Corporate and commercial law

Share options

Share options

An introduction and overview to 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.

How our solicitors can help with share options

Key services offered

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

Why choose Russell-Cooke for share options

About our corporate and commercial team

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.

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.

Client expertise

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.

As well as acting on employment issues for businesses, we regularly advise employees in connection with their incentive arrangements.

Startups hub text

Legal advice for startups

Our expert startups team has extensive experience helping new businesses establish a strong legal foundation, providing specialist commercial legal advice tailored to startups and early-stage ventures.

Get in touch

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

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