Business Law Practice
The firm is proud to be part of Lawyers for Your Business, a Law Society scheme that offers small businesses a free 30 minute initial consultation on relevant legal matters. Please contact us to find out more about this service. We advise clients on a case-by-case basis. Stella Maris Solicitors LLP also offers a comprehensive in-house legal service to clients. This has proven to be an effective solution for clients who wish to benefit from regular advice on legal matters relating to their business.
Based in the City of Swindon, South West of England Stella Maris Solicitors LLP is well placed in assisting businesses in their commercial matters. The firm has considerable expertise in enabling entrepreneurial clients turn their ideas into successful businesses.
Debt Work
Fees include:
- Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
- Undertaking appropriate searches
- Sending a letter before action
- Receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim
- Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in default
- When Judgement in default in received, write to the other side to request payment
- If payment is not received within 28 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs
Length of time:
Matters usually take 4-6 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether it is necessary to issue a claim if this is defended it can take in excess of 42 weeks.
Matters usually take 4-6 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether it is necessary to issue a claim if this is defended it can take in excess of 42 weeks.
Charges:
Grade A Solicitor (Grade A Solicitors and Fellows with over eight years' PQE, including at least eight years' litigation experience) - £217 per hour
Grade B Solicitor (Solicitors and Fellows with over four years' PQE, including at least four litigation experience) - £192 per hour
Grade C Solicitor (Grade C Other solicitors, Fellows, and fee-earners of equivalent experience) - £161 per hour
Debt recovery of up to £100,000
Grade A Solicitor (Grade A Solicitors and Fellows with over eight years' PQE, including at least eight years' litigation experience) - £217 per hour
Grade B Solicitor (Solicitors and Fellows with over four years' PQE, including at least four litigation experience) - £192 per hour
Grade C Solicitor (Grade C Other solicitors, Fellows, and fee-earners of equivalent experience) - £161 per hour
Debt recovery of up to £100,000
| Value of claim: | Fee Scale (No VAT): |
| Up to £10,000 | £90 - £400 |
| £10,001 - £50,000 | £500 – £750 |
| £50,001 - £100,000 | £800 - £1000 |
FAQ - Business Law
What types of business entities exist, and which should I choose?
There are a whole range of business entities for a whole range of circumstances. The most common types are:
- Sole trader (where you are self-employed, and your business has no legal identity separate to you)
- Limited liability partnership (a business consisting of two or more persons registered into Companies House)
- Limited liability company (where the trade of the company and any debts it may incur are deemed to be its own)
What are shares and do I need to register shareholders?
If you own a share in a company, it means that you have exchanged money for ownership of part of that company, how much of the company you own is determined by how many shares you own relative to the total number of shares that the company has. As a shareholder, you are entitled to profits relative to your stake in the company – if you own 20% of the shares in the company, then you are entitled to 20% of its profits.
Owning shares in a company may mean that you also have the right to vote at general meetings, though certain types of shares can be allocated different amounts of voting rights.
You do need to keep a register containing all your shareholders and shareholdings. This must include the shareholder’s name, contact address, number and types of shares they hold, the amount paid or agreed to be paid on each share, the date that they became a member of the company, and the date when they ceased to be a shareholder, if necessary.
What is a shareholders’ agreement?
A shareholders’ agreement is a contract entered into by the shareholders of a company, which sets out agreed matters between them, such as how shares will be transferred, how they will vote, non-compete restrictions and other personal rights and obligations.
It is important to have a shareholders’ agreement so that disputes within the company can be resolved via a process included in the agreement or are resolved easily because the agreement sets out the answer to the dispute. It can also protect shareholders as well as the company.
If you are looking to sign or create a shareholders’ agreement, we recommend getting in contact with us. Stella Maris Solicitors LLP can negotiate and draft terms of the agreement on your behalf so that your business can run as smoothly as possible.
What is intellectual property law and how does it affect my business?
Intellectual property (IP) is a general term used to describe a range of legal rights afforded to information and ideas, which can stop others from using them without permission. Generally, they fall into two categories: registered rights, which require the owner to register their rights, and unregistered rights, which arise automatically.
Protecting your intellectual property rights means that you can prevent competitors from using your ideas without your consent, as well as stopping others from using your logo and corporate identity. Please remember that it will be your job to ensure that no one else infringes your assets, others will not check to see if your IP rights have been infringed.
At Stella Maris Solicitors LLP, we can help you register, patent and trademark designs, as well as help you to enforce copyright rights if they have been infringed.
What happens if my business cannot fulfil its contractual duties to its customers and suppliers?
If there is a valid contract, this will depend on what is in the contract itself, which will have clauses that set out what happens upon failure to deliver. If there are circumstances where an unforeseen event renders it impossible for the parties to deliver on their obligations, non-performance can be excused, and the contract will be terminated. If you are worried about any contract that you have entered into, please contact us and we will be able to help.