Lawyers
Corporate Advisory
Questions owners ask us.
The questions that come up in nearly every first conversation answered the way we’d answer them across a desk.
The questions that come up in nearly every first conversation answered the way we’d answer them across a desk.
01
Do I need to have decided to sell before talking to you?
Do I need to have decided to sell before talking to you?
No and most first conversations happen well before any decision. Orientation discussions are confidential and without obligation. Sometimes the right advice is to wait, prepare, or not transact at all.
No and most first conversations happen well before any decision. Orientation discussions are confidential and without obligation. Sometimes the right advice is to wait, prepare, or not transact at all.
02
I’ve received an approach out of the blue. What should I do?
I’ve received an approach out of the blue. What should I do?
Say little, sign nothing, and take advice before responding substantively. Unsolicited approaches can be genuine and attractive but responding without preparation hands the other side the process.
Say little, sign nothing, and take advice before responding substantively. Unsolicited approaches can be genuine and attractive but responding without preparation hands the other side the process.
03
How are your fees structured?
How are your fees structured?
Openly, and agreed before we start. Transaction mandates typically combine a work fee for the engagement with a completion component payable if the deal completes. Readiness, succession and strategic engagements are usually fixed-fee or retained.
Openly, and agreed before we start. Transaction mandates typically combine a work fee for the engagement with a completion component payable if the deal completes. Readiness, succession and strategic engagements are usually fixed-fee or retained.
04
Will anyone find out my business is for sale?
Will anyone find out my business is for sale?
Confidentiality is engineered into the process: staged information release, confidentiality undertakings before substantive disclosure, controlled counterparty lists, and careful handling of staff, customer and supplier sensitivities. No process can make a transaction invisible, but a disciplined one keeps knowledge to those who need it, when they need it.
Confidentiality is engineered into the process: staged information release, confidentiality undertakings before substantive disclosure, controlled counterparty lists, and careful handling of staff, customer and supplier sensitivities. No process can make a transaction invisible, but a disciplined one keeps knowledge to those who need it, when they need it.
05
Do I have to use Daniel Jude Lawyers for the legal work?
Do I have to use Daniel Jude Lawyers for the legal work?
No. Daniel Jude Corporate Advisory and Daniel Jude Lawyers are separate businesses, and the choice of lawyer is always yours. Many clients bring their existing lawyers; where clients choose Daniel Jude Lawyers, the two firms coordinate closely.
No. Daniel Jude Corporate Advisory and Daniel Jude Lawyers are separate businesses, and the choice of lawyer is always yours. Many clients bring their existing lawyers; where clients choose Daniel Jude Lawyers, the two firms coordinate closely.
06
How long does a sale take?
How long does a sale take?
For a prepared business, typically six to twelve months from approach to completion. Preparation beforehand varies from weeks to a year or more depending on the state of the business’s information and structure which is exactly why we offer Transaction Readiness as a standalone engagement.
For a prepared business, typically six to twelve months from approach to completion. Preparation beforehand varies from weeks to a year or more depending on the state of the business’s information and structure which is exactly why we offer Transaction Readiness as a standalone engagement.
07
What size businesses do you act for?
What size businesses do you act for?
We act principally for privately held businesses and their owners. If we’re not the right fit for a particular engagement by size, sector or otherwise we’ll say so at the first conversation and, where we can, point you somewhere better suited.
We act principally for privately held businesses and their owners. If we’re not the right fit for a particular engagement by size, sector or otherwise we’ll say so at the first conversation and, where we can, point you somewhere better suited.
08
I don’t have a transaction in mind, can you still help?
I don’t have a transaction in mind, can you still help?
Yes, and this is more common than you’d think. Structure, governance and succession work often has no deal attached at all and for owners who simply aren’t sure what needs attention, our Diagnostic exists precisely to answer that question before anyone commits to anything larger.
Yes, and this is more common than you’d think. Structure, governance and succession work often has no deal attached at all and for owners who simply aren’t sure what needs attention, our Diagnostic exists precisely to answer that question before anyone commits to anything larger.
09
What do you need from me to get started?
What do you need from me to get started?
A conversation. From there, an initial engagement usually needs recent financial statements, an organisational picture, and honesty about what you want. Everything is handled in confidence from the first exchange.
A conversation. From there, an initial engagement usually needs recent financial statements, an organisational picture, and honesty about what you want. Everything is handled in confidence from the first exchange.
Start with the Diagnostic.
Two weeks, a fixed fee, and a written view of where the business stands and what a transaction would look like from here.
The Two-Week Diagnostic
Ask the question that isn’t here.
The first conversation is confidential, without obligation, and usually the most valuable hour of the process.