Startup lawyers
We’re passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship. Our aim is simple: to partner with you on your startup journey through the full growth cycle of your business, all the way through to exit.
We work with exciting, growing businesses and their stakeholders on venture capital and angel-led funding rounds across a range of sectors, including FinTech, InsurTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, automotive, retail and consumer and CleanTech
We are fully immersed in the startup scene across our firm’s geographic footprint through collaborating with key partners and hosting events such as startup showcases, workshops for entrepreneurs and networking forums for founders, investors and intermediaries.
Our startup legal services
We ensure your startup launches on a solid footing by advising on agreements with co-founders. We’ll guide you through investment rounds so your startup secures funding to grow its operations. We advise on all areas of employment law to assist with hiring and managing your first employees. We implement tax efficient share option schemes to incentivise and retain your staff. We support on the drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts and arrangements with customers and consumers and minimise risk and exposure to your business. We help you navigate the increasingly complex regulatory landscape relating to financial services and data and help shape your brand and intellectual property protection strategy.
Legal support programme for startups
Many of the startups we work with are members of our successful Grow programme. As a Grow client you’ll benefit from preferential rates and fixed fees as well as other added value support.
"The team at Browne Jacobson is extremely knowledgable in the legal proceedings for raising start-up capital."
Startup legal services by business stage
Founder's agreements: Building strong legal foundations for co-founder relationships
A cohesive co-founder team is essential for startup success. We take a highly commercial and cost-effective approach to managing founder arrangements.
Our services include:
- Bespoke articles of association
- Shareholders' agreements
- Founder employment/consultancy contracts
- Convertible loan agreements
- Deadlock avoidance structuring
- Managing founder disputes.
Brand protection: Protecting your most valuable asset in a digital economy
Your brand is often your most valuable business asset. Our strategic, international approach to brand protection maximises value and minimises infringement risks.
Our services include:
- National and international brand protection strategy
- Working with partner trademark attorneys
- Digital brand management advice.
Innovation protection: Ensuring innovators reap the rewards of their creativity
We provide strategic advice to create, manage, and protect patent portfolios that serve your business strategy.
Our services include:
- National and international patent strategy
- Working with partner patent attorneys
- IP portfolio development.
Taking on employees: Navigating the transition from founders to full workforce
As your business grows, so will your workforce. Our multidisciplinary team of employment, immigration lawyers, and HR consultants can guide this transition.
Our services include:
- Employment contracts and policies
- Right to work checks
- Business immigration requirements
- Discrimination avoidance guidance
- Intern and contractor arrangements.
Tax efficient incentives: Motivating investment through smart tax planning
Our tax and share incentives lawyers help navigate UK employment tax rules for shares and incentive schemes.
Our services include:
- Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) schemes
- Company Share Option Plans (CSOP)
- Long-term incentive plans (LTIPs)
- Management incentive plans (MIPs)
- SEIS and EIS coordination
- Irish tax advisor collaboration.
Funding rounds: Making investment rounds seamless and secure
Funding rounds can be stressful. With Browne Jacobson negotiating on your behalf, you can focus on your business whilst we protect your interests.
Our services include:
- Negotiating and drafting legal documents
- Representing companies, founders, or funders
- All funding stages (pre-seed, seed, Series A and beyond)
- Investor relations management
FCA regulation: Navigating financial services regulation with expertise
Our nationally recognised FinTech and InsurTech practice keeps us at the forefront of innovation and disruption in financial services.
Our services include:
- FCA authorisation requirements
- Regulatory sandbox applications
- Existing permissions assessment
- Appointed representative status
- Regulatory compliance for authorised firms.
Contracts and user terms and conditions: Essential commercial relationships made simple
We understand the cost pressures of early-stage businesses and offer flexible services to match your needs and budget.
Our services include:
- Customer and supplier contracts
- Standard terms and conditions
- Website terms and conditions
- End User Licence Agreements (EULAs)
- Contract risk reviews.
Managing and monetising data: Strategic data advice from the outset
When personal data is crucial to your business model, strategic advice from the beginning ensures compliance and prevents costly ICO fines.
Our services include:
- Personal data processing obligations
- Cybersecurity requirements
- Data collection and processing documentation
- Complex data migration projects
- Data policy development.
Founder's agreements: Building strong legal foundations for co-founder relationships
A cohesive co-founder team is essential for startup success. We take a highly commercial and cost-effective approach to managing founder arrangements.
