Client services

Joint ventures

Whether the ultimate objective is to leverage products, services, technology or customers, undertaking a joint venture or some other form of strategic alliance has become an important strategic option for many businesses or organisations.

A joint venture or some other form of strategic alliance represents a move away from outright ownership, and it may take one of a number of different contractual and legal forms. Common forms of joint venture include:

full-scale worldwide mergers of existing businesses
joint ventures as a way of entry into emerging markets
new ventures combining complementary skills and technologies
joint ventures in conjunction with the outsourcing of systems and services
infrastructure project joint ventures
arrangements between shareholders in relation to the management of a business.

Whatever the sector – whether it be in IT and telecoms, computers, media, pharmaceuticals or energy – the joint venture or strategic alliance will require careful structuring and planning. The issues are complex and may go right to the heart of the venturers’ business, affecting products, services, market share, technology and other confidential information, customers and staff. First class commercial and legal advice is required to recognise and deal with all of the issues.

How Hill Dickinson can work with you

Hill Dickinson’s commercial group has extensive experience of advising on strategic alliances and joint venture arrangements, both in the UK and cross-border. These joint ventures range from collaboration and co-operation arrangements and shareholders’ agreements to (working with our corporate group) mergers of existing businesses and companies.

We work closely with all the parties involved to understand their commercial priorities, enabling us to select the structures and exit strategies which best meet those objectives and comply with regulatory and competition frameworks.

Our experience of structuring joint venture arrangements, linked to our strong sector expertise – in particular, in energy and renewables, health, internet technology, logistics, media and entertainment, music, public sector, publishing, retail and travel and leisure – allows us to support our clients’ development in these areas.