Contracts form the backbone of all successful business relationships. However, in our experience, we have found that many companies deem their contractual arrangements to be a low priority against commercial imperatives. The prime reasons for this tend to be a lack of legal resource or simply needing to “get the deal done”. There is nothing wrong with this approach until issues arise between business partners, which is when the strength of the contract or a company’s standard terms will determine the outcome. In this sense, there is an absolute correlation between the financial value of a company and the strength of its contracts.
We can work with you across an extensive range of commercial and contractual matters that are likely to be core to the success of your business. Examples of areas that you may need assistance with are as follows:
- Commercial Agreements;
- Confidentiality Agreements;
- Content Licensing Agreements;
- Data Processing Agreements;
- Director’s Service Contracts;
- Distribution Agreements;
- Franchise Agreements;
- Intellectual Property Agreements;
- Partnership Agreements;
- Privacy Policies;
- Services Agreements;
- Software Development Agreements;
- Sponsorship Agreements;
- Standard Terms and Conditions of Business;
- Supply of Goods Agreements; and
- Website Terms and Conditions.
There are a number of ways we can help you. For example, we can draft your standard terms of business which gives you an opportunity to implement terms favourable to you in a format that does not encourage heavy negotiation. This will provide you with certainty that you will be trading on broadly consistent terms that comply with your commercial aims. Of course, not all business partners will be prepared to sign up to your standard terms so we can guide you through any negotiation process to ensure that the commercial aims are properly reflected.
For start-ups, we can provide you with a full range of documents, including a partnership/shareholders agreement, standard terms of business and various template agreements that you may need on an ongoing basis such as NDAs. Additionally, we work with business formation agents, who can incorporate a new company for you within 48 hours.
In addition to your contractual requirements, we can also provide you with advisory services on aspects of company compliance, including corporate governance, policies, notice of meetings, shareholders resolutions, data protection and statutory requirements such as the Bribery Act.
Having worked in-house for many years, we believe that we are better placed than most law firms to understand the inner workings and commercial priorities of your organisation.