Practical preparation · Separate consultancy support
Define the transaction before the task list
Explain what you intend to buy and why: a property, business assets or shares are different starting points. Record the buyer, proposed decision-makers, current stage and any deadline already discussed.
- State the objective and what is still only an assumption.
- List available information and its source or date.
- Identify who can authorise work and incur costs.
Allocate the professional work
A solicitor, accountant, valuer and finance adviser may each have distinct responsibilities. Coordination can organise their inputs but does not replace legal, tax, valuation or investment advice.
- Ask advisers to confirm scope and information needs.
- Track open questions, owners and decision dates.
- Keep sensitive documents in an agreed, access-controlled location.
Agree what Jack will deliver
A practical coordination brief could include meeting notes, an adviser action register and a weekly summary of decisions required. Agree the deliverables, fee and communication arrangements before work begins.
- Separate confirmed facts from proposals and third-party statements.
- Record dependencies that could affect timing or funding.
- Escalate unanswered questions to the authorised decision-maker.
Bring to the first conversation
- Acquisition objective and proposed buyer
- Current documents, advisers and known deadlines
- Funding outline and questions needing specialist advice
- Required output, reporting frequency and decision authority
Start with an outline. Send sensitive documents only through the secure route agreed with Jack.
Your questions, answered
Will Jack conduct legal or financial due diligence?
The consultancy role is agreed coordination and representation. Legal, tax, accounting, technical and valuation work belongs with the appropriately appointed professionals. The engagement should clearly allocate each task.
Link to this answerCan you guarantee an acquisition will complete?
No. Completion depends on negotiations, information, finance, professional advice and the relevant parties. The support is aimed at making actions and decisions clearer, not guaranteeing the outcome.
Link to this answerPrepared for Jack Cousins’s website · 12 October 2026. About Jack · How site content is prepared. The agreed consultancy scope does not replace legal, tax, valuation or investment advice.