Business Solutions and Governance — Holborn Gate, London

Our London branch at Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7QH provides integrated advice on corporate governance, commercial structuring and regulatory compliance for businesses operating in England & Wales. The content below summarises practical considerations for boards, general counsel and international groups seeking a coherent governance framework aligned with legal and commercial risk.

Core areas of support

• Board and senior management advisory — directors’ duties under the Companies Act 2006, meeting structures, delegations and minutes.
• Corporate structuring and shareholder arrangements — articles of association, shareholders’ agreements, capital structure and pre-emption issues.
• Commercial contracts and operational governance — standard form agreements, outsourcing/outsourcing oversight and supply chain governance including modern slavery obligations.
• Regulatory and compliance frameworks — FCA requirements for regulated firms, AML/sanctions screening, data protection (UK GDPR) and tax compliance.

Governance frameworks and practical implementation

Good governance combines legal compliance with operational systems. Practical steps include mapping statutory obligations (filings at Companies House, corporate tax and VAT reporting), documenting decision-making lines, and integrating compliance registers into routine board reporting. Where a company is part of an international group, alignment of policies across jurisdictions and clear contractual allocations of responsibility are essential to avoid gaps and duplication.

Risk, reporting and ESG considerations

Boards should embed risk registers into strategic reporting cycles and ensure transparency in non-financial reporting where required. Increasingly, investors and regulators expect evidence of ESG due diligence — for example, supply chain risk assessments, modern slavery statements and climate-related disclosures. These intersect with directors’ duties and auditing obligations for larger entities.

Practical checklist

1. Confirm constitutional documents (articles) are current and reflect control arrangements.
2. Maintain up-to-date register of members, directors and PSCs and ensure timely Companies House filings.
3. Adopt a schedule of board papers, minutes and delegated authority limits.
4. Establish compliance registers for AML, sanctions, bribery and data protection; appoint an accountable owner for each register.
5. Review contractual templates and standard terms to allocate risk consistently across suppliers and customers.
6. Prepare or review modern slavery and other required public statements; integrate ESG metrics into board reporting.
7. Conduct periodic due diligence on group entities for tax, transfer pricing and intercompany documentation.

Jurisdiction and sources

Primary sources for statutory and regulatory requirements include:

• Companies House
• UK Government / GOV.UK
• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
• Financial Reporting Council (FRC)

General information only; not legal advice and not a substitute for advice on a particular matter.