Expertise
Practice Areas
Sterling & Vance advises businesses and private clients across six core areas of law. Whatever the matter, the approach is the same: partner-led attention, plain-English advice and fees agreed before work begins.
Practice Area 01
Corporate & Commercial
From incorporation through to sale, every stage of a company's life raises legal questions with real commercial consequences. We advise founders, directors and shareholders on structuring their businesses, documenting the relationships between owners, and negotiating the contracts on which day-to-day trading depends — always with an eye on where the business is heading, not just where it stands today.
Whether you are preparing a shareholder agreement, buying or selling a company, or putting supply and distribution arrangements on a proper footing, we aim to deliver documents that are clear, workable and proportionate to the deal. Our advice is practical rather than academic: we tell you what the law means for your decision, and we keep the paperwork moving so that transactions complete on time.
Practice Area 02
Commercial Property
Property transactions reward careful preparation. We act for investors, landlords, tenants and developers on the acquisition, disposal and letting of commercial premises, handling the due diligence, negotiation and completion formalities so that our clients can commit to a site with confidence. We take the time to understand how the property fits your wider plans before a single document is drafted.
For landlords, we prepare leases that protect the value of the asset; for tenants, we negotiate terms that leave room for the business to grow — and, where necessary, to leave. We also support development projects and property finance arrangements, working alongside your other advisers to keep every strand of the transaction aligned and on schedule.
Practice Area 03
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Disputes are a distraction from the things you would rather be doing. Our first task is always to give you a candid assessment of your position — the strengths, the weaknesses and the realistic range of outcomes — so that every step that follows is a deliberate commercial choice rather than a reaction. Often, a well-judged letter or a structured negotiation resolves matters before proceedings are ever issued.
Where a firmer course is needed, we pursue it with discipline: through mediation or arbitration where those routes serve your interests, and through the courts where they do not. Throughout, we keep costs under review and in proportion to what is at stake, and we keep you informed at every stage, so there are no surprises — in strategy or in fees.
Practice Area 04
Employment Law
The employment relationship is governed by a dense and constantly shifting body of law, and the cost of getting it wrong falls on employer and employee alike. We act for businesses seeking well-drafted contracts, sound policies and confident handling of disciplinary and grievance matters, and for senior employees and executives who need clear advice on their rights at the moments that matter most.
When a working relationship ends — by settlement agreement, restructuring or dismissal — we help our clients manage the process fairly, lawfully and with minimum disruption. If a dispute cannot be resolved by agreement, we advise on unfair dismissal and discrimination claims and provide representation before the employment tribunal, always weighing the merits against the cost and the distraction of proceedings.
Practice Area 05
Wills, Trusts & Probate
Putting your affairs in order is one of the most considerate things you can do for the people who matter to you. We help individuals and families prepare wills that say precisely what they mean, plan sensibly for inheritance tax, and put lasting powers of attorney in place so that trusted people can act if the need ever arises. Every conversation is handled with care, patience and complete discretion.
Where a trust is the right vehicle — to provide for children, protect assets or support a family member — we advise on its creation and ongoing administration. And when someone dies, we guide executors and families through the grant of probate and the administration of the estate, lifting the practical and legal burden at a difficult time and keeping everyone informed as matters progress.
Practice Area 06
Immigration Law
Immigration decisions shape careers, businesses and family life, and the rules that govern them change frequently. We advise employers on obtaining and maintaining sponsor licences and on recruiting international talent through the Skilled Worker and business visa routes, helping them meet their compliance duties without losing sight of the people behind each application.
For individuals and families, we prepare and manage applications for family and partner visas, indefinite leave to remain and British citizenship — explaining the requirements clearly, assembling the evidence carefully and presenting each case as strongly as the facts allow. Where an application has been refused, we advise honestly on the prospects of challenge and provide representation in immigration appeals.
Get in Touch
Not sure which area applies?
Tell us about your situation and we will point you to the right expertise. Contact the firm to arrange an initial consultation — we aim to respond to all enquiries within one working day.