MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS SOLICITORS

Better deals start with the right legal backing

Buy or sell a UK business with fixed-fee legal support at every stage of the transaction, priced phase by phase before the work begins.

No hourly billing confirmation icon SRA-regulated law firm No hourly billing confirmation icon No hourly billing No hourly billing confirmation icon Fast, responsive support
Completing and M&A transaction in the UK

M&A SUPPORT FROM START TO FINISH

Commercial where it matters. Thorough where it counts.

Price starts the conversation, but the structure and terms determine what the deal is worth. We help you understand what sits behind the headline number, what you're committing to and where you need stronger protection.

From confidentiality agreements and heads of terms to due diligence, negotiation and completion, our M&A solicitors shape those terms and put the right warranties, disclosures and protections in place to support your commercial goals.

M&A support from start to finish

Commercial where it matters. Thorough where it counts.

Price starts the conversation, but the structure and terms determine what the deal is worth. We help you understand:

From confidentiality agreements and heads of terms to due diligence, negotiation and completion, our M&A solicitors shape those terms and put the right warranties, disclosures and protections in place to support your commercial goals.

Dr Jackie Nagtegaal

Co-founder, Lawyerly

Portrait photo
Understand what the deal is worth Price starts the conversation, but the structure and terms determine what the deal is worth. We help you see both clearly.
Understand what you're committing to We walk you through the obligations and restrictions in the terms, so nothing in the agreement surprises you later.
Know where you need stronger protection We identify where your position is exposed and put the right warranties, disclosures and protections in place.
Get support from start to finish Our M&A solicitors stay with you from confidentiality agreements and heads of terms through due diligence, negotiation and completion.
Why choose Lawyerly

We don't get paid more the longer your deal takes

Traditional firms charge for time. We price each phase upfront, so our incentive is the same as yours: to get the deal done properly and efficiently, without the legal bill continuing to climb.

  • Senior solicitors throughout

    A senior, SRA-regulated solicitor leads your transaction from the first call all the way through to completion.

  • Commercial judgement at every step

    We help you distinguish between points worth negotiating and those that could add cost or delay without improving the deal.

  • Priced per phase, agreed upfront

    Each stage is scoped and priced before it starts. Approve the work and fee as the transaction progresses, with no hourly fees.

  • Made for SME deals

    We act on share and asset deals for UK businesses up to £2.5 million, from first acquisitions to exits.

WHY CHOOSE LAWYERLY

We don't get paid more the longer your deal takes.

Traditional firms charge for time. We price each phase upfront, so our incentive is the same as yours: to get the deal done properly and efficiently, without the legal bill continuing to climb.

  • Senior solicitors throughout

    A senior, SRA-regulated solicitor leads your transaction from the first call all the way through to completion.

  • Commercial judgement at every step

    We help you distinguish between points worth negotiating and those that could add cost or delay without improving the deal.

  • Priced per phase, agreed upfront

    Each stage is scoped and priced before it starts. Approve the work and fee as the transaction progresses, with no hourly fees.

  • Made for SME deals

    We act on share and asset deals for UK businesses up to £2.5 million, from first acquisitions to exits.

THE LAWYERLY DIFFERENCE

How our M&A pricing compares

The alternative
Hourly-rate firm
No,
How you are billed Every hour is billed in arrears, whatever the outcome.
No,
When you know the total cost After the work is done.
No,
If the deal falls through You pay for every hour worked up to that point.
No,
If due diligence raises an issue The additional work is added to the bill.
Yes,
How you are billed A fixed fee for each phase, agreed before it begins.
Yes,
When you know the total cost Before each phase begins.
Yes,
If the deal falls through You stop after any phase and pay nothing for work not started.
Yes,
If due diligence raises an issue The usual issues and negotiations are covered within the phase; anything beyond the agreed scope is priced before the work starts.
mergers and acquisitions solicitors

Big-firm expertise in your corner

Our M&A solicitors bring experience from leading law firms and international businesses, supporting buyers, sellers, founders, investors and management teams through acquisitions, exits and restructures.

Patricia Tinn

Legal Service Director

James Conning

Senior Commercial Solicitor

Isabelle Munyabarenzi

Senior Commercial Solicitor

Dr Jackie Nagtegaal

Co-Founder and Director

Willem van der Merwe

Co-Founder

Monique Mangxaba

Commercial Lawyer

Alexa Rubin

Commercial Lawyer

Jan Nagtegaal

Co-Founder

Knowledge hub

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the questions we hear most often about buying or selling a business, the process and how we charge.

Most M&A solicitors charge by the hour, providing a cost estimate, but it is not a fixed price. That means the final cost can increase if the deal takes longer or involves more work than expected. Some firms charge a percentage of the deal value instead. That gives a figure upfront, but ties the fee to the price of the business rather than the legal work involved.

Lawyerly takes a different approach. Each phase has a fixed fee, set by the size of the deal and the work it needs, and you know it before the work begins. The fee does not grow with the hours recorded, and it is not a percentage of the price, so the cost is easier to understand, budget for and manage.

We start with a consultation to understand the deal and agree the right approach. The work is then split into three phases: deal clarity, where we agree the key terms and structure; deal execution, where we negotiate the transaction documents; and closing, where we complete the deal. Due diligence on a purchase, and sale-readiness on a sale, are priced separately as add-ons. The fee for each phase depends on the size of the deal and the work it needs. You approve and pay for one phase at a time, so you know the cost before the work starts and never pay for a later phase if the deal does not get that far.

Each phase is priced around the legal work we would normally expect for a transaction like yours, including the usual questions, negotiations and back-and-forth that come with getting a deal done. Most deals take a few turns, and the fee will not change every time something needs a closer look. If the deal changes in a way that takes the work beyond the agreed scope, we will explain what is needed and agree the cost with you before going ahead. And because you approve one phase at a time, if the deal falls through, you stop there and pay nothing for any phase that has not started.

The timing depends on the deal and how prepared both sides are, how quickly they share information, make decisions and respond. Some phases move faster than others, while due diligence and negotiating the transaction documents often take a bit longer. At the start of each phase, we will give you a realistic idea of the timing and keep you updated as the deal progresses. Overall, most transactions take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

No. Buying or selling a business is fixed-fee work on every plan, because it changes who owns the business. Subscribers receive their plan discount on our fees for every phase, add-on and supplement: 10 per cent on Launch, 20 per cent on Accelerate, 30 per cent on Scale and 50 per cent on Enterprise. On Enterprise we also coordinate specialist transaction and tax advisers.

You can book a complimentary, no-obligation consultation online to talk through the deal, the support you are looking for and whether Lawyerly is the right fit. It also gives us a chance to understand where things stand and explain how we would approach the work. If you decide to move forward, we will send you a fixed-fee proposal setting out the scope, cost and next steps. Once you approve and pay, we can begin the first phase.

contact us

Talk to us about your deal

Tell us about the business you are buying or selling. Our M&A solicitors will explain the legal work involved, answer your initial questions and talk you through our fixed-fee pricing.

Willem van der Merwe

Co-Founder

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