SME-focused Firms | UK

A City Law Firm is a startup-focused firm based in the City of London. It is especially highly thought of for its representation of founders, most notably the founders of tech companies, though the firm does represent all kinds of startups. Beyond technology, it has experience of retail, bars, gyms and cosmetics. Tech comprises a major area of legal focus, as the firm's lawyers are able to advise on blockchain, digital assets, autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence. Other areas that the department is able to advise on include franchise agreements, medical trial terms and sports personality agreements. It also has private client expertise, so is able to advise founders on matters such as shareholder disputes and family disputes.

Aria Grace assists small and medium-sized companies with a variety of key commercial issues, including both contentious and non-contentious mandates. The firm has a team of lawyers with extensive experience in advising SMEs on everything from corporate transactions and outsourcing agreements through to employment disputes, IP and regulatory compliance. Its client base includes businesses in the financial services, technology, healthcare and recruitment sectors, among others. The firm operates a fee share reward model which allows it to offer competitive rates for SME clients, and is also committed to putting its profits towards charitable causes.

Barcan+Kirby in Bristol advises SMEs of all kinds on company formation, shareholder agreements and exits, and also employment, business-to-business contracting and standard terms and conditions. The firm has particular experience in the childcare, financial services and hospitality sectors.

BBS Law is a long-established firm with offices in both Manchester and London. It advises on a range of legal issues, including corporate, property and litigation. It also has expertise in both private client and employment. On the corporate side, the firm is especially adept on employment ownership trusts. On the litigation side, the firm advises on contractual disputes, including claims arising out of share and business sale agreements. BBS Law also handles shareholder disputes and has been involved in a number of high value unfair prejudice shareholder petitions.

Birkwells Law is a firm based in London that offers SME clients a wide range of support across areas such as corporate finance, property and M&A. Birkwells acts as a one stop shop and can also provide assistance with employment or taxation issues. The firm's lawyers have specialist knowledge of Nordic markets and are especially well placed to advise SME clients with business interests in the Nordics.

Carter Bond is a Harrow-based firm that focuses on corporate and commercial law. It is especially known for its advice in the pharmaceuticals centre. The firm was founded by Reena Popat in 2014 and is able to support clients on general corporate transactions, including equity sales and purchases and lease acquisitions.

Clarke & Son is a Basingstoke-based firm with a strong reputation for its representation of SMEs. The firm advises clients across numerous industries but has a particular focus on those in the hospitality industry, including breweries, hotel operators and property investors. Its team of experienced lawyers can support clients on a host of issues affecting every part of the business life cycle, including starting or reorganising a business, licensing, employment law, property portfolio management and dispute resolution.

Tunbridge Wells-based CooperBurnett is a full service firm with capabilities in property, corporate, employment and litigation. On the corporate side, it advises on the disposal of shares, equity purchases and refinancing. On the real estate side, it advises on the likes of the sales of property such as warehouses, leases and the purchase and sale of development sites. It also boasts commercial law expertise, including the ability to advise on IP.

Crane & Staples is a full-service firm acting out of Welwyn Garden City. It is perhaps most well known for property, but is able to advise on corporate and commercial matters too. On the property side, it is well-acquainted with acting for growing SMEs that are expanding into new premises. It is also familiar with specific issues affecting property in garden cities. Its clients include property developers, landlords, carehomes, automotive suppliers and charities. Among its areas of expertise are acquisitions, disposals, loans, restructuring and employment.

Curzon Green is a Buckinghamshire firm that also has a presence in the City of London. It services a diverse array of clients, with notable focus on those in the SME space, from small family-run businesses through to more established companies. The firm provides a full-service offering with wide-ranging expertise that includes commercial contracts, dispute resolution, property transactions and employment support. It also offers the benefit of a strong private client department alongside its commercial team.

Ellis Jones occupies a strong position on the South Coast with several offices across Dorset, including Bournemouth and Poole. Its business services team regularly represents small and medium-sized companies, managing directors and shareholders in key corporate and commercial transactions, as well as on employment and HR matters. The firm has expertise in management buyouts, business reorganisations and commercial property transactions, among others.

EM Law is a startup-focused firm in the City of London that is on a strong growth trajectory. It was founded by Neil Williamson in 2013 and is most well known for its commercial contracts expertise. It advises SMEs on a range of areas, including commercial contracts, data protection, corporate and employment. Its clients come from a wide range of industries, but include beauty product suppliers, broadcast media companies and a jewelry importer.

Farringford Legal specialises in the representation of SME clients, particularly in high growth areas such as technology and e-commerce. The firm provides a highly tailored service addressing an array of business critical issues for small and medium-sized companies, including commercial, corporate and financial transactions in addition to employment issues, IP and data protection. Alongside its legal expertise, the firm can provide clients with complementary advice from HR, data protection and tax advisers, and also has a trade mark attorney as part of its fast-growing team. Clients can further benefit from Farringford's SME Network, which brings together a whole host of service providers that can offer specialist support to businesses.

Holt Baker is a boutique London-based firm that focuses on a range of advice for smaller businesses, but is particularly well-thought of for its commercial contracts expertise. Its advice spans contracts for new businesses, supply of goods and services, IP and supply chain agreements. The practice is overseen by Amy Holt, who founded the firm in 2016. In addition to legal advice, the firm is able to help clients with their financing options.

Ignition Law was founded with the express purpose of giving start-ups, scale-ups and entrepreneur-managed businesses tailored advice. The firm advises on all aspects of incorporation, investment, employment and commercial property issues faced by early-stage businesses. The firm is also seasoned in matters concerned with reorganisation and preparing for exit.

iLaw is a London based law firm that advises small and medium businesses, with notable expertise in the technology sector. The firm's co-founders Justin Ellis and Mark Culbert are well placed to advise clients on corporate and commercial matters, dispute resolution and IP, whilst others at the firm can offer expertise on a range of other areas including employment and IP disputes. Although technology is a key focus for the firm, iLaw is recognised for its work with clients in a broad range of sectors.

Isadores is a specialist commercial firm that provides SME clients with corporate and property transactional support along with advice on employment, restructuring and dispute resolution. The firm has particular experience representing family-run and owner-managed businesses on a variety of deals including key acquisitions, MBOs and strategic partnerships. The team operates from the firm's offices in Norwich, Portsmouth and London.

Lawrence Stephens in London is deeply involved in the SME and entrepreneurial ecosystem, advising clients in all manner of business sectors on incorporation, commercial contracts, commercial property, employment, funding rounds and M&A transactions. The firm also advises private equity firms looking to develop successful businesses in fragmented sectors with high growth potential.

MacAllister McAleese is full service law firm based in Larne, Northern Ireland. The firm undertakes notable work for small and medium businesses and has a client base that includes local businesses, as well as those from further afield. The firm offers a range of services to SME clients including advice on banking, M&A and disputes.

Redfern Legal in London is a full-service, boutique-style law firm which acts as a one-stop shop for SMEs in the UK and around the world doing business in the UK. The team advises on the full span of incorporation, constitutional and commercial matters SMEs need to progress, and also offers employment, data protection and intellectual property services. The firm also advises on immigration and visa-related issues, and has lawyers dual qualified in the UK and Canada, Israel and Turkey.

Woodcock Haworth and Nuttall in Manchester advises family, owner-managed and SME businesses on the full suite of work related to incorporation, constitutional structure, fund raising and commercial and corporate transactions. The firm also has expertise in employment and shareholder matters, and partnership agreements and company reconstructions.