Beyond the heavily regulated realm of listed companies, corporate governance has become increasingly important for private companies, particularly larger groups for which the regulatory burden has increased in recent years.
We help clients to review and identify what they must comply with – from directors’ duties to annual reporting requirements. We also advise on how far best practice should be followed, including board and committee structures and risk management and authority and delegation procedures.
Our clear and pragmatic approach helps clients to develop, maintain and operate corporate governance processes which are suitably tailored for their business and its stakeholders. We also monitor developments and keep clients abreast of changes.
How we help
- Advising on business structures, including B-Corp certification.
- Guidance and training on directors’ duties and other legal governance requirements.
- Helping with internal governance procedures, to provide clarity on authority levels, reporting obligations, committee terms of reference and other delegation structures.
- Co-ordinating business constitutions and internal operational frameworks to reflect legal obligation and business priorities.
- Advice on best practice guidance for private companies. For example, applying the Wates Principles and other published voluntary guidance.
- Company secretarial procedures. For example, the place of appropriate board meetings and minutes to support corporate governance in a corporate group.
- Board composition and terms of appointment.
Our corporate governance advice is part of wider support available to you to protect against reputational damage and improve and maintain high quality standards and processes. We provide high quality advice on everything from anti-bribery and corruption to diversity, equality and inclusion policies, sustainable procurement to antitrust.
Our experience includes
- Advising a major UK trade organisation operating through a range of companies limited by guarantee and limited by shares on group corporate governance and constitutional matters.
- Advising one of Surrey’s premier golf clubs operating through a company limited by guarantee in connection with a wide-ranging review and update of its constitution and bylaws.