Our services include:
- Bespoke articles of association
- Shareholders' agreements
- Founder employment/consultancy contracts
- Convertible loan agreements
- Deadlock avoidance structuring
- Managing founder disputes.
Brand protection: Protecting your most valuable asset in a digital economy
Your brand is often your most valuable business asset. Our strategic, international approach to brand protection maximises value and minimises infringement risks.
Our services include:
- National and international brand protection strategy
- Working with partner trademark attorneys
- Digital brand management advice.
Innovation protection: Ensuring innovators reap the rewards of their creativity
We provide strategic advice to create, manage, and protect patent portfolios that serve your business strategy.
Our services include:
- National and international patent strategy
- Working with partner patent attorneys
- IP portfolio development.
Taking on employees: Navigating the transition from founders to full workforce
As your business grows, so will your workforce. Our multidisciplinary team of employment, immigration lawyers, and HR consultants can guide this transition.
Our services include:
- Employment contracts and policies
- Right to work checks
- Business immigration requirements
- Discrimination avoidance guidance
- Intern and contractor arrangements.
Tax efficient incentives: Motivating investment through smart tax planning
Our tax and share incentives lawyers help navigate UK employment tax rules for shares and incentive schemes.
Our services include:
- Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) schemes
- Company Share Option Plans (CSOP)
- Long-term incentive plans (LTIPs)
- Management incentive plans (MIPs)
- SEIS and EIS coordination
- Irish tax advisor collaboration.
Funding rounds: Making investment rounds seamless and secure
Funding rounds can be stressful. With Browne Jacobson negotiating on your behalf, you can focus on your business whilst we protect your interests.
Our services include:
- Negotiating and drafting legal documents
- Representing companies, founders, or funders
- All funding stages (pre-seed, seed, Series A and beyond)
- Investor relations management
FCA regulation: Navigating financial services regulation with expertise
Our nationally recognised FinTech and InsurTech practice keeps us at the forefront of innovation and disruption in financial services.
Our services include:
- FCA authorisation requirements
- Regulatory sandbox applications
- Existing permissions assessment
- Appointed representative status
- Regulatory compliance for authorised firms.
Contracts and user terms and conditions: Essential commercial relationships made simple
We understand the cost pressures of early-stage businesses and offer flexible services to match your needs and budget.
Our services include:
- Customer and supplier contracts
- Standard terms and conditions
- Website terms and conditions
- End User Licence Agreements (EULAs)
- Contract risk reviews.
Managing and monetising data: Strategic data advice from the outset
When personal data is crucial to your business model, strategic advice from the beginning ensures compliance and prevents costly ICO fines.
Our services include:
- Personal data processing obligations
- Cybersecurity requirements
- Data collection and processing documentation
- Complex data migration projects
- Data policy development.
Our expertise
Featured experience
Fodabox
Advised FodaBox on its £2.1m investment round led by Maven Capital Partners.
Anansi Technology
Acted for InsurTech business Anansi Technology on its £1.5m seed investment led by Octopus Ventures with participation from a number of prominent angel investors.
Aceleron
Advised Aceleron, a sustainable battery technology firm, on its investment with Mobility 54 Investment SAS, a subsidiary of Toyota Group, to accelerate battery innovation in Africa.
Growth Intelligence
Advised Growth Intelligence on its £1.7m investment round led by private capital investment group 24Haymarket and supported by MMC Ventures.
Key contacts
Jon Snade
Partner
Mike Jackson
Partner
Jeanne Kelly
Partner
William Darmody
Partner
Harry Pearson
Principal Associate
Shania Sood
Senior Associate
Rachael McDonald
Principal Associate
David Henderson
Principal Associate
Thomas Gibby
Principal Associate
Clare Hanna
Partner
Gavin Bluett
Partner
James Byrne
Legal Director
Testimonials
"The professionalism of the team is a credit to Browne Jacobson. I look forward to working with Browne Jacobson on many funding rounds in the future, they are fantastic people to have on your side."
"Jon and his team were our trusted advisors during our fundraising process and were central in creating a positive outcome both for us and for our investors. I wholeheartedly recommend Browne Jacobson and am grateful for the fantastic service level we received."
