Business Law

Watkins and Gunn mean business …
Any business large or small faces a wide range of legal issues. Our Business Law Team provide specialist legal advice to small and medium sized businesses and undertake a range of commercial transactions.

Our business centre is located at our Newport Office which is ideally situated for easy access for both local clients and those from the M4 corridor. Our excellent car parking facilities provide convenient, free parking.

We are members of the Law Society’s Lawyers for Your Business network. This is a group of 1,200 law firms across England and Wales offers legal advice to businesses.

We have access to the latest technology and case management systems and are able to provide our clients with text alerts and web-tracking. Workplace Welfare PDF

As well as our own services we have excellent links with accountants, financial institutions and IFAs as well as a network of other useful contacts who may be able to help with different areas of your business.
We can provide advice on many commercial issues including (please choose):

• Commercial Property
• Landlord and Tenant
• Commercial Leases
• Secured Lending
• Business Formation
• Business Structure
• Health and Safety
• Employment Issues
• Debt Recovery
• Litigation
• Commercial Contracts and Agreements
• Professional Negligence

What will it cost you?
Our Business Team offer a free initial consultation during which we will establish your requirements and explain the likely costs involved. We will always seek to provide a costs effective solution and where possible we will carry out the work for a fixed fee.

Business Formation
Many dream of one day setting up their own business …we can help to make it a reality.

We can provide a full legal service for start up businesses including commercial property, business formation and employment and HR issues.

Structuring
Whether you aspire to be a sole trader, partnership or limited company choosing the right structure for your business is crucial. It will depends on number of factors and will require considered legal and financial advice. The decision you take will affect the development of the business and your ability to sell or transfer it in the future. Your business structure should be kept under constant review.

Often in conjunction with an accountant our Business Law Team will give you expert advice on the right structure for you and your business.

Health and Safety
With the impact of European legislation employers’ duties have become an extremely dynamic area of the law that can be very difficult to keep up with. A failure to comply with Health and Safety law can have extremely serious consequences including a criminal prosecution or an expensive civil action.

We will advise you on the latest developments to ensure that you remain fully compliant.

Litigation
It is inevitable in business that you will encounter disputes with the customers or other businesses. As a result you may be exposed to potentially very damaging and expensive litigation.

We will advise you on the best and most cost effective solution to enable you to achieve the most favourable outcome.

Debt Recovery
Cash flow is fundamental to the life of a successful business. In the current economic climate the use of an effective debt recovery service is more important than ever.

We can provide fast, efficient, debt recovery at an affordable fee.

Professional Negligence
Negligence by a professional eg a surveyor, engineer, architect accountant or even a solicitor can have far reaching and damaging effects on your business. It is a complex area of law requiring specialist advice.

We will initially assess the case for you and thereafter advise you on the best method of funding and ensure you achieve the best possible settlement.

Employment
Workplace disputes can be very disruptive and expensive for businesses. Such disputes can be kept to a minimum by well drafted contracts and access to expert employment law advice.

We offer our clients specialist legal advice in relation to a full range of employment issues including -

• Redundancy
• Termination of Employment
• Representation at Employment Tribunal Hearings
• Compromise of Employment
• Contracts of Employment including restrictive covenants
• General Employment Advice
• Bullying or harassment at work
• Grievance and Disciplinary procedures
• Deductions from salaries
• Sex / Race / Disability / Age discrimination
• Family Friendly Rights at work
• Unfair Dismissal/Constructive Dismissal
• Recruitment and HR
• Employee handbooks
• TUPE advice
• Advice on policies and procedures

Commercial Property
Whether you are buying, selling or leasing a commercial property we can help. Our Property Team understand the complexities of a commercial property investment.

We specialise in the following areas of commercial property:

Acquisitions and Disposals
We act for investors in sales and purchases of all types of freehold and leasehold estates.

Landlord and Tenant
We can act for Landlords or Tenants. We deal with the grant of commercial leases, leasehold licences, lease renewals, rent reviews and dilapidations.

Secured Lending
Every business needs capital in order to grow. We can deal with loan and banking facilities for the acquisition, refinancing or redevelopment of both commercial and residential properties. We also deal with private mortgages acting for both borrowers and lenders.

Property Portfolio Management
We can act for commercial real estate owners dealing with lease renewals and surrenders, new leases, licences and rent reviews.

Small business sales and purchases
We act for both buyers and sellers of property and their businesses for example post offices, cafes and public houses.

Trusts
We can act in relation to trusts and interests in properties.