Setting up a Business
Business start-up solicitors
Setting up a new business is an exciting career step, but it is crucial to have all the correct legal building blocks in place to set you off on the right track. There are many legal implications to consider when starting and running a business, so it is important to seek expert legal advice from the outset to ensure you have all the correct documents and contracts in place.
What do I need to consider when setting up a business?
There will be different factors to consider depending on the business and the industry you operate in.
Also the structure of the business will result in different contracts and agreements being required.
How should I structure my business/start-up?
There are a number of ways in which you can structure your new business, including:
- Sole Trader-You operate as an individual
- Limited Company-You run the business in accordance with the Companies Act 2016 and the legal liability begins and ends with the company
- Partnership-You go into business with one or more people who jointly owns the assets and debts of the company
- Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)-A type of partnership where the partners have limited liability which does not include their personal finances
Do I have to instruct a solicitor to set up a business?
There is no legal requirement to instruct a solicitor when you’re setting up a business, however they can advise you on your rights, responsibilities and duties relating to legalities, make sure you have the appropriate documentation and contracts in place for customers and suppliers, review the terms of your lease, ensure you have all the appropriate insurance in place, provide guidance on regulations within your industry and draft or review agreements relevant to your business.
It is especially recommend to instruct a solicitor if you are setting up a limited company as they can ensure the appropriate documentation is in place and protect the interests of all parties involved.
What contracts/agreements should I have in place?
Whilst the structure of your business will affect some of the contracts that you need, the following are essential contracts that every business should have in place to avoid problems down the line:
- Employment contracts
- Terms and conditions
- Shareholder/partnership agreement
- Confidentiality agreements/non-disclosure agreements (NDA)
- Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement
How can I protect my intellectual property?
Intellectual property law can be complex, so we would advise getting the guidance of a solicitor to apply for protection and enforce your rights.
Copyright might automatically protect your work without you having to make an application to the Intellectual Property Office, otherwise a solicitor who specialises in intellectual property can help you apply for a trademark, patent or design right.
Why use Rothera Bray for setting up a business?
Our team of experts are on hand to provide trusted professional advice and will support you in building a legally sound business.
Our advice will be tailored to your business, taking into account your sector and the legal considerations associated with it.
As part of our initial advice on the setting up of your business, we are happy to directly introduce you to our extensive network of other relevant professionals across the Midlands, from accountants to insurance brokers.
We use our extensive experience to advise small and start-up businesses on a variety of matters, including:
- Incorporation – becoming a limited company, sole trader, partnership or limited liability partnership (LLP)
- Shareholder and partnership agreements
- Employment contracts
- Restrictive covenants
- Trademarks
- Business financing options
- Terms and conditions of sale
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“Our specialist team will ensure that your business is legally protected from the start”
David Kaplan
Partner
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Posted 2 June 2026
Sally was excellent and dealt with my parents house sale efficiently and professionally and made the whole process smooth and stress free. Thank you so much and I will definitely recommend to others and would definitely use Rothera Bray again in the future.
Mark Crooks
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Posted 1 June 2026
We recently used Rothera Bray for the sale of our property and the purchase of our new home, and Laura provided excellent service throughout. Moving house can be stressful, particularly when dealing with a chain and unexpected issues, but Laura was consistently professional, responsive and reassuring. She kept us informed, explained everything clearly and helped ensure the process ran smoothly. Her attention to detail, clear communication and willingness to answer our questions made a real difference. Thank you, Laura, for all your hard work. We would happily recommend Rothera Bray to anyone seeking a reliable and professional conveyancing service.
Jonathan Smith
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Posted 1 June 2026
I recently sold my house using Ellie at Rothera Bray and couldn’t be happier with the service I received. From start to finish Ellie kept me fully informed, explained everything clearly and was always quick to update me on the progress. What really stood out was how proactive and reassuring she was throughout the process, especially when delays occurred further down the chain. Ellie made sure I understood what was happening at every stage which took away a lot of the usual stress involved in moving house. Her professionalism, communication, and attention to detail was excellent and I always felt relaxed and confident that everything was being handled properly. I would highly recommend Ellie to anyone buying or selling a property.
Lee Robinson
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Posted 1 June 2026
I had an outstanding experience with Ellie Robinson. She went out of her way at every stage and kept me updated continuously, even when there was no new information to share. Every part of the process was completed as quickly as possible and nothing was ever too much trouble. Ellie kept the other parties moving, provided clear and thorough legal advice, and presented all documentation in a way that was easy to understand. I could not recommend her highly enough.
Georgia Oxley-Smith
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Posted 29 May 2026
First class experience selling my house with Lucy and Karen. Super organised and extremely professional. I would highly recommend using Rothera's Conveyancing services.
Richard Watkins
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Posted 28 May 2026
Selling houses is always a daunting prospect, but my life was made much easier by the professionalism and efficiency of Laura Runcak and Lisa Rainbow. They communicated promptly at every step of the process, and I would definitely recommend their services. In fact, I will be using them again in the near future, as I have another house to sell. Both ladies are a credit to Rothera Bray. Many thanks from me and my Mum.
Debbie Tyler
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Posted 28 May 2026
We have recently used Sarrina and her team to carry out the conveyancing for the sale of a property. They have all been exceedingly helpful and made the whole process as straightforward as possible. Nothing has been too much trouble and they have dealt with any issue very quickly. Highly recommended!
Tom Ridgway
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Posted 27 May 2026
We as an organisation have used Rothera Bray on numerous other occasions when we have sold houses in our portfolio. Both Sarrina and Julekha are very easy to work with and have an abundance of knowledge in the legal conveyancing framework. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
Matt
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Posted 27 May 2026
I cannot thank Seetal and Rothera Bray Solicitors enough for all the hard work and support they have given me over the last 4 years with my accident at work claim. They have been extremely thorough, professional, and supportive throughout the entire process. Every step was clearly explained to me, and I always felt like they genuinely cared about getting the best outcome possible. Their attention to detail and dedication gave me a lot of confidence during a very difficult time. Thank you again for everything you have done for me.
Luke Shiels
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Posted 22 May 2026
Sara has been very helpful during the whole process, both my mother and I would recommend her highly.
Alison Marlow
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Posted 22 May 2026
I used Rebecca's services via Rothera Bray Solicitors to deal with the financial side to a divorce. I had an initial face to face appointment to talk through everything with Rebecca and this made me feel at ease and felt that Rebecca was the right person to help me. Rebecca has kept me highly informed at all stages throughout and has also given lots of great advice and has helped me a lot with getting things sorted. I am really happy with the service that I received and Rebecca was so friendly, kind, understanding and very helpful. I would 100% recommend to anyone who is requiring the help during a divorce.
Leila
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Posted 22 May 2026
Rothera Bray have been excellent in helping me resolve a difficult and expensive divorce, I found them extremely efficient - communication was excellent at all points and generally they were there when I needed them, they all took a personal interest in my case and we arrived at a reasonable resolution thanks to their efforts Specially thanks to Rebecca Emeleus and Rebecca Hudson for their great work, Highly recommended in what are always going to be difficult situation! They are people that you can rely on - which is very important in divorce actions particularly.
Stuart Randall