"It's been a great pleasure to work with Browne Jacobson and Jon personally. As a first time entrepreneur, I'm happy to have someone to advise and help me on all of Combine’s legal matters. When you're a small team you want to focus on your product first, and avoid legal headaches - Browne Jacobson provides that in full. Jon was there to advise and to help me whenever needed."
"ChipIn simply could not have launched without the work of Browne Jacobson… I never expected a law firm to truly invest in startups the way Browne Jacobson do, and I am now fortunate to count them as a partner."
Latest insights and events
Guide
Using AI for recruitment: The data issues
Legal Update
Trade mark strategy in a global market
Legal Update
Information Commissioner announces new AI guidance and package of measures to support the Government’s growth agenda
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advises Mercia Ventures on funding of SkillTech startup
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson strengthens Welsh private sector practice with new Corporate Partner appointment
Guide
FAQs for startups
Below are some of the questions we are regularly asked by startups, covering a range of topic areas.
Legal Update
Floating offshore wind pipeline potential
Legal Update
High Growth Tech Fundraisings and Exits Transaction Update 2021
The past 12 months have been busy for the Corporate Tech Team, despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Legal Update
Government opens applications for Future Fund
Q&A guide to the Future Fund scheme for supporting earlier stage businesses during the Covid-19 crisis.
Legal Update
Commercial and FinTech update: 24 April 2020
The latest set of UK government financial bailout measures were announced on Monday, 20 April by HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, target Innovate UK’s R&D intensive small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Legal Update
Corporate tech update: Chancellor announces Future Fund to support start-ups and high-growth companies during Covid-19 pandemic
New measures have been announced today by HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with the aim of supporting the UK’s community of next-generation technology businesses.
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advises LivingLens on $26million buy-out: acquisition demonstrates continued strength of North West tech sector
On-Demand
Insurtech UK and Browne Jacobson Legal Survival Guide on Corporate Finance and Regulation
Bringing together the great and the good of the insurtech world, we take a look back to earlier this summer when Insurtech UK invited their approved legal partners Browne Jacobson LLP, Locke Lord UK LLP and Capital Law to present as part of the Best Practice Series.
Guide
An introduction to EIS and SEIS tax efficient investing
Where a start-up or SME company is looking for external investment, and one or more individuals are looking for investment opportunities which can provide significant tax advantages, it is well worth considering the Enterprise Investment Scheme (“EIS”) or the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (“SEIS”).
Guide
An introduction to EMI share options
Share options granted under the Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme (usually referred to as EMI options) are a popular choice for SME and start-up companies who want to reward and incentivise employees in alternative ways to simply paying them more amounts of cash.
Press Release
Browne Jacobson joins prestigious voice of the UK InsurTech community
National law firm Browne Jacobson has been announced as a partner of Insurtech UK, an alliance of over 50 InsurTech startups, together with traditional insurers and other partners.
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advises Apiary Capital on G3 Comms investment
Browne Jacobson has completed back-to-back investment deals for Apiary Capital after the firm’s private equity team successfully advised the recently established mid-market private equity house on its majority stake in London based G3 Comms.
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advises Littlefish on LDC backed investment
Legal Update
Company dividends – possible legal reforms?
Commercial companies are well-versed in the legal considerations and processes involved in the declaration and payment of dividends to their shareholders – typically going through the required steps once or twice year.
Legal Update
Changes to Tier 1- Introducing the New ‘Innovator’ and ‘Start-up' visas
The Home Office recently announced substantial changes to Tier 1 of the PBS.
Opinion
Artificial intelligence in legal and contracting
Video
How to navigate Brexit - think like a startup
With Brexit continuing to hit the headlines, we speak with Jon Snade and Nicole Sykes, Head of EU negotiations at the CBI, for an insight into the short and long term consequences of a no-deal Brexit on the UK’s technology sector, business and economy.
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advises on BGF investment in Nottingham's BioCity
Browne Jacobson has advised BGF on its investment in Nottingham life sciences incubator BioCity. The investment has also been supported by Blue Skies Investments (BSI).
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advises AI start-up Growth Intelligence on successful £1.7m fundraising
Browne Jacobson’s corporate finance team has advised Growth Intelligence on its successful £1.7m investment round led by private capital investment group 24Haymarket and supported by existing venture capital investment fund MMC Ventures.
Legal Update
Are you ready for the Modern Slavery Act 2015? ‘Commercial Organisations’ analysis
What “commercial organisations” does the MSA apply to?