It is a legal requirement to check all employee passports and right to work in the UK and to keep these updated. Failure to comply with right to work checks can result in commercial and reputational damage to your company and you could potentially be hit with an immigration fine of up to £20,000 per illegal worker.

Are you a sole trader that would benefit from becoming an incorporated Limited Company. This article highlights the two different types of business structures, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

New R&D rate changes in 1 April 2023 greatly reduce the relief available for smaller companies but increase the relief available for large companies.

In this week’s newsletter, Misha Patel our Head of Tax explore how non-UK foreign entities can utilise the benefits of (S)EIS investment scheme for startups to access funding.

In this week’s newsletter, Dragon Argent continues our series looking at how to incentivise employees and executives with Growth and Non-Growth Share Schemes in the UK. Learn more.

Due diligence helps investors and companies understand the nature of a deal, the risks involved, and whether the deal fits with their portfolio. Our Corporate & Commercial Law Solicitor, Arvin Bissessur will be covering why due diligence is important in mergers and acquisitions process in today’s newsletter.

In this week’s newsletter, Dragon Argent continues our series looking at how to motivate employees, this time by summarizing unapproved option schemes, otherwise known as non tax-advantaged share options. Learn more.

A SIP also provides a tax efficient way for employees to acquire shares but unlike other schemes this is done using an Employee Benefit Trust which holds the shares on the employee’s behalf. Learn more.

Intellectual property (“IP”) is a highly valuable part of a business. It can take many forms but essentially consists of intangible assets including copyrights, trade marks, patents, designs and trade secrets. Learn more how to protect your business’ Intellectual Property.

Save As You Earn (SAYE) Share Option Schemes for UK Employees: What you need to know? Learn more.

Autumn Statement 2022: As the UK heads into recession the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, had a real balancing act to perform in the Autumn statement. Dragon Argent focus in on the key implications for founders and SMEs. Learn more.

Starting a Company Share Option Plan (CSOP): What you need to know? A Company Share Option Plan (CSOP) is a tax-advantaged, discretionary share option plan where a company can grant CSOP options to any employee or full-time director. Learn more.

This week we will be looking in to one of the most commonly used option schemes for UK employees; the EMI Option Scheme. An EMI option Scheme is the most tax-efficient way to grant options to your UK resident employees as the Scheme is backed by HMRC. Learn more.

One of the most common challenges that early-stage businesses face is how best to recruit and incentivise talent at a time when funds are tight. One tool that founders reach for when trying to supplement salary is the offer of equity in the business. Learn more.

If you wish to employ a person who is not a settled worker, or who does not otherwise have immigration permission to work for you in the UK, you will need to be authorised by the Home Office. This authorisation is known as a ‘sponsor licence’, and employers who hold a sponsor licence are known as ‘Authorised Sponsors’.

Thinking of hiring migrant workers? Here is what you need to know. The UK has revamped their immigration system to a simpler process that treats all applicants equally, regardless of where they come from. We can assist you step-by-step through each process. Learn more.

Artists’ estate planning gives rise to challenges with which Dragon Argent is uniquely placed to assist. We offer advice and guidance to living artists or their executors on efficient estate planning and protecting the value of both the estate and the artist’s legacy. Learn more.

With NFTs being the latest breakout stars of the asset market, more people are turning to trading and financing their NFTs (i.e., using them as collateral for loans) to strategically release capital for some other investment purpose. In this week’s newsletter our NFT Lawyer and Head of Commercial Litigation, Margherita Barbagallo goes through the current legal framework and how to effectively reduce risks for those interested in NFT trading.

From 1 April 2023, there are several changes to the UK R&D scheme to be implemented as a result of the 2021 Budget. We felt it useful to summarise these in this week’s newsletter with some help from our Head of Tax, Misha Patel.  

In this week’s newsletter Dragon Argent are sharing quick-fire answers to some of the most common questions we receive from business owners when they begin to plan an exit from their company. Typically, these transactions fall into the category of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and for someone exiting a business, specifically sell side M&A. Our Head of Corporate & Commercial Law, Freddie-Nicole Brace provides the answers.