Corporate

Understanding the mechanics of a corporate transaction and creating a strategy to keep things moving are the two principles underlying Forsters Corporate practice. Specialising in helping companies, entrepreneurs, investors and high net worth individuals, our corporate lawyers unravel the complexities of each transaction to ensure our clients' business and wider interests are achieved.

With a strong sector focus, the Corporate team regularly works with real estate companies, family offices and individuals. Additionally the group has a growing reputation as one of the leading hotel advisory firms. Our approach is pragmatic and commercial. We adapt to each transaction, with in depth experience on a wide-range of matters, from M&A, to finance and tax.

Post COVID-19. Is your business “investment ready”?

As the UK eases out of lockdown and we focus on getting the economy back on track, Corporate Partner, Christine Dubignon, considers five steps that businesses can take to be “investment ready”.

UPDATE – changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

The government has announced a number of changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The extension to the Scheme has been welcomed by employers, but the practicalities of operating it are becoming increasingly complex.

Government-Backed Loan Schemes

As we move into a period where restrictions are eased and businesses and workplaces are reopening, and furloughing will start coming down, many business owners and their employees will be navigating the challenges of returning to work and the business decisions and costs that go alongside that. We have set out, below, a summary of the government-backed loan schemes available to businesses to support industry as we collectively work towards a "new normal".

Making redundancies during the pandemic

It is a sad reality that some employers will need to make redundancies as a result of the pandemic. It is clear that the ‘lock-down’ will only be lifted gradually and that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will not last indefinitely, and the combination of these is forcing some employers to take action to protect their balance sheets. This article provides a useful summary of the key considerations for employers who are contemplating a headcount reduction.

HR data during the pandemic

Given the unprecedented events of recent weeks, it is perhaps fair to say that data law compliance has not been at the forefront of most employers’ minds. However, it is important that businesses remember that data protection legislation (including the UK’s Data Protection Act 2018 and the European’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)) continues to apply during the pandemic, which is particularly important given many employers are now collecting (or plan to collect) additional health data.

Lifting the lockdown: what employers should be thinking about

We don’t know when. We don’t know how. But, at some point, life as we knew it will eventually resume. Whilst practices and procedures which will need to be adopted will be driven by government guidance (initial drafts of which have recently been circulated) and it is clear that restrictions will be lifted gradually and not anytime soon, it is still worthwhile for employers to start thinking about the practicalities of life after ‘lock-down’ and how they will bring staff back to work.