Smith Hamilton was founded in 2014 as a boutique firm focused on corporate and commercial law, with expertise in fund management and advising senior executives, shareholders and entrepreneurs.
In 2023, the firm became part of MEUM Group, a multidisciplinary platform supporting ultra-high-net-worth individuals, their families and their businesses. During this period, our practice broadened significantly to include family, private client, education, charities and regulatory work, employment, and dispute resolution.
The law firm is now building on that growth to operate independently once again under the Smith Hamilton name. This transition reflects a natural progression in our growth and allows us to focus fully on delivering an integrated legal service under a single specialist brand, while retaining the expanded expertise developed over recent years.
For our clients, it remains very much business as usual – the same team, the same relationships, and an even broader depth of capability.
Corporate & Commercial
Strategic legal advice for founders, businesses and investors at every stage.
We advise privately owned and growth businesses on the full spectrum of corporate and commercial matters, providing clear, commercially grounded guidance that supports each stage of a company’s development. Our work spans mergers and acquisitions, shareholder and investment agreements, corporate structuring, governance frameworks, capital raises, and the drafting and negotiation of key commercial contracts.
Clients rely on us for advice that is not only technically precise but shaped by a strong understanding of real-world business drivers. We help organisations structure transactions effectively, manage risk, protect value, and align legal decisions with broader commercial objectives.
All matters are partner-led, ensuring continuity, accountability, and advice informed by experience. Whether supporting strategic acquisitions, navigating complex governance issues, or establishing robust corporate structures, our focus is on delivering practical, long-term solutions that enable businesses to operate with confidence and clarity.
Key Figure
Gray Smith
Managing Partner
Our Corporate & Commercial Services
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Shareholder & Investment Agreements
Investment, Holding & Group Structures
Private Capital & Fund Structuring
Corporate Governance
Capital Raises
Commercial Contract
We provide clear, strategically focused advice on mergers and acquisitions, ensuring transactions are structured effectively and executed with precision to support long-term business goals.
- Advising privately owned and growth businesses on corporate transactions
- Structuring and negotiating deals aligned with commercial objectives
- Managing legal due diligence and transaction documentation
- Integrating shareholder and governance considerations into transactions
- Supporting restructures and group reorganisations connected to acquisition
We prepare and negotiate shareholder and investment agreements that establish robust governance, protect capital, and ensure clarity of rights, obligations and long-term stakeholder alignment.
- Drafting shareholder and investment agreements
- Advising on director responsibilities and governance risk
- Assisting with shareholder disputes
- Aligning agreements with wider corporate and group structures
- Supporting investor protections and commercial stability
We design corporate structures that promote operational efficiency, asset protection and strategic scalability across single-entity and multi-entity groups.
- Establishing investment and holding structures
- Creating and reorganising group structures
- Advising on structures for capital raises
- Integrating structuring with tax-sensitive planning
- Ongoing support for multi-entity corporate management
We advise on the formation and operation of private capital vehicles and fund structures, ensuring compliance, effective governance and alignment with investment strategies.
- Structuring private capital and fund vehicles
- Advising on governance and regulatory obligations
- Establishing investment and holding entities within fund structures
- Supporting philanthropic and specialist investment arrangements
- Coordinating structuring advice for family offices and private groups
We develop governance frameworks that enhance accountability, compliance and effective leadership across both privately held and regulated organisations.
- Advising boards, trustees and directors on duties
- Designing governance structures for regulated organisations
- Supporting directors in risk and strategic decision-making
- Implementing governance for family offices and privately held groups
- Aligning governance with shareholder and investment frameworks
We support businesses seeking investment by structuring and documenting capital raises in a way that protects the organisation and ensures compliance with governance and regulatory requirements.
- Structuring capital raising processes and investment rounds
- Preparing investment documentation and terms
- Ensuring alignment with shareholder and governance structures
- Updating group or holding structures in connection with new capital
- Supporting negotiations with institutional and private investors
We draft, negotiate and review commercial contracts that underpin business operations, providing clarity and reducing risk across key commercial relationships.
- Drafting operational and strategic commercial agreements
- Reviewing contract terms to assess legal and commercial risk
- Negotiating contractual terms with counterparties
- Preparing long-term contractual frameworks
- Supporting contracts within complex corporate or investment structures
Our Team
Who We Act For
Our clients value clear advice, commercial judgement and a calm, steady hand during complex transactions.