We offer a swift, focused and economical commercial contract drafting service, including the preparation of supply, outsourcing, agency, distribution and franchising agreements. With the expertise to advise on cross-border contracts, intellectual property and information law, our commercial services are equal to the challenge of modern commercial contracting.

Terms and Conditions
If your business does not have standard terms and conditions of supply, you are likely to be exposed to serious risks. For example, who owns the intellectual property in any copyright works (such as software) which you create for your clients? How much compensation might you have to pay to a customer if your products are defective?

See our free Fact Sheet on Terms and Conditions of Business for more details.

Supply Agreements
A supply agreement documents a long-term commitment to purchase goods or services. The contract works as an ‘umbrella’ under which individual orders can be placed.  Supply agreements which have not been professionally drafted are often incomplete and can lead to uncertainty when a dispute arises. It is crucial to ensure that the rights and liabilities of the parties are properly identified and described in the agreement.

Distribution Agreements
The owner of a product may not have the funds to ‘break into’ a foreign territory or the infrastructure to make sales to end users. In either case, a distributor may be appointed to act as an intermediary between the manufacturer and the ultimate user. A distributor buys goods and sells them on to end users or sub-distributors. Very careful consideration needs to be given, amongst other things, to the duration of the agreement, whether it is to be exclusive (i.e. can other sales intermediaries be appointed and may the manufacturer make direct sales?), and whether any minimum sales obligations should be imposed on the distributor. 

Agency Agreements
Agency represents an alternative to distribution as a means of developing new markets. The distinction is that a distributor buys and sells goods, whereas an agent facilitates the sale of goods by the principal; the person who appointed the agent therefore contracts directly with each customer. If an agent is being appointed for a territory within the European Union, careful consideration needs to be given to the implications of Council Directive 86/653, implemented in the UK by The Commercial Agents (Counsel Directive) Regulations 1993. In particular, compensation may be payable to the agent on termination of the contract.

Franchise Agreements
Franchising is a common arrangement in a variety of sectors. If a business has a well known brand and highly developed systems, procedures and know how, new entrants into the market will be keen to enjoy the benefits in return for a fee. Whilst allowing a franchisee access to its brand, IP and confidential information, a franchisor needs to ensure that these key rights are protected against abuse by the franchisee.

One-off agreements
Commercial relationships are multifarious. Our legal team are skilled at structuring and drafting commercial contracts from the ground up to suit your particular circumstances. Give us a call to discuss your requirements and to find out more about our efficient, fixed fee services.

Please contact Everyman Solicitors James Hunt or Chris Gibson on 0845 868 0960 for more information or visit our Oxfordshire offices.

We offer a swift, focused and economical commercial contract drafting service, including the preparation of supply, outsourcing, agency, distribution and franchising agreements. With the expertise to advise on cross-border contracts, intellectual property and information law, our commercial services are equal to the challenge of modern commercial contracting.

Terms and Conditions
If your business does not have standard terms and conditions of supply, you are likely to be exposed to serious risks. For example, who owns the intellectual property in any copyright works (such as software) which you create for your clients? How much compensation might you have to pay to a customer if your products are defective?

See our free Fact Sheet on Terms and Conditions of Business for more details.

Supply Agreements
A supply agreement documents a long-term commitment to purchase goods or services. The contract works as an ‘umbrella’ under which individual orders can be placed.  Supply agreements which have not been professionally drafted are often incomplete and can lead to uncertainty when a dispute arises. It is crucial to ensure that the rights and liabilities of the parties are properly identified and described in the agreement.

Distribution Agreements
The owner of a product may not have the funds to ‘break into’ a foreign territory or the infrastructure to make sales to end users. In either case, a distributor may be appointed to act as an intermediary between the manufacturer and the ultimate user. A distributor buys goods and sells them on to end users or sub-distributors. Very careful consideration needs to be given, amongst other things, to the duration of the agreement, whether it is to be exclusive (i.e. can other sales intermediaries be appointed and may the manufacturer make direct sales?), and whether any minimum sales obligations should be imposed on the distributor. 

Agency Agreements
Agency represents an alternative to distribution as a means of developing new markets. The distinction is that a distributor buys and sells goods, whereas an agent facilitates the sale of goods by the principal; the person who appointed the agent therefore contracts directly with each customer. If an agent is being appointed for a territory within the European Union, careful consideration needs to be given to the implications of Council Directive 86/653, implemented in the UK by The Commercial Agents (Counsel Directive) Regulations 1993. In particular, compensation may be payable to the agent on termination of the contract.

Franchise Agreements
Franchising is a common arrangement in a variety of sectors. If a business has a well known brand and highly developed systems, procedures and know how, new entrants into the market will be keen to enjoy the benefits in return for a fee. Whilst allowing a franchisee access to its brand, IP and confidential information, a franchisor needs to ensure that these key rights are protected against abuse by the franchisee.

One-off agreements
Commercial relationships are multifarious. Our legal team are skilled at structuring and drafting commercial contracts from the ground up to suit your particular circumstances. Give us a call to discuss your requirements and to find out more about our efficient, fixed fee services.

Please contact Everyman Solicitors James Hunt or Chris Gibson on 0845 868 0960 for more information or visit our Oxfordshire offices.