Advice and news relating to business contracts, terms and conditions and changes in the law
Stop Disputes Before They Start: The Power of a Well-Drafted Construction Contract
Most construction disputes don’t start on site; they start with a badly drafted contract. Often construction contracts are the…
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Writing Clear Terms and Conditions in Simple Steps
Terms and Conditions are one of those business essentials that many people put off until something goes wrong. Yet clear,…
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When an Investor Becomes a Shareholder: Why a Shareholder–Investor Agreement Is Essential
Bringing in an investor can be a pivotal moment for a growing business. Investment can unlock new opportunities, accelerate growth,…
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Renters Rights Act 2025 – A Complete Guide for Landlords and Letting Agents
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 is set to bring major reforms to the private rental sector in England, fundamentally changing…
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5 Tips for Reviewing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are a common part of doing business, whether you’re working with a new client, a partnership, or…
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What is a distribution agreement?
A distribution agreement describes the relationship between, and responsibilities of, a business who supplies or manufactures services or products, and…
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What are the key components of a loan agreement?
Loans are commonplace in both business and between family and friends, and, though often granted with the best intentions, can…
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IR35 Status Checklist – Are You In or Out?
If you’re a contractor, freelancer operating via a limited company (PSC) or business engaging contractors, understanding IR35 and recognising whether…
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How to Ensure Your Start-Up Business Has the Best Legal Start
Starting a business is an exciting step, but it can also feel overwhelming. Suddenly, you are every department of a…
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Privacy Policy Explained: What It Is and Why Your Business Needs One
Introduction In today’s digital world, collecting personal information from customers has become part of doing business. Whether it’s through contact…
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5 Common Misconceptions About Contracts
It may be that you’ve never particularly thought about your business contracts before… or, if you have, that you’ve never…
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7 Things You May Not Realise When Starting a Partnership
Starting a business partnership can feel exciting – you’ve found someone who shares your vision, your workload, and hopefully your…
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Verbal, Written, or Implied? What Really Counts as a Legal Contract
In very simple terms, a contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties. However, in order for…
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Asking AI to Draft a Shareholder Agreement — Here’s Why You Shouldn’t!
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]I asked AI to draft me a shareholder agreement (purely for the purposes of…
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How to Write a Contract for Consumer Clients – and How to Comply with Consumer Law
When you sell goods or services to individual customers rather than other businesses, you’re entering into consumer contracts — and…
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What Is a Joint Venture? Understanding the Difference Between Joint Ventures and Partnerships in UK Business Law
Commonly confused with partnerships, joint ventures are a business arrangement that involve two or more parties. They are not a…
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How to Review a Contract: The Complete Checklist Before You Sign
Whether you’re a business owner, contractor, or consultant, reviewing a contract before signing is essential. Overlooking just one clause can…
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How to write Terms and Conditions
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Late Payment Protection: Strategies for Safeguarding Your Business
What is an invoice? Invoices are your official request for payment. As highlighted in the Late Payments Guide , an…
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What is a Breach of Contract and How Does It Impact Your Business?
Either party can breach the contract whether as the supplier or as the customer. In the UK, contract law governs…
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Guide to Choosing the Right Types of JCT Contracts
As you know, there are different types of JCT contracts and in order to decide the one you need, it…
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A comparison between JCT and NEC contracts for construction projects
The construction world is changing. Projects are getting larger and more risk-filled, and contracts are no longer optional when you…
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Why Are Custom Terms and Conditions Critical for Your Business?
Custom terms and conditions often go overlooked and are typically seen as an afterthought. Though some businesses have no terms…
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What is the purpose of a contract review and why is it essential?
It is likely that, in the course of your business, you have encountered many types of contracts. However, have you…
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Types of Business Contracts that protect you and your Business
Business contracts do more than put terms on paper. They set the rules, protect your interests, and keep operations running…
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Shareholder Agreement vs Partnership Agreement: What's the Difference and Which Does Your Business Need?
What is the difference between partnership agreements and shareholder agreements ? It primarily depends on the structure and type of…
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What are the Essential Elements of Business Contracts?
Business contracts are formal agreements between parties that outline the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of each party. To ensure your…
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What Is the Difference Between a Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions?
In today’s digital landscape, understanding legal documents is more important than ever. A question that often arises is, “ What…
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The Key Types of Distribution Agreements and Their Benefits for Businesses
If you are a business that manufacturers products, you may consider using distributors to broaden your market and widen your…
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What Are Indemnities in a Contract?
When reviewing a contract , understanding what are indemnities in a contract is crucial for protecting your interests. Indemnity clauses…
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What is a Subcontractor Agreement and Why Does it Matter for your Business?
Imagine you’ve landed a big project, but there are some specialised tasks outside your expertise. Rather than turning down the…
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Why Understanding the Importance of Sub-contractor Agreements Is Crucial for Your Business
Understanding the importance of sub-contractor agreements is key to avoiding costly mistakes and keeping projects on track. These written agreements…
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Key Differences Between Contractor and Subcontractor Agreements
Technically, contractor and subcontract agreements can be the same thing and, in quite a lot of cases, can be interchangeable….
