Nathan Hughes joined Bermans in February 2022 and is Solicitor in our Corporate team based in Manchester.
He works with SME’s and owner managed businesses and is experienced in corporate law, merges and acquisitions, corporate finance and investments, company law and business advice.
Nathan studied Law with Philosophy at The University of Liverpool and qualified as a solicitor in 2021.
Outside of work, he has an interest in castles and has visited many in Wales and England, with his personal recommendation being Harlech Castle in North Wales. He also enjoys playing guitar and science fiction.
Nikhil joined Bermans in October 2022 and is a Trainee Solicitor currently working in our Corporate Team.
He predominantly assists the team with a variety of corporate transactions such as incorporations, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and restructuring.
Nikhil graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a Law Degree in 2019 as well as a Distinction in the Legal Practice Course in 2021.
Outside of work, Nikhil enjoys playing a variety of sports such as football and tennis. He is also a passionate Manchester United supporter.”
Outside of work, Nikhil enjoys playing a variety of sports such as football and tennis. He is also a passionate Manchester United supporter.
The National Security and Investment Act 2021 (the “Act”) came into force on 4 January 2022, giving the UK government an additional screening process on the grounds of national security.
The Act covers a broad range of transactions, requiring mandatory notification if it is connected to one of 17 key sectors.
Robin Hastings (pictured below), qualified as a solicitor in 2011 having trained in London and after a spell at a large regional firm in Manchester joined Bermans in December 2015. He is now a Senior Associate in the Corporate department.
Some of you may be aware that Jon Davage is head of our corporate team but did you know he has also contributed a chapter to a book?
Working with our clients, Guy Remond and Ian Brookes from The Start Up Factory, they developed an idea to share their experience of the journey from founder to exit in a tech-based business. They are also involved in Manchester’s first potential “unicorn” business Bankifi.
Many business owners are re-evaluating their future plans as a result of the pandemic. Some are finding that their thoughts on retirement planning are somewhat different now than they were back in 2019. Some owners have enjoyed more free time as their businesses have been forced to shut during the lockdowns and others have enjoyed more time at home as travel and office working has been discouraged.
In some cases exit plans have accelerated and business owners are looking at what options there are to achieve a sooner than expected exit. We consider some possible solutions in this article.
Faizan joined Bermans in January 2021 and is a Solicitor in our Corporate team in Manchester.
Faizan graduated from the Legal Practice Course in Manchester and has experience of working on a variety of corporate transactions including share/asset acquisitions and disposals, company reorganisations, restructures, demergers, incorporations and also private equity.
Faizan assists and works closely with the Corporate team to advise clients including SMEs and owner managed businesses on various corporate instructions.
Outside of work Faizan enjoys dining out, keeping fit at the gym, partaking in sports and hiking. He also has a keen interest in sports, science, film and culture.
As we await the Budget, still scheduled for 3 March 2021, speculation continues in the press as to whether it will bring a rise in tax and in particular Capital Gains Tax (CGT).
CGT is currently paid at a rate of 20% by higher rate taxpayers on most gains but can be reduced by various reliefs such as Entrepreneurs Relief (which allows business owners to take the first £1 million of gains at a CGT rate of 10%). A recent Treasury report recommended aligning the CGT rates with the Income Tax rates including top rates of 40-45%, a shift that would take us back to the position in early 2000s when the rates were much more closely aligned.
It was sadly inevitable that the Covid pandemic would push the UK economy into a recession. Unfortunately, the money worries that result from a recession can and often do affect relationships, whether they be personal or business relations.
Even the strongest of relationships have been known to breakdown when finances are tight and the current situation may well have caused the most severe financial pressures that some business owners have ever experienced.
The last six months have presented significant challenges to business owners who have grappled with continuing their businesses in the face of restrictive lockdown rules imposed to combat the spread of Covid 19. Many business owners are now operating with a workforce of home workers and their typical working day differs significantly from their life pre-March 2020.
As face to face meetings, corporate events and travel have been stripped from the schedules, business owners may finally find some free time during their day to review the nuts and bolts of their business. That long-awaited review of the shareholding structure, the employee share scheme that has been in the offing for years, the review of key commercial contracts, for some there is now enough time in the working week to get around to these projects.
| 
Solicitor
Solicitor