Thinking of Selling or Raising Investment? Start Here

May 2025

By Brian O’Neill, Managing Partner, Gore & Grimes Solicitors LLP

For many business owners, selling the business, bringing in an investor, or forming a strategic partnership is more than just a financial transaction, it’s a turning point.

It can reshape the business, affect the team behind it, and influence your plans for the future.

Here’s the key point: Preparation matters and the earlier, the better. Taking time to review your legal and structural position before a deal is on the table can reduce risk, preserve value, and make the process far smoother.

Having worked with many Irish businesses through this process, a few key themes come up time and again. If a transaction might be on your horizon, here are four things worth thinking about:

1. Don’t Wait for a Deal to Start Preparing

Too often, legal groundwork begins only after a buyer or investor appears. At that stage, time is tight, and even minor issues can slow things down, or worse, derail a deal.

Even if no offer is on the table, it’s smart to review the basics:

Company constitution
Shareholder agreements
Governance setup
Key contracts

Sorting these early gives you breathing room and puts you in control.

2. Know What Buyers and Investors Will Look At

They’re not just reading your financials, they want to understand the legal risks and obligations tied to the business.

Expect questions about:

Customer and supplier contracts
Employment agreements
IP ownership and protection
Shareholder records

The stronger your documentation, the stronger your negotiating position.

3. Sort the Personal and Shareholder Side

Deals aren’t just about documents, they’re also about people.

What role do you want post-transaction? Are family members or minority shareholders involved? Are there informal agreements that now need to be formalised?

Resolving these early can avoid complications when a deal is in motion.

4. Make Sure Your Advisers Are Aligned

Your solicitor, accountant, tax adviser, and financial planner should be working together, not in silos.

At Gore & Grimes, we regularly advise on corporate transactions alongside clients’ wider advisory teams. The goal? Practical, commercially minded legal advice that supports your bigger picture.

Final Thought:
Preparing your business for sale or investment isn’t just about compliance, it’s about confidence. The better your preparation, the more control you have over the outcome.

If you would like to discuss what legal preparation could look like for your business, feel free to contact Brian O’Neill for more information.