Corporate and commercial law

Share options

Share options

Share options (or share schemes) increasingly play an important role in executive recruitment and retention.

We work with companies of all sizes and stages of development to devise and implement share incentive schemes which meet their objectives.

Our clients range from startups and growing businesses offering equity as a recruitment tool, to mature businesses engaged in succession planning or implementing a growth strategy with a view to an exit. 

Whilst tax is an important consideration in structuring any share incentive scheme, there are a range of other factors to consider. Our experience of working with companies through their life cycle means that we are able to identify and highlight potential pitfalls at the outset and structure the arrangements appropriately.

As well as acting  on employment issues for businesses, we regularly advise employees in connection with their incentive arrangements. We pride ourselves on both our ability to explain often complex documentation in clear and concise terms, and our commercial approach focusing on the issues which are particularly important to our clients.

Our share options services

We advise on a wide range of incentive arrangements and structures including:

  • Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) schemes
  • nil paid share schemes
  • unapproved share options
  • growth shares
  • reverse vesting arrangements
  • phantom share schemes

Get in touch

If you would like to speak with a member of the team you can contact our corporate and commercial solicitors by email, by telephone on +44 (0)20 3826 7511 or complete our enquiry form below.

Related insights

The latest news and insights from our corporate and commercial team

Introduction to fundraising: from SAFEs to Series A

From SAFEs to Series A
News

14.08.2023

Russell-Cooke completes management buyout of coffee company group

Guy Wilmot, Partner in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, corporate and commercial team. Sally Johnston, Senior associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, corporate and commercial team. Olivia Bailhe, Associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, corporate and commercial team.
Multiple Authors
1 min Read
Guy Wilmot, Sally Johnston, Olivia Bailhe
News

11.07.2023

Russell-Cooke assists vegan entrepreneur Heather Mills with an addition to her portfolio

Neil Dryer, Partner in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, real estate, planning and construction team. Christopher Edwards, Senior associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, real estate, planning and construction team.
Multiple Authors
1 min Read
Neil Dryer, Christopher Edwards
View all News & Insights