The eoa has five Specialist Advisors who are integral to growing great employee ownership in the UK - Baxendale Employee Ownership, Brabners, Fieldfisher, The RM2 Partnership, and Wrigleys Solicitors LLP. 

Collectively they have successfully supported not only the technical transition of hundreds of businesses to employee ownership, but also influenced alongside the eoa an effective approach to culture, governance, and engagement to deliver Great EO. 

They’ve also supported the growth and influence of the sector by hosting events, supporting insights and policy by acting as advocates to help unlock the full potential of EO and People Powered Growth in the UK.  

Baxendale Employee Ownership

Baxendale Employee Ownership enable businesses to become employee owned and to thrive as EO businesses across the UK. 

For over 20 years, the friendly team of employee owners has grown to provide businesses and their owners a unique combination of legal, technical, and practical advice. 

Service and advice include:

  • Founder / Owners Workshops exploring succession options
  • Start to finish transition of ownership to EO; including Indirect (EOT), hybrid, and other EO ownership models
  • Training for Trustee & Company Directors on their roles and responsibilities
  • Advice and support on employee voice and engagement
  • Advice on reward in EOBs, including design and implementation of share schemes
  • Ownership and Governance Reviews for mature EO businesses 

Brabners

Brabners is a purpose-led independent law firm, certified B Corp, and market leader in employee ownership, supporting more than fifty businesses transition to employee ownership in the past four years. 

With a focus on the value of legacy and culture for businesses and founders, Brabners provides practical expert advice to support businesses at whatever stage they’re at in their EO journey.  

Support includes:

  • Legal services
  • Exploring EO succession and the legacy owners want for their business
  • Supporting decision making on EO structuring and governance
  • Support for management teams and trust boards of employee owned businesses
  • Advice on leveraging EO advantage and growing your EO culture

Fieldfisher

Fieldfisher is at the forefront of the drive to make employee ownership mainstream in the UK and beyond, offering extensive expertise in advising, creating and sustaining employee ownership solutions for a wide range of businesses.  

Its services are backed by a deep understanding of the legal and tax complexities of EO transactions. 

Advice and services: 

  • General legal advice
  • Full range of legal and tax advice in relation to employee buyouts and EO succession planning
  • Advice on structures and EO models to achieve owners and business objectives – indirect, hybrid, or indirect
  • Practical, no-nonsense advice, honed from years of insights from founder of the Fieldfisher EO practice, eoa International Ambassador, Graeme Nutall OBE 

The RM2 Partnership

The RM2 Partnership, which became employee owned in 2019, has more than 20 years advising private companies on equity incentives for employees.   

Its employee ownership advisors offer a one-stop shop for business owners looking to sell their business to their employees.  

Support and services include: 

  • EMI share option schemes for start-up companies
  • Larger all-employee share schemes including Share Incentive Plans
  • Employee ownership feasibility advice and valuation
  • Assistance with finance structuring, raising finance and legal documentation
  • Insights and support to plan an approach to Great EO 

Wrigleys Solicitors LLP

Wrigleys Solicitors LLP, a specialist law firm with a large team working in the Charities and Social Economy (CSE) sector, has been advising on the legal, trust and tax aspects of employee ownership for over 30 years, as well as governance and succession planning , and support for the complete employee ownership journey. 

Expertise includes: 

  • Specialist advice for business owners selling their business including wealth management
  • Working with companies that are purpose driven or that are looking to make a contribution to their wider community, including supporting linked accreditations.
  • Embedding good governance and values throughout the management and organisational structure to ensure employee engagement is maintained at a high level.
  • Advising on all aspects of trust law, trustee duties and governance and the make-up of a good EOT board. 
  • Advising on a charitable foundation becoming the company owner or part owner together with employee ownership, or setting up a separate charitable foundation.