Moorcrofts Means Business

Moorcrofts

Welcome to 'Moorcrofts Means Business' podcast, where our speakers will be discussing legal topics to help you run your business as efficiently as possible. Topics will range from buying and selling a company in the UK or abroad, legal technology matters from open source licences through to software and hardware contracts and IP protection, leasing a commercial property and the very thorny and ever evolving landscape of employment law and contractual services. All our podcasts are for general information and are not to be taken as bespoke legal advice.

  1. Aug 12

    Best practice for employment due diligence in a business sale

    Welcome to Series 4, Episode 7 of the Moorcrofts Means Business Podcast! In this episode, Corporate Partner Will Pearce and Employment Partner Lindsey Abbott discuss the role of employment due diligence in a business sale, exploring the key employment risks buyers and sellers need to consider and how businesses can prepare their employment affairs well in advance of a transaction. Employees are a fundamental part of any business, and employment issues can have a direct impact on the value, structure and success of a transaction. Effective employment due diligence helps buyers understand the people risks they are acquiring, while early preparation can help sellers identify and resolve potential issues before they become a problem during the sale process. In this episode they discuss key questions including: Why employment due diligence is an important part of a business sale and how employment issues can affect the value, structure and success of a transactionThe key employment risks buyers and sellers should consider, including tribunal claims, grievances, discrimination and whistleblowing allegations, senior employee disputes and holiday pay liabilitiesCommon red flags that can arise during due diligence, including minimum wage issues, missing employment contracts and contractors or consultants who may be incorrectly classified as self-employedWhy sellers should prepare early by reviewing employment contracts, handbooks, benefits and other employment documentation, and identifying and addressing potential liabilities before going to marketThe importance of considering how employment arrangements may appear to a potential buyer and ensuring key documentation is up to date and properly recordedHow buyers may seek to retain key employees following completion and the employment terms that may be particularly important for senior executives, including notice periods, bonuses, benefits and restrictive covenantsWhat TUPE is and when it can apply in a business sale, including the distinction between share sales and asset sales and the impact this can have on transaction planningHow employment issues identified during due diligence can be managed through warranties, indemnities and other protections in the transaction documentsThe importance of managing confidentiality and agreeing a clear communication strategy when informing employees about a transactionWhy employment due diligence should not be treated as a box-ticking exercise and why understanding the people risks is essential to a successful transactionWhy early preparation, transparency and legal advice can help sellers manage potential issues and support a smoother sale processTune in to gain practical insight into the employment aspects of due diligence and how early preparation and effective legal advice can help businesses identify and manage employment risks, protect value and support a smoother and more successful sale process.

    Best practice for employment due diligence in a business sale
  2. Aug 12

    Best practice for commercial property due diligence in a business sale

    Welcome to Series 4, Episode 6 of the Moorcrofts Means Business Podcast! In this episode, Corporate Partner Will Pearce and Commercial Property Associate Sharan Uppal discuss the role of property due diligence in a business sale, exploring what buyers and sellers need to consider and how businesses can prepare their property affairs well in advance of a transaction. Property can be a significant part of any corporate transaction, whether a business operates from a single leased premises, has multiple properties across the country or overseas or holds freehold investment properties. Effective property due diligence helps buyers understand the property interests and obligations connected with the business, identify potential liabilities and assess whether the existing property arrangements fit with their plans for the business following completion. This may include continuing to operate from existing premises, renegotiating or exiting leases, relocating the business, or deciding that particular properties are not required as part of the acquisition. For sellers, early preparation can help identify and resolve potential issues, reduce delays and protect the value of the transaction. In this episode they discuss key questions including: Why property due diligence is an important part of a corporate transaction, and the different considerations for buyers and sellers when reviewing property interests.The key property documentation required during due diligence, including titles, leases, licences, guarantees, rent deposits, side letters and commercial property standard enquiries (CPSCs).Property compliance requirements, including fire risk assessments, electrical reports, gas safety records and asbestos surveys, and why keeping these documents organised and up to date is important.The key terms buyers and their lawyers focus on when reviewing leases, including lease length, break rights, rent reviews and alienation provisions.Common property issues that can arise during due diligence, including rent review liabilities, onerous break conditions, unauthorised alterations or subletting, and property condition issues.How property issues can be addressed before completion, including landlord consents, deeds of variation, retrospective consents and legal indemnity policies.How buyers and sellers can take a commercial approach to allocating risk where a property issue cannot be fully resolved before completion.How businesses can prepare for a future sale, including reviewing and organising their property affairs and documentation well in advance to help identify potential issues and avoid unnecessary delays during a transaction.Tune in to gain practical insight into the property aspects of due diligence and how early preparation, good organisation and legal advice can help businesses identify potential issues, minimise delays and support a smoother and more successful sale process.

    Best practice for commercial property due diligence in a business sale
  3. Aug 8

