Venture capital law

Utilise our know-how and expansive network of industry contacts to help you launch smoothly and successfully.
Our team advises established and emerging managers as well as corporate venture groups on structuring and launching venture capital funds (both onshore and offshore), as well as advising them on an ongoing basis including providing support on investments into, and divestments of, investments in portfolio companies.

We have extensive experience advising venture capital managers on the challenges they face including launching new funds, advising in relation to various tax incentive schemes and providing cost-effective support on transaction execution.

MJ Hudson has as a growing network of industry relationships, with the sole intention of building a value enhancing service to its clients. We are happy to make strategic introductions to assist our clients reach their goals.

Explore and implement the incubator, accelerator or corporate VC model that best suits your vision.

Even the brightest founders appreciate the value that a well-run, well-networked incubator/accelerator can add to the value of their start-up. Executing a disruptive start-up idea well requires the right partners, ones who can help scale quickly by bringing together the right mentors and the right commercial opportunities, enhancing the value proposition and triggering quicker growth.

We have a proven track record in working with groups looking to launch a platform which incubates or accelerates start-ups in any given sector. Whether an independent project, or as part of a strategic corporate initiative, we will work alongside you, exploring different structuring options to determine the most suitable option and taking into account, for instance, team incentive arrangements, partner priorities and the ability to scale the platform if needed.

We will provide you with the appropriate incubator/accelerator structure together with advice on the relevant processes and documents you will need going forward when the programme launches.

Launch and scale your business with the support of our dedicated VC and start-ups team, offering expert legal opinion and commercially astute advice.

As a founder, on a journey to building a global business, it can be difficult to find trustworthy partners with the experience, expertise and market contacts to help you get started and support you as you grow. In certain sectors, such as fintech and biotech, this is compounded by the complex regulatory and commercial landscape.

We meet founders of high potential start-ups every day. They come from all parts of the globe, but they all share the same passion and determination. We pride ourselves on being able to step into the shoes of founders to provide straight-talking advice, saving you time, resources – and stress – without ever compromising the quality of the advice you receive. We want our founders and our start-up clients to succeed, because that is how we measure our success. We work with entrepreneurs from all sectors, including fintech, biotech, consumer internet, as well as those running innovative web-enabled service companies in myriad industries.

The founders and start-ups we represent, no matter at what stage in their life-cycle they are, can be 100% confident of receiving tailored, practical and value-for-money advice. We understand the frustrations of founders who have great ideas but no pathway to launch their ideas.

Ensure optimal tax treatment through efficient structuring and proactive advice.

With regards to venture capital and early-stage businesses, we routinely advise funds and portfolio companies on their investments and tax efficiencies. This can range from the structuring of the fund vehicle itself, through to advising on the acquisition or financing of portfolio companies, and looking at special tax regimes such as SEIS, EIS, and VCTs in the UK. We also assist with the structure and formation of incentive schemes for portfolio companies’ senior management and employees.

Work with a partner that understands your challenges and knows how to overcome them.

Once a fund manager has raised a fund, the hard work really begins. The venture capital industry is constantly evolving, with innovative deal structures and alternative financing sources meaning that fund managers cannot afford to sit still.

As well as advising on fund structuring and related matters, our venture capital and start-ups team is expert in the idiosyncrasies of early-stage minority investing and the protections required. We act in venture transactions for VC funds, management teams and strategic buyers. Our ventures team will work with you to understand your needs and deliver a clear, cohesive and cost-effective service, leveraging our deep knowledge of the funds and venture industries and our wide network of contacts, whether you are launching a fund, or are looking for the right legal execution partner for your deals.

Our venture fund managers receive value-added services beyond legal advice including strategic introductions, as well as other benefits as part of a lasting trusted adviser relationship.