Business Law Library & Tracker

Business Sales & Acquisitions

Asset sales, share sales, due diligence, completion and business transfers.

Sources last reviewed 28 July 2026

Main law guides

122

Acts, regulations and codes worth reading first

Topics

60

Plain-English clusters

Published case explainers

143

Selected cases with a business lesson

Tracked updates

11

New, amended & reviewed

Plain-English explainers, not legal advice. Use the linked official source for section-level detail, and get advice for your situation.

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Main laws

Main lawUnited Kingdom

Enterprise Act 2002

UKPGA 2002 c 40

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingCompanies & StartupsDirectors' Duties & GovernanceLiquidation & RestructuringBusiness Sales & AcquisitionsCompetition, Cartels & Market ConductDisputes, Enforcement & Remedies
Main lawUnited Kingdom

National Security and Investment Act 2021

UKPGA 2021 c 25

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Companies & StartupsRegulatory ComplianceBusiness Sales & AcquisitionsRecords, Reporting & Notifications
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Sale of Goods Act 1979

UKPGA 1979 c 54

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Contracts & CommercialConsumer Law & TradingBusiness Sales & AcquisitionsDisputes, Enforcement & RemediesImport, Export, Sanctions & Customs
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006

SI 2006/246

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Employment & WorkplaceContracts & CommercialDismissal, Redundancy & GrievancesBusiness Sales & Acquisitions
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995

UKPGA 1995 c 30

PriorityCurrent legislation7 practical checks · checked 28 July 2026
Business Sales & AcquisitionsCommercial Leases, Rent & OutgoingsDebt Recovery, Guarantees & SecurityDisputes, Enforcement & RemediesFinancial Services, Credit & PaymentsInsurance Policies & ClaimsImport, Export, Sanctions & Customs
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Small Charitable Donations Act 2012

2012 c. 23

PriorityCurrent legislation12 practical checks · checked 28 July 2026
Not-for-Profits & CharitiesRegulatory ComplianceWages, Leave & PayrollBusiness Sales & AcquisitionsFinancial Services, Credit & PaymentsCharities, Clubs & Member Governance

Cases

Court of Appeal of England and Wales[2026] EWCA Civ 14019 Feb 2025

DSG Retail Limited v The Information Commissioner

If your business can identify a person from information in its systems, you should usually treat that information as needing appropriate protection, even where an...

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Privacy & DataBusiness Sales & AcquisitionsData Breaches & CybersecurityDebt Recovery, Guarantees & SecurityDisputes, Enforcement & RemediesStandards, Accreditation & Certification
Court of Appeal of England and Wales[2025] EWCA Civ 86911 July 2025

Phones 4U Limited (in administration) v EE Limited & Ors

The durable lesson is straightforward. A business can lawfully make a tough commercial decision, even one that rivals may also be considering, but it must make that...

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Dismissal, Redundancy & GrievancesLiquidation & RestructuringBusiness Sales & AcquisitionsCompetition, Cartels & Market ConductRecords, Reporting & NotificationsDisputes, Enforcement & Remedies
High Court of Justice[2024] EWHC 1417 (Ch)11 June 2024

Anthony John Wright and Geoffrey Paul Rowley & Ors v Dominic Joseph Andrew Chappell & Ors (Re BHS Group Ltd & Ors (in liquidation))

For ordinary business owners, the practical lesson is simple: once your company is in serious financial trouble, board decisions need to become more disciplined,...

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Dismissal, Redundancy & GrievancesDirectors' Duties & GovernanceLiquidation & RestructuringBusiness Sales & AcquisitionsImport, Export, Sanctions & Customs
UK Supreme Court[2014] UKSC 4516 July 2014

FHR European Ventures LLP v Cedar Capital Partners LLC

An agent cannot keep an undisclosed payment connected with the work it was engaged to perform. Businesses using brokers, introducers and acquisition advisers should...

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Contracts & CommercialCompanies & StartupsRegulatory ComplianceDismissal, Redundancy & GrievancesBusiness Sales & AcquisitionsDisputes, Enforcement & RemediesConstruction Contracts & Payment