Jurit advises E-vate on employee ownership transition

Jurit law firm has successfully advised E-vate, a scientific and commercial consultancy, on its transition to employee ownership via the establishment of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Founded in 2010 and located in Knutsford, Cheshire, E-vate specializes in providing evidence-based strategic consultancy to pharmaceutical and life sciences businesses, focusing on areas such as clinical development, translational medicine, market access, and strategic communications.

The legal team at Jurit LLP played a significant role in the process, assisting E-vate in establishing the trust and completing the transfer of ownership. This shift towards employee ownership serves as a long-term succession solution for the company while maintaining its culture, independence, and strategic direction, and it fosters a framework for ongoing growth and employee engagement.

Jeremy Glover, Partner at Jurit and an expert in Employee Ownership Trusts, provided crucial legal guidance to E-vate during the transition. He stated, “Employee Ownership Trusts continue to be an increasingly attractive succession option for founder-led and specialist businesses that want to preserve their independence and reward the people who have contributed to their success.” He further remarked, “E-vate has built an excellent reputation in the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors, and this transition creates a strong platform for the next phase of the company’s development while ensuring employees remain central to its future.”

Chris Harrison, director of E-vate, expressed enthusiasm about the change, saying, “This is a significant and exciting moment for E-vate. Our success has always come from the quality of our people, the strength of our scientific thinking and the trusted relationships we build with clients. We believe employee ownership gives E-vate a strong platform for the future and reinforces what clients value most about working with us. Jeremy and the team at Jurit provided clear, commercial and pragmatic legal advice throughout the process and were instrumental in helping us complete the transaction successfully.”

E-vate’s existing shareholders will retain a minority stake and continue to be actively involved in the business, ensuring stability during this transition. Employee Ownership Trusts allow shareholders to transfer a controlling interest in a business into a trust for the long-term benefit of its employees.

Jurit has a wealth of experience advising companies on EOT structures, governance, and succession planning. This transaction adds to a growing portfolio of EOT mandates for the firm, which recently included assistance to Marine Product (Scotland) Limited in their transition to employee ownership. Initium Corporate Finance, a specialist sell-side corporate finance advisory firm, also supported E-vate on the transactional aspects of the deal.