At EA Law we specialise in advising SMEs and high-growth businesses on M&A, corporate transactions, and buy and build strategies. We’ve worked on countless deals—big and small—and we consistently see the same factors separate successful, streamlined transactions from those that stall or fail.
If you’re planning to buy or sell a business, here are five top tips to help you close the deal faster, avoid unnecessary costs, and keep things efficient.
1. Get Your House in Order Early
Preparation is key. Whether you’re a seller or a buyer, the earlier you organise your business, the smoother your deal will go.
For sellers, that means being “deal-ready”:
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Clean, up-to-date financials
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Organised statutory books
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Signed key contracts (employment, supply, data protection)
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Accessible corporate documents
Buyers want transparency and predictability. If your paperwork is messy or incomplete, it raises red flags and drags out due diligence—or worse, kills the deal.
🔍 Legal Tip: Engage a corporate lawyer early. At EA Law, we offer pre-sale legal audits to identify issues before buyers do.
2. Agree Clear but Flexible Heads of Terms
Your Heads of Terms are the roadmap for the transaction. Done right, they create alignment and avoid disputes later on.
A good Heads of Terms should cover:
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Price
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Deal structure
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Payment terms
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Timelines
…but it should also leave room to adjust as due diligence unfolds. Overly rigid documents at this stage can backfire.
📝 Legal Tip: Keep it commercially focused. Let the lawyers worry about protecting your position later in the process—not in the first draft.
3. Appoint Experienced Advisors—Early
A common mistake we see in SME transactions is engaging advisors too late, or using firms unfamiliar with the fast-paced nature of M&A deals.
An experienced corporate lawyer in London can:
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Flag risks early
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Streamline legal documents
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Keep the transaction moving
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Protect your commercial interests without over-complicating the deal
💼 Legal Tip: Choose a firm like EA Law with real experience in SME and private company transactions. We’ll save you time, money—and headaches.
4. Keep Communication Lines Open
Most deals fall apart due to miscommunication, not legal issues. Having regular touchpoints between buyer, seller, and advisors avoids delays and keeps everyone focused.
📞 Legal Tip: A weekly 20-minute call between the main deal team and advisors can eliminate confusion and reduce costly email back-and-forth.
5. Be Commercial About Risk
Yes, legal protections matter. But over-negotiating every clause can burn goodwill, fees and momentum.
Focus on what really matters:
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Key warranties
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Deal breakers
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Big-ticket liabilities
Trying to negotiate every clause to perfection may end up stalling the transaction altogether.
⚖️ Legal Tip: At EA Law, we help clients take a commercial, balanced approach to risk—so you close deals, not just draft them.