Alternative Exit

Alternative Exit is a dedicated to educating small business owners about the possibilities, benefits, and challenges of transitioning to an employee ownership model.

There are over 200m SMEs with an owner who will be retiring in the next 10 years, many of which will never find a buyer for their business, forcing them to close their doors.

There is an alternative. This show will explore various the different forms of employee ownership and best practices for successful transitions.

Each episode features interviews with experts in employee ownership, business owners who have made the transition, and consultants who facilitate these changes.

All Episodes

Alternative Exit

Alternative Exit #41 | Redefining Succession: Embracing Employee Ownership with David Owen

October 30, 2025 • Andy

In this episode of Alternative Exit, Andy Farquharson sits down with legal industry veteran David Owen (formerly CEO of Oliver & Co Solicitors) to unpack the real-world exit journeys from law practice, the shift to employee ownership, and why the toughest deals often happen internally. We dive into leadership, succession strategy, emotional and financial components of exiting a professional services business, and how to position yourself well ahead of the sell or transition day.

David shares his path from rising partner to CEO of Oliver & Co, his decision-making as the firm moved to 100% employee ownership, the deal structure (and mindset) behind the transition, and how he navigated the emotional side of stepping away. We explore: How do you know when it’s time to exit? How do you craft an exit that preserves culture? How much is “enough”? And, maybe most importantly, how do you prepare your successor (or successor culture) so the business survives — and thrives — after you depart?

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: Why Podcast Sustainability Matters
03:15 Environmental Impact - Digital Carbon Footprint
08:45 Green Hosting and Production Practices
12:30 Social Sustainability - Diversity and Inclusion Goals
18:20 Making Content Accessible to All
22:40 Economic Sustainability - Revenue Diversification
27:15 Team Wellbeing and Fair Compensation
31:50 Content Strategy for Long-term Impact
36:25 Measurement, Metrics, and Accountability
41:10 Quick Wins You Can Implement Today

Key Takeaways:

Exiting a professional-services business is not just about money — culture, client continuity and legacy matter significantly.
Start planning the exit years before you actually want to depart: mindset, systems, leadership, client relationships.
Converting to an employee ownership model (like Oliver & Co did) can align incentives and preserve continuity for clients and staff.
Value creation happens in the business long before a board says “we’re ready to exit” — leadership matters.
The emotional aspect of “letting go” is often underestimated — even when financials are strong.
After exit, staying involved in a non-executive/trustee role can help with transition and personal identity.

David Owens

David Owens is the former CEO of Oliver & Co Solicitors, a firm based in Chester, UK. Under his leadership, the firm became 100% employee-owned and has consistently championed a high-performance but client-first culture. His expertise spans professional-services leadership, exit strategy, succession planning and governance in owner-led firms.

Oliver & Co Solicitors is a full‐service law firm based in the North-West of England. It provides services in personal and business law, including conveyancing, wills & probate, family law, commercial property and more. The firm emphasises “we are accountable to our clients and to each other” as part of its employee-ownership culture.

Connect with David Owen:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-owen-eot/
Website - https://www.oliverandco.co.uk/

Connect with Andy Farquharson:

LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/andyfarquharson/
Instagram - https://instagram.com/andyfarq
Website - https://abettermonday.me/
Email - andy@bettermonday.me