What we’re about
Setting up a business is stressful. Buckworths, Manchester’s only law firm focuses solely on startups, organise regular drinks for entrepreneurs to meet each other and get some moral support. The Buckworths team are also on hand to offer advice on legal and business issues, and to make any introductions to investors, service providers and other startups.
Come along and mingle!
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Your Startup, Your Pie: Legal Essentials for UK Food & Beverage FoundersLink visible for attendees
If you're launching or scaling a UK-based Food & Beverage (fast-moving consumer goods) business, this plain-English webinar will guide you through the legal must-knows that could save you time, money, and stress. Learn what to protect, what to document, and how to build a legally solid foundation for growth and exit.
What We'll Cover:
Bake the Pie – Lay Your Legal Foundations
1. Trademarks & Slogans
Protect your brand before you promote it- Register your name, logo, and slogan early
- Search UKIPO and Companies House before investing
- Consider international filings
2. Packaging & Labels
Compliance that sells- Include required details (e.g. allergens, expiry)
- Avoid misleading marketing claims
- Follow sector-specific rules
3. Manufacturing Agreements
Put it in writing, even for small-batch runs- Cover pricing, quality control, delivery, IP ownership
- Add protection clauses for delays or defects
Slice the Pie – Share Ownership, Protect Relationships
4. Founders’ Agreements
Avoid drama later. Agree now.- Decide roles, equity splits, and exit terms
- Use vesting to align commitment
5. Investment
Prepare to pitch and protect- Have your IP, contracts, and cap table investor-ready
- Understand term sheets and shareholder rights
6. Options & Incentivisation
Equity isn’t just for founders- Use EMI schemes for tax-efficient team incentives
- Define vesting and exit terms
Sell the Pie – Sell Smart, Scale Smart
7. B2C Documentation
Protect your online store and your customers- Get terms of sale, returns, privacy policy, cookie banner
- Follow UK consumer law and GDPR
8. Distribution & Wholesale Agreements
Expand beyond DTC without losing control- Set clear terms for exclusivity, territory, payment
- Avoid restrictive clauses or auto-renewals
9. Selling the Business
Built it right? Sell it right.- Be due diligence-ready from day one
- Know the documents: SPA, warranties, disclosure letter
- Understand your exit obligations
Meet the Speaker: Michael Buckworth, the founder of Buckworths and author of Built on Rock, the entrepreneur's legal guide to start-up success. Advising on the risks and pitfalls to avoid when setting up your own business, this book makes the complicated aspects of start-up law simple. Chapter one is now available to download for free, click here to find out how to build your business on rock
