Share Plans

Employee incentives are a powerful tool for attracting, retaining, and motivating key talent.

Dransfield Partners advises companies, founders, and investors on the design, implementation, and operation of employee share schemes that align commercial objectives with tax efficiency and regulatory compliance.

We provide guidance across the full spectrum of UK and international share-based incentives, ensuring that plans are implemented correctly and integrate seamlessly with your corporate structure and long-term strategy.

Strategic Design and Implementation

Our services include:

Option Pans (including EMI)

Growth Share and Flowering Share structures

Option plans for senior executives or overseas employees

Phantom shares and bonus-share arrangements

Founder vesting plans and reverse vesting mechanisms

We ensure plans are tax-efficient, fully compliant, and tailored to your governance and capital structure.

Documentation & Regulatory Compliance

We prepare all required legal documentation and ensure your scheme meets statutory and regulatory requirements, including:

Plan rules and option agreements

Valuation support and HMRC submissions (including EMI notifications)

Articles of association amendments and shareholder resolutions

Leaver provisions, good/bad leaver mechanics, and vesting schedules

Interaction with existing shareholders’ agreements and investment documents

Our clear, practical documentation ensures employees understand the value of their awards and your business remains protected.

Share Plans in Corporate Transactions

Employee incentives are often central to investment rounds, exits, or buyouts.

We advise on:

Option treatment on exit (cash-out, rollover, exercise mechanics)

Due diligence on existing incentive plans

Amendments required for M&A or restructuring

Employee communication and settlement arrangements

Investor-driven scheme revisions and post-closing incentive structures

Our clear, practical documentation ensures employees understand the value of their awards and your business remains protected.

Ongoing Support & Administration

Share plans require ongoing care and maintenance.

We assist with:

Annual reporting requirements

Option exercises and share issuances

Leaver and termination scenarios

Valuation updates

Employee communications and education

Recent Experience

Advising Digital Delivered, a provider of digital, data and security services, on its equity incentive plan.

Advising an Icelandic Law Firm on the issue of shares in its UK Branch to incentivise its consultant partners.

Require specialized sector advice?

Reach out to our dedicated industry teams for tailored commercial solutions.