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Lawyers for founders

Helping company founders to realise their vision is a hugely rewarding aspect of our work. From advising on tax or international expansion, to introducing you to investors and other useful contacts from our network, we will add value from the outset.

As a successful person, it’s a fairly safe bet that you started out firmly holding the belief that, in whatever way important to you, the future can be better than the present, and that you have the ability to make it happen.

So whether you’re a serial entrepreneur, or considering a switch out of employment to pursue your passion, or seeking venture capital or private equity backing, we can help.

Be part of a community of successful people

We are now one of the largest law firms in the world that focuses on individuals and their private capital interests.  This is useful to you because it means we can help you if your plans take you internationally.  But beyond that, we can also look for ways to connect you with people from our network who might be of assistance.  As we have acted for over half the people listed in The Sunday Times Top 100 Rich List, and similar numbers of people in the US Forbes and Asia Forbes lists, we think a particular benefit to our entrepreneur clients is our relationships with this global group of potential investors and philanthropists.
 

The law firm for success

You hear a lot from law firms about the problems that you will face in business, and the structures you need to put in place to avoid mistakes.  We know however that in reality you want to avoid time and money spent on legal questions, especially at start-up and at scale-up.  Conrad Hilton linked success to action – he said that successful people keep moving; they make mistakes, but they don’t quit.  We like to operate quietly and efficiently in the background, safeguarding your interests and keeping you moving towards success.

All success stories need a start.  That’s why we are committed to helping start-ups through our involvement with a number of organizations, such as the ‘Startup Funding Club’ and the ‘Alley to the Valley’ organization.

How we can help

Abolishing the UK non-dom regime – what are your options in the UK and globally?


The decision from the current UK government to abolish the existing regime and promises made by the opposition to do the same has left many of you with questions and uncertainty. What does the future hold and what actions can you take now? 
Non-dom resources

Track record

Private acquisition of Australian food business

We acted for Jack Barclay in relation to the private acquisition of a meat processing facility in Victoria and his subsequent divestment of his interests.

Suit No. 629 of 2009/Q

Acting for the beneficial owner of shares in a group of companies against the companies and their directors and obtaining an anton pillar order.

Chilean US immigration

We helped the US-resident daughter of a successful Chilean entrepreneur through immigration issues and residency planning, supported tax and reporting efficient giving from her father, and provided cross border structuring advice.

US tax compliance for Brazilian entrepreneur

We investigated the circumstances of a client who was a Brazilian entrepreneur investing in the United States. We determined that he had inherited United States citizenship from his parents but had never filed US income tax returns or reporting forms. We quickly and efficiently addressed the noncompliance by entering him into the IRS offshore streamlined program.

Moving a fashion design business to the US

Represented a Canadian native and prominent fashion designer in immigrating to the United States. We helped the designer create her entrepreneurial business structure and supported her brand through multi-jurisdictional intellectual property advice to protect the trademark and key designs. We continue to provide employment and commercial advice as the business grows.

Representing Canadian entrepreneur

Our client is a prominent Canadian entrepreneur with US ties, who we have advised for over a decade. Amongst an array of legal services, this has included coordinating her worldwide succession planning structure and advising on postnuptial co-ordination for her second marriage to protect her substantial global business interests.

Defending a claim for enforcement of a US$30 million Russian judgment

Acting for a Russian industrialist in defence of claim for enforcement of a US$30 million Russian default judgment and successful appeal to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) Court of Appeal and the UK Privy Council.

Vitaly Archangelsky

We represent Russian businessman Vitaly Archangelsky in a dispute with a Russian bank in relation to a port terminal in St Petersburg.

The US-born son of a UK businessman

When he became engaged to a Swiss citizen, the son of a high-profile UK businessman asked us to help him obtain a British Passport and expatriate from the US. We were also asked to draft a prenuptial agreement. Timing was of the essence but as a global, full-service firm we created a team of immigration, family and private client lawyers to meet tight deadlines.

Senior executives at King.com

Candy Crush Saga was one of the major global success stories of the free-to-play mobile device games, with more than 93 million players worldwide. We are proud to have acted for the founders of the company that owned it, King.com, in the high-profile sale of their business to Activision Blizzard for US$5.9 billion, achieving a very satisfactory outcome for our clients.

Private acquisition of Australian food business

We acted for Jack Barclay in relation to the private acquisition of a meat processing facility in Victoria and his subsequent divestment of his interests.

Defending a claim for enforcement of a US$30 million Russian judgment

Acting for a Russian industrialist in defence of claim for enforcement of a US$30 million Russian default judgment and successful appeal to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) Court of Appeal and the UK Privy Council.

The US-born son of a UK businessman

When he became engaged to a Swiss citizen, the son of a high-profile UK businessman asked us to help him obtain a British Passport and expatriate from the US. We were also asked to draft a prenuptial agreement. Timing was of the essence but as a global, full-service firm we created a team of immigration, family and private client lawyers to meet tight deadlines.

Senior executives at King.com

Candy Crush Saga was one of the major global success stories of the free-to-play mobile device games, with more than 93 million players worldwide. We are proud to have acted for the founders of the company that owned it, King.com, in the high-profile sale of their business to Activision Blizzard for US$5.9 billion, achieving a very satisfactory outcome for our clients.

