Turning Complex Website Sales into Seamless Deals

When selling part of your business, what seems like a simple deal can quickly become a minefield of legal definitions, contract clauses, and negotiation stand-offs. At Adam Benedict, we make sure that no matter how intricate the details get, you walk away with the right deal — on your terms.

Recently, our corporate team, led by Senior Associate Marco Difato, delivered a major win for a client selling two specialist recruitment websites in the construction and tech sectors.

At first glance, it was straightforward: sell the two sites and the associated assets. But once negotiations began, a central question emerged — and it changed the entire structure of the deal:

Were these websites “businesses” in their own right, or assets of the one company?

The answer mattered. A “business” sale can trigger employee transfers (TUPE), ongoing liabilities, and far more contractual baggage than most sellers realise. An “asset” sale, on the other hand, lets you hand-pick exactly what transfers — and what stays with you.

The buyer argued these sites were separate businesses because a dedicated employee worked on them. We made the case — and proved — that the employee’s role spanned the wider company, and the sites were simply part of the broader operation. The result?

✅ No staff transfers.
✅ No unexpected liabilities.

We also tackled another sticking point: existing advertiser contracts. Instead of transferring them (and all the legal strings attached), we negotiated an elegant solution — our client would introduce advertisers to the buyer post-completion, and both parties could choose whether to work together going forward.

The outcome:

• The Buyer got exactly the assets they wanted.

• Our client kept control over staff, customers, and their wider business plans.

• The deal completed smoothly, paving the way for our client’s planned company wind-up and future ventures.

The takeaway for business owners:

When selling websites, divisions, or any part of your operation, the classification of what you’re selling — whether it is an asset or business — can make or break the deal. Get it wrong, and you could face unexpected liabilities, TUPE headaches, or lost revenue streams.

At Adam Benedict, we know how to navigate these grey areas, cut through the complexity, and protect your position from day one.

Thinking of selling part of your business? Speak to our corporate team today — before you sign anything.