where time pressures, regulatory requirements and shareholder dynamics created a highly challenging landscape. By coordinating the due diligence process, structuring the terms clearly and negotiating solutions to complex commercial issues, we completed the transaction smoothly and preserved strong contractual protections for our client. The business was able to expand rapidly and with confidence in the integrity of the deal.

Guiding Your Business with Clarity

Whether you are forming a new venture, negotiating an investment, entering into a major transaction or managing sensitive governance issues, we can help you take the next steps with clarity and assurance.

Speak to us about your corporate needs.