    Best practice for an effective due diligence and disclosure process

    Welcome to Series 4, Episode 5 of the Moorcrofts Means Business Podcast! In this episode, Corporate Partner Will Pearce and Corporate Solicitor Tom Robinson discuss best practice for an effective due diligence and disclosure process, exploring what businesses can do to prepare for a sale and how sellers can navigate the demands of due diligence. Due diligence is a key part of any business sale, helping buyers understand the business they are acquiring, identify potential risks and assess whether the business is worth the value being offered. For sellers, early preparation and a well-managed process can help reduce stress, avoid unnecessary delays and support a smoother transaction. In this episode they discuss key questions including: What legal due diligence is and why it is an important part of the sale processHow legal due diligence fits alongside financial, tax and commercial due diligenceThe key areas typically covered by a legal due diligence exercise, including corporate structure, contracts, employees, pensions, property, technology and data protectionWhy sellers should start preparing for due diligence well before a sale process beginsThe importance of keeping key business documents, contracts, corporate records and share documentation organised and up to dateWho within a business should be involved in the due diligence process and how to balance confidentiality with the need for internal supportHow sellers should approach responding to a buyer’s due diligence questionnaireThe role lawyers can play in managing the due diligence process and preparing information for a buyerHow virtual data rooms can be used effectively to organise and present informationThe relationship between due diligence and the subsequent disclosure processCommon corporate issues that can arise during due diligence, including share buybacks, capital reductions and employee share option schemesWhat happens when due diligence identifies a potential problem and the different ways issues can be addressedHow indemnities and post-completion actions can help manage identified risksWhy preparation is key and why businesses considering a future sale should start getting their affairs in order well in advanceTune in to gain practical insight into how effective preparation, organisation and early legal advice can help businesses navigate due diligence more efficiently, manage potential risks and support a smoother and more successful sale process.

    Best practice for an effective due diligence and disclosure process
  4. May 15

    Management Teams, Exit Strategies and MBOs

    Welcome to Series 4, Episode 4 of the Moorcrofts Means Business Podcast! In this episode, Corporate Partner Will Pearce and Corporate Solicitor Danil Galushko discuss management teams and exit strategies, with a particular focus on how strong leadership structures impact business sales, valuation, and deal success. As businesses prepare for sale or investment, the strength of the management team is often just as important as financial performance. This episode explores why early planning is essential and how management teams can directly influence the outcome of a transaction. In this episode they discuss key questions including: When is a management team important in the context of a sale?When should businesses start preparing for a sale and how does management readiness impact the process?The role management teams play during due diligence and throughout a transactionThe types of sale structures businesses may consider and how management teams influence outcomesWhy buyers place significant importance on continuity of management post-completionHow earn-outs and deferred consideration can increase the importance of strong leadership teamsWhat a Management Buyout (MBO) is and why it can be an attractive exit routeThe key issues businesses should consider when planning an MBO, including funding, deferred payments and management capabilityWhether Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) can provide an alternative exit strategyPreparing management teams for a successful exit and why early planning is essentialTune in to gain practical insight into how the right management structure can improve deal certainty, support business continuity, and help maximise value during an exit process.

    Management Teams, Exit Strategies and MBOs
  5. Apr 20

    Employment Law Update: What’s changing in 2026 and beyond

    Welcome to Series 4, Episode 3 of the Moorcrofts Means Business Podcast! In this episode, Lindsey Abbott, Employment Partner at Moorcrofts, is joined by Joe Hughes, Practice Manager, to discuss some of the upcoming employment law developments and what they mean for employers over the next 12 months. With significant reforms on the horizon through the Employment Rights Act 2025 and beyond, this episode breaks down what businesses need to know now to stay compliant and prepared. In this episode they cover some key employment law changes coming into force, including:  The new duty on employers to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassmentStrengthened protections around third-party harassment in the workplaceChanges to unfair dismissal rights, including reduced qualifying service and removal of compensation capsIncreased employment tribunal time limits from 3 to 6 monthsUpcoming reforms to fire and rehire practices and contractual variation rightsThe growing importance of managing performance and conduct within shorter timeframesChanges to flexible working requests and the higher threshold for refusalExpansion of trade union rights and employer obligationsIntroduction of the Fair Work Agency and its role in enforcementPractical steps employers should prioritise in the next 3–6 monthsTune in to gain a clear understanding of how these significant employment law reforms could impact your business, what practical steps you should be taking now, and how to stay compliant in a rapidly changing legal landscape.

    Employment Law Update: What’s changing in 2026 and beyond
  6. 11/11/2025

    Neuroinclusion: How do we get our people to bring their best self to work

    Welcome to Series 3, Episode 10 of the Moorcrofts Means Business Podcast In this episode, Employment Solicitor Leah Waller is joined by Jen Smith, owner and founder of The Curious Mentor, to explore how businesses can foster truly neuroinclusive workplaces and environments where everyone can bring their best self to work. Jen and her team at The Curious Mentor provide coaching, mentoring, accessibility workplace assessments, psychometric analysis, team building, accessibility audits, and training — all aimed at helping organisations become more inclusive, accessible, and effective. As a disabled and neurodiverse woman, Jen brings both professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation. She’s also involved in The Lilac Review, a government-backed initiative focused on improving opportunities for disabled and neurodiverse people in entrepreneurship and employment. Together, Leah and Jen explore the topic of neuroinclusion and discuss how employers can ensure their people are supported to bring their best selves to work. They cover: The rise in employment tribunal cases involving neurodiversity and what this means for employers.Why increased awareness and identification are influencing how neurodiversity is understood in the workplace.The limitations of a “one adjustment fits all” approach and why personalisation matters.Practical steps and quick wins employers can take to create more inclusive, supportive environments.The importance of the human element, having open, honest conversations to understand individual needs.The importance of proactively offering adjustments rather than waiting for employees to ask for help.Tune in to gain insight into how neuroinclusive practices can benefit both individuals and organisations, fostering more engaged, productive, and empowered teams.

    Neuroinclusion: How do we get our people to bring their best self to work

About

Welcome to 'Moorcrofts Means Business' podcast, where our speakers will be discussing legal topics to help you run your business as efficiently as possible. Topics will range from buying and selling a company in the UK or abroad, legal technology matters from open source licences through to software and hardware contracts and IP protection, leasing a commercial property and the very thorny and ever evolving landscape of employment law and contractual services. All our podcasts are for general information and are not to be taken as bespoke legal advice.