Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Joint venture definition

What does Joint venture mean? In legal practice, a joint venture is a collaborative arrangement in which two or more parties pool assets, finance, IP or know‑how to carry on a specific project or an ongoing business, sharing control, risks, profits and losses (including equity and revenue where an entity is formed). It is a descriptive term rather than one defined by statute across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, though used in competition, tax and accounting contexts. Structures commonly include: (i) an incorporated joint venture (usually a private company limited by shares) with rights documented in a shareholders’ agreement and...

Cross-border joint ventures: tax planning, funding structures, asset contributions, profit extraction, loss utilisation, withholding and transfer pricing, foreign exchange controls, employee considerations and exit taxation

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Practice notes

With appreciation to other contributors from Squire Patton Boggs offices across its global network.

Cross-border JVs

There is no single, universal approach to structuring cross-border Joint ventures (JVs) (ie where one or more JV participants are based outside the UK and intend to establish a JV outside the UK). The provisions of any contract must ultimately set out the parties’ commercial arrangement. However, many of the legal points highlighted in this and the related Practice Notes: Cross-border joint ventures—initial considerations, Cross-border joint ventures—management and control, and Cross-border joint ventures—termination may influence the choice of jurisdiction for the JV vehicle, as well as the commercial bargain itself, and should therefore be assessed as early as possible to give the JV the best chance of success. Even if a joint venture agreement (JVA) uses a familiar governing Law, such as English law, creating a cross-border JV can produce unexpected and unfamiliar issues. Each issue is covered at a relatively high level, but definitive local legal advice should always be taken when entering into, or dealing with, matters in an unfamiliar jurisdiction.

Tax planning from the outset—high level issues

A...

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Matthew Powell

Squire Patton Boggs

Matthew Powell is an experienced M&A lawyer with an extensive background in all forms of corporate advisory work, particularly focusing on the energy sector and cross-border work. His experience includes joint ventures, farm-in arrangements, public and private acquisitions and equity capital raisings. Matthew is a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, and is recommended in the 2013 edition of Legal 500 for his work in oil and gas transactions.Specialises in Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Capital Markets, Corporate Governances, Emerging Markets, Energy...

Jayson Marks

Squire Patton Boggs

Jayson Marks is a Corporate partner, specialising in public and private M&A, equity investments and joint ventures, IPOs, secondary fundraisings and other equity capital markets transactions on AIM and the main market. Jayson has over 20 years of experience advising on a broad range of corporate transactions and across various jurisdictions and industries, including natural resources, financial services, commodities and shipping. ‘Jayson Marks is an excellent lawyer, both technically and commercially, and additionally has great knowledge of our sector. He understands our business, provides excellent, commercial advice, as well as being very responsive and easy to deal with.’ Legal 500 2025 ‘Jayson Marks is extremely knowledgeable, responsive, and commercial. He is easy to work with and knows which areas of a transaction involve risk and focus. Would always recommend him.’ Legal 500 2025...

Emma Perez

Squire Patton Boggs

Emma Perez's practice includes advising on a wide range of taxation issues relating to private mergers and acquisitions, company reorganisations and private equity transactions. In addition, Emma regularly advises on employment tax and employee benefits, and the drafting and implementation of a variety of equity-based employee incentive arrangements. Representative experience: Acting for UK companies and private equity funds on the tax aspects of corporate acquisitions and disposals, as well as the tax efficient structuring of such transactions. Providing pre-sale tax planning for vendors of private companies. Acting for companies on the implementation and operation of employee share incentive schemes. Advising on the tax-efficient restructuring of corporate groups....

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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