Corporate

Macdonald Henderson is one of Scotland’s leading specialised corporate law firms dedicated to serving entrepreneurs, owner-managers, family businesses and individuals.

Over 30 years since its formation, the firm has boldly asserted itself as one of the top performers of Scotland’s professional advisor community and is known for being energetic, savvy, capable and friendly in its approach.

Following a management buyout in 2009, the firm has gone from strength to strength and it is regularly instructed on mergers and acquisitions, investments and management buyouts, both domestically and internationally.

In 2021, Macdonald Henderson’s award-winning team has been recognized for the first time in The Times Best Law Firms. The Macdonald Henderson team is one of only eight Scottish firms to be featured for its work in mergers and acquisitions, alongside global and UK regional giants and large Scottish heavyweights.

The firm entered The Legal 500 in 2015 and has achieved ‘ranked’ status every year since, described by Legal 500 as “Exceptional”, delivering “Practical, to-the-point advice without burdening the client with the legal minutiae”; “Really strong team that care about their clients, very solution-driven’; ‘Commercial and efficient- a combination of broad experience and strong legal knowledge’. Key strengths are responsiveness and attention to detail’. “They have experience in dealing with small clients, from start-ups or university spin outs through to larger organisations on the SME spectrum”.

Our team has extensive experience in all of the following:

Start Ups and Expansions | Mergers and Acquisitions

Joint Ventures | Management Buy-Outs and Buy-Ins

Employee Share Option Agreements | Employee Buy Outs

Directors’ Liability | Shareholder Disputes

Restructuring | Corporate Finance

Commercial Contracts

All businesses enter into contracts. Many of these don’t require legal advice; but some are of fundamental importance to the business. An understanding of the contractual process is essential. Experienced help to assist with contractual problems is critical.

What we can do for you

Terms and Conditions of Business | Advice On Contractual Procedures

Advice on Breach of Contract | Agency and Distribution Contracts

All Types of Commercial Contracts | E-Commerce

Company Secretarial Services

It has been said that the best service is service which is faithfully undertaken while you are unaware. Since its inception over three decades ago, Macdonald Henderson has discharged exceptional client service in a variety of ‘silent’ ways including:

Registered Office Facility

Macdonald Henderson provides a registered office facility for many clients for a small annual fee. A few of the benefits afforded by this facility are listed below. The cost for this annual facility is payable on commencement and renewed at the end of each following financial year.

Provision of an accessible city centre company address
Filtering of junk mail and forwarding proper correspondence to company secretary or other nominated officer/address
Satisfaction of statute regarding company name to be affixed at the registered office
Degree of anonymity / non-embarrassment over service of court documents
Provision of a Scottish registered office, which may prove to be critical in any future commercial disputes
(Optional) safe keeping of statutory registers / company books
(Optional) use of firm meeting room (subject to availability and firm terms and conditions of use).

Director’s Service Address

A new feature of company administration exists for directors wishing to opt for an alternate service address so that their private residence remains private. There are a number of situations whereby the use of the registered office as an alternate service address may be impracticable or undesirable. Macdonald Henderson is pleased to fill the gap and offer a scaled down version of the registered office facility as a service address to any director for a nominal annual fee, payable in advance.

Company Secretarial Support

Over the years Macdonald Henderson has supplied company secretarial support for many clients (of all sizes) for a small annual fee. A few of the benefits afforded by this facility are listed below. The fee for this facility is payable on commencement and renewed at the end of each following financial year.

Completion and filing of Confirmation Statement (Companies House filing fee not included)
(Optional) Preparation and signing guidance for Companies House forms
(Optional) Guidance on the preparation of board minutes of directors and member meetings
(Optional) keeping and maintenance of the company’s statutory registers/ company books
Basic administrative guidance.

Our experts also have experience reconstructing statutory registers / company books which have been lost, damaged or are otherwise inoperable. An extra charge may apply here.

Annual Company Watch Service

Macdonald Henderson can set up a company watch service over companies which are (or have assets which are) potential acquisition targets. The fee for setting up this facility is payable on commencement and renewed at the end of each following financial year.