Tim Gladdle
Senior Partner
Tim qualified as a solicitor in 1983, giving him 40 years of legal experience. He specialises in advising a wide range of companies on corporate affairs and transactions.

David Kaplan
Partner & Head of Corporate and Commercial
David Kaplan is a partner in our Corporate team and is based at our Derby city centre office. David has been advising businesses for nearly 30 years and is recognised by Legal 500 as a Leading Individual.

Toby Preston
Partner
Toby is a Partner who specialises in corporate law and business affairs. He has been a partner for over 10 years and been involved in many high profile acquisitions and disposals. He works mainly from our Leicester and Nottingham branches.

Liz Mills
Senior Associate
Liz Mills is a Senior Associate in our Corporate team and is based at our Derby office. Liz is recognised by Legal 500 as a Leading Associate.

Arron Halait
Associate
Arron is an Associate in our Corporate Services practice and is based at our Leicester office.

Erica Hurst
Solicitor
Erica Hurst is a Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Corporate and Commercial department and is based at our Lace Market office in Nottingham city centre.

Sandeesh Samra
Solicitor
Sandeesh Samra is a Solicitor in our Corporate and Commercial team and is based at our Lace Market office in the heart of Nottingham city centre.

Liam Wicks
Solicitor
Liam Wicks is a Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Corporate & Commercial department and is based at our Derby office.

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