before you go to market
Know exactly where you stand before you go to market
Most legal problems in a company sale surface during due diligence, when you are under time pressure and a buyer's solicitors are in control. Our Pre-Sale Legal Health Check finds them first, when you still have time to deal with them on your own terms.
Know what needs to be fixed
A clear written report setting out every legal issue that could affect your sale, and what to do about each one.
Fix it before a buyer finds it
Resolving issues before you go to market puts you in control. Finding them during due diligence puts the buyer in control.
Go to market with confidence
Sellers who have done the preparation achieve better outcomes, on price, on terms, and on timeline.
A meeting to walk through it all
The report is followed by a meeting with Hugh Clohessy to discuss findings and agree a plan of action.
The best time to find a legal problem in your business is before a buyer does. That moment, in the middle of due diligence, is the worst possible time to be dealing with something that could have been resolved months earlier.
A legal review designed specifically for sellers
The Pre-Sale Legal Health Check is a structured review of your company's legal position, carried out by Clohessy & Co before you go to market or engage with a buyer. It is designed to give you a complete picture of where you stand and what needs to be addressed before a sale process begins.
When a buyer conducts due diligence, their solicitors will go through your company in detail. They will find issues, and when they do, those issues become negotiating points. Warranties get tightened. Price gets chipped. Completion gets delayed. In some cases, deals fall apart entirely.
The health check gets ahead of all of that. We carry out the review, produce a written report setting out our findings and recommendations, and then sit down with you to discuss what it means and what to do next. You leave with a clear action plan and time to implement it.
It is a practical, focused review of the areas most likely to cause problems in a sale, carried out by solicitors who deal with company sales every day and know exactly what buyers look for.
Is this the right service for you?
The health check is designed for business owners at different stages of thinking about a sale.
You are planning to sell in the next 12 months
You may already have interest from a buyer or be preparing to go to market. The health check gives you a clear picture of your legal position so that issues can be identified and addressed before due diligence begins.
You are thinking about selling in the next 2–3 years
You are not ready to sell yet, but you want to start preparing. The health check identifies what needs to be put in place now, giving you time to resolve issues, restructure if needed, and approach the market from a position of strength.
Your accountant or adviser has suggested it
Many of our health checks are initiated on the recommendation of a client's accountant or financial adviser. If someone in your professional circle has suggested you get your legal house in order before a sale, this is the service they have in mind.
From instruction to action plan
A straightforward four-step process completed within an agreed timeframe.
1. Initial call
A brief conversation to understand your situation, timeline and objectives. We agree scope and confirm our fee at this stage. No surprises later..
2. Information gathering
We provide a straightforward checklist of the documents and information we need. You provide what you have and we work with what is available.
3. Review & report
We carry out the review and produce your written report. Each finding is explained clearly and accompanied by a specific recommendation.
4. Meeting & action plan
We meet to walk through the findings, answer your questions, and agree a practical action plan. You leave knowing exactly what to do next.