Share Schemes

There are a wide variety of share schemes and share option arrangements which allow employees, directors, non-executives and chairmen to acquire shares in the businesses in which they work. For existing owners of companies, share incentivisation is a great way to retain the loyalty of key individuals because share options can be much more tax efficient than the simple payment of salary, bonus or benefits. To be properly structured such arrangements require a thorough knowledge of tax law, employment law, financial services law, company law, the listing rules and various other sets of rules such as the ABI Guidelines.

Our Tax lawyers have the requisite knowledge and experience to advise you on the most appropriate share incentivisation scheme for you and your business. Whether it is a simple unapproved option, or a tax efficient EMI scheme for selected executives, or the structuring of a CSOP, SAYE or SIP for a corporate group, or if you are trying to incentivise executives with growth in value shares or a JSOP, our Share Scheme specialists will be able to draw on their experience of drafting and implementing all such arrangements. And they will be able to draw on their contacts and liaise with other specialists such as share valuation experts and offshore trust providers if your share scheme or incentive plan requires it.