Two food entrepreneurs

We used our experience of working with entrepreneurs to help the founders of a food business providing goods to UK high-street retailers as they sold their company. Our lawyers assisted with the commercial aspects of the sale to a private equity firm, handling complex UK remittance tax issues and US tax issues. We were also involved in our clients’ reinvestment in a new holding company.

Hedge fund founders

When the founding principals of two of London's largest hedge funds turned to Withers for help devising a more integrated approach to tax structuring in the UK and US, our international knowledge and global reach made us ideally placed to help. We came up with the most efficient strategy and also advised them on effective estate planning, whether or not they stayed in the funds.

A financial services company

Withers was called in when the partners of a large financial services company needed to review its structure and convert to a limited liability partnership. Our team undertook a detailed review of the business and its assets. We then advised on a fresh strategy, taking into account the personal tax profiles of the partners, relevant regulatory issues and risk management. We also helped with succession planning and the company's future goals.

Software entrepreneurs

When the founders of a highly successful software company decided to sell the business to one of the world's largest equity houses, Withers was on hand to make sure the deal ran smoothly. We devised a tax-efficient exit for the founders and reduced their exposure to any future disputes, should they arise. Since the deal was completed, the founders have also come to us when they wanted to reinvest the sale proceeds into new ventures.

The founder of an online clothing business

The founder of this highly successful online clothing retail business wanted to sell a large stake to a leading luxury goods conglomerate. As the go-to law firm for fashion entrepreneurs, Withers was brought in to ensure that the value of our client's stake was protected and negotiate a fresh incentive package. We then worked to achieve a tax-efficient strategy for the disposal of part of the founder's interest.

Chilean US immigration

We helped the US-resident daughter of a successful Chilean entrepreneur through immigration issues and residency planning, supported tax and reporting efficient giving from her father, and provided cross border structuring advice.

US tax compliance for Brazilian entrepreneur

We investigated the circumstances of a client who was a Brazilian entrepreneur investing in the United States. We determined that he had inherited United States citizenship from his parents but had never filed US income tax returns or reporting forms. We quickly and efficiently addressed the noncompliance by entering him into the IRS offshore streamlined program.

Moving a fashion design business to the US

Represented a Canadian native and prominent fashion designer in immigrating to the United States. We helped the designer create her entrepreneurial business structure and supported her brand through multi-jurisdictional intellectual property advice to protect the trademark and key designs. We continue to provide employment and commercial advice as the business grows.

Representing Canadian entrepreneur

Our client is a prominent Canadian entrepreneur with US ties, who we have advised for over a decade. Amongst an array of legal services, this has included coordinating her worldwide succession planning structure and advising on postnuptial co-ordination for her second marriage to protect her substantial global business interests.

Defending a claim for enforcement of a US$30 million Russian judgment

Acting for a Russian industrialist in defence of claim for enforcement of a US$30 million Russian default judgment and successful appeal to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) Court of Appeal and the UK Privy Council.

The US-born son of a UK businessman

When he became engaged to a Swiss citizen, the son of a high-profile UK businessman asked us to help him obtain a British Passport and expatriate from the US. We were also asked to draft a prenuptial agreement. Timing was of the essence but as a global, full-service firm we created a team of immigration, family and private client lawyers to meet tight deadlines.

Two food entrepreneurs

We used our experience of working with entrepreneurs to help the founders of a food business providing goods to UK high-street retailers as they sold their company. Our lawyers assisted with the commercial aspects of the sale to a private equity firm, handling complex UK remittance tax issues and US tax issues. We were also involved in our clients’ reinvestment in a new holding company.

Hedge fund founders

When the founding principals of two of London's largest hedge funds turned to Withers for help devising a more integrated approach to tax structuring in the UK and US, our international knowledge and global reach made us ideally placed to help. We came up with the most efficient strategy and also advised them on effective estate planning, whether or not they stayed in the funds.

Defending a claim for enforcement of a US$30 million Russian judgment

Acting for a Russian industrialist in defence of claim for enforcement of a US$30 million Russian default judgment and successful appeal to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) Court of Appeal and the UK Privy Council.

Vitaly Archangelsky

We represent Russian businessman Vitaly Archangelsky in a dispute with a Russian bank in relation to a port terminal in St Petersburg.

Chilean US immigration

We helped the US-resident daughter of a successful Chilean entrepreneur through immigration issues and residency planning, supported tax and reporting efficient giving from her father, and provided cross border structuring advice.

Our team

Elaine Aarons

Elaine Aarons

Partner | London

Elaine Aarons

Partner | London

Employment

James Hockin

James Hockin

Partner | London

James Hockin

Partner | London

Employment

Amarjit Kaur

Amarjit Kaur

Partner | Singapore

Amarjit Kaur

Partner | Singapore

Litigation and arbitration

Charles S. Kolstad

Charles S. Kolstad

Partner | New York

Charles S. Kolstad

Partner | New York

Private client and tax | Corporate

Doug Mandell

Doug Mandell

Global Head of the Founder Practice | San Francisco

Doug Mandell

Global Head of the Founder Practice | San Francisco

Leaders and senior executives, Corporate

Phil Robinson

Phil Robinson

Partner | London

Phil Robinson

Partner | London

Corporate

James Shaw

James Shaw

Partner | London

James Shaw

Partner | London

Corporate

Joel Shen

Joel Shen

Partner | Singapore

Joel Shen

Partner | Singapore

Corporate

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