Succession and Retirement Planning for Owner Managed Businesses

Creating and running a business can be hard work and rewarding in equal measure. When the time comes to step back and wind down, planning your succession will be critical to both your own retirement and the continuing success of the business.

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Meet the team

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Three members of our private client team

Supporting your succession strategy

Our specialist team of lawyers have decades of experience advising business owners on their succession plans. We understand the needs of owner managed businesses and support owners with a range of potential issues including managing family dynamics and discussions around who continues to play a role in the business.

Keeping ‘business as usual’ and maintaining stability for those still in the business can involve appointing another majority shareholder to maintain overall control. We advise on the legal documentation and structure to support this as well as communicating your wishes to key stakeholders and family members.

Working closely with colleagues, we support business owners to protect business assets in a variety of situations including claims relating to divorces or disagreements between family members and other interested parties. This often  includes support with drafting wills and lasting powers of attorney to ensure your estate passes on according to your wishes and that your business affairs are managed as you intended if you are incapacitated.

We understand the length of time needed to prepare a business for change and will work with you to put an effective strategy in place. From pre-exit tax planning to trusts and family investment companies, we’re with you every step of the way.

Our Private Wealth sector

Clients who have built a significant assets base may face a complex legal and tax landscape. Our experts, who cover a range of legal disciplines, are on hand to provide specialist legal guidance and support to help individuals, their families, trustees and family offices.

Services from our Private Wealth team
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Working with you

As an award-winning firm, recognised in many areas including corporate and private client advice, we have the expertise and capacity to support your needs. Our lawyers are true specialists in their field and work closely with colleagues to provide the support you need as you exit your business.

Business exits often require support from multiple areas including employment, real estate, family, corporate and private client. Bringing in the relevant specialists, we will coordinate everything, so you have a dedicated point of contact.

We have experience of advising businesses in a range of sectors and can also enlist support from colleagues in other teams including construction, agriculture, IP, healthcare and finance.

Our client base is broad, ranging from sole traders to serial entrepreneurs. We often advise founders and business owners as well as individuals and directors with significant stake holdings. We also have the expertise to advise on more complex structures such as partnerships, family offices and the specific needs of agribusinesses.

Recognition of our work

Investors in People

Investors in People

Legal 500 2026 – Top Tier Firm

Legal 500 2026 – Top Tier Firm

Legal updates and thought leadership

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Hear what our clients say about us

Beth and Leanne‘s thorough understanding of the legal intricacies and their strategic approach ensured that we were always well-informed and confident throughout the entire process. They were not only our legal representatives but also our pillars of support during this challenging time. Their compassionate and empathetic nature made us feel heard and valued, and their relentless pursuit of justice on our behalf was truly commendable. Thanks to their hard work and perseverance, we can now move forward with peace of mind and financial security. I wholeheartedly recommend Beth and Leanne to anyone in need of exceptional legal representation. They are truly outstanding professionals who go above and beyond for their clients.

Client testimonial Probate dispute

In all my dealings with Sean, I have found him to be exceptionally accurate, detailed and comprehensive with any advice. He is always clear and concise with his advice which is cogent and convincing. He is invariably extremely courteous and inspires complete confidence. He is also a very personable, enthusiastic, and approachable individual.

In summary, I can wholeheartedly recommend Sean Boucher to deal with all relevant legal issues.

Sean Boucher Private client

Harriet has been extremely professional and we are very happy with the service provided.

Client testimonial Private client

Harriet was excellent in her support and professionalism. If I have any problems or things I am not sure on I feel confident in asking Harriet for her honest and clear advice.

Client testimonial Private client

I am currently instructing Kerri Woodrow in an estate where I am one of the executors. I have known Kerri for many years and know her to have excellent knowledge of the issues involved. In addition, Kerri offers very practical advice and has quickly established an excellent working relationship with my co-executor and myself.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

Sally Robinson delivers a good client service and is also pragmatic with a technically strong understanding of the law.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

The team at Harrison Clark Rickerby naturally and usually delivers above expectations. Having used HCR for a number of years, delivering above expectations should be a tall order, but it seems to me to happen every time. They are skilled at understanding your questions and exploring the depth of the question and your concerns. The advice is clear, concise and full of depth.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

Tom Murphy-Kirkhope ensures he understands your aims, interprets them, meets to reinforce that both parties are working on the same page and then delivers. He has an able team who supports this process and who ensure support is never far away.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

Claire Pottinger continues to exceed expectations with her knowledge, industry expertise, specialist insights and efficiency. Her diplomacy in a sometimes difficult situation has been exemplary. I don’t know how we would have got through this long and laborious process without her assistance.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

Thank you so much for your help with this matter and for being so considerate in maximising time and minimising costs, it’s greatly appreciated. I know these situations can be tricky and ever-evolving from one day to the next, so your thoughtfulness and efforts to keep things efficient really mean a lot.

Client testimonial

Harriet was very helpful, kind, polite, extremely understanding of my wishes, very easy to speak to and therefore my needs and wishes were met.

Client testimonial Private Client

The team…handles a significant amount of agricultural succession planning work, an area that Carmarthen-based partner, Sean Boucher, is particularly skilled.

Legal 500

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