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Affected by ISG insolvency?
Construction collapse As you may be aware, construction giant ISG collapsed last week, with 7 of its subsidiaries entering…
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Why Do You Need a Privacy Policy on Your Website: Here's Why It Matters Now
Why do you need a privacy policy on your website ? The message is simple. if you are processing someone’s…
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Understanding Why Privacy Policies Are Important for Online Trust and Legal Protection
[et_pb_section][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text] Data protection law is far from a “new thing” and can be traced back to the early 1970s….
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Role of Terms and Conditions: Why They Are Crucial for Legal Compliance and Customer Trust
Having a robust set of terms and conditions is not just a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have. However, the role of…
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What Are Non-disclosure Agreements?
In today’s fast-paced business world, protecting sensitive information is crucial. Non-disclosure agreements serve as essential legal tools that can help…
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Avoiding Pitfalls: How to Transfer Shares in a Limited Company
Transferring shares in a limited company in the UK is a significant decision that can impact its ownership structure ,…
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Exit Strategies from a Limited Company: Why do I need a Shareholder’s Agreement?
Understanding the Importance of Shareholder Agreements Why Do I Need a Shareholder’s Agreement? When your limited company has two or…
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13 Reasons Why the Absence of a Partnership Agreement Could be Disastrous!
13 Reasons Why the Absence of a Partnership Agreement Could be Disastrous! Ordinary partnerships are governed by The Partnership Act…
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Navigating Growth: Why You Need a Shareholder Agreement for a UK Startup
Embarking on a startup journey is undeniably exhilarating, brimming with the promise of fresh ideas and innovative solutions to longstanding…
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Are your terms and conditions enforceable as a wedding supplier? Do you even have any?
I last wrote about weddings back in 2020 when the world came to a stop and weddings up and down…
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The Anatomy of a Breach of Shareholder Agreement: Common Causes and Prevention Strategies
Misunderstandings are a common occurrence in relationships, be they personal or professional. In personal connections, these misinterpretations can often be…
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Beyond Dividends: Exploring UK Shareholder Rights and Responsibilities
In the UK financial sector, understanding shareholder rights and responsibilities is key to fostering a symbiotic relationship between investors and…
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Why should businesses read terms and conditions?
Statistics on how many people actually read terms and conditions tend to vary and are dependent on the nature of…
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Legal Issues in E-Commerce: Protecting Your Online Business Under UK Law
The world of e-commerce has witnessed rapid growth in recent years, especially with the increasing shift toward online shopping. As…
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What happens if you don’t have a shareholders’ agreement?
It is unlikely that you will enter into business with someone who you don’t like, know or trust, however loyalty…
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The Importance of Clear Terms and Conditions in the Trade Industry
Mitigating Disputes, Ensuring Compliance, and Protecting Consumer Rights When you are contacted by a customer to quote for some work…
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A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write Terms and Conditions
Writing terms and conditions requires careful consideration and attention to detail. While the specific content and structure may vary depending…
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HMRC IR35 Contract Review: What to Expect
With changes to the IR35 rules happening all the time, shifts in responsibility happen, placing the onus on different parties…
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Unlocking the Power of Letters of Intent: A Comprehensive Guide
Letters of Intent (LOIs) are powerful tools used in various business and legal contexts to express a party’s intent to…
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Investments vs. Loans: Understanding the Differences for Limited Companies
I often speak to business owners who misunderstand the difference between an investment and a loan in a limited company….
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Exploring the Power of Joint Ventures: A Path to Business Success
In today’s competitive and rapidly evolving business landscape, companies are increasingly turning to strategic partnerships to drive growth, innovation, and…
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Safeguarding Customer Data: Prioritising Data Security and Privacy in the Digital Age
In the digital age, where data has become an invaluable asset, ensuring the security and privacy of customer data is…
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What is the Difference between Inside and Outside IR35?
For many contractors and freelancers in the UK, the topic of IR35 can be both complex and confusing. And, as…
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A Foolproof Guide to Shareholder Agreements
Shareholder agreements can protect you, your business and your fellow shareholders by establishing how the business will be run and…
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What are the IR35 Changes for the Private Sector?
It has been several years since the new rules on IR35 for the private sector were implemented. However, the new…
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Loss of profit, is it a direct or indirect loss?
Parties to contracts especially in construction, often include clauses in their contracts seeking to exclude claims for indirect and consequential…
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The Importance of Professional IR35 Contract Reviews
IR35 refers to a piece of tax legislation that has been a common source of contention among many contractors, freelancers…
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8 Top Tips on How to Deal with Late Payments
On December 3rd 2022, The Business Secretary Grant Shapps ordered a review aimed at tackling late payments for small businesses,…
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6 Beliefs About Contracts that are Wrong
I don’t need a written contract Having a written contract is often low on the priority list when trading as…
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What you need to consider if your contractor goes bust
So you hired someone to provide services for you as a contractor and they go bust. It’s a tough situation…
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5 Simple Steps to Writing a Non-Disclosure Agreement
If you’re dealing with confidential information or trade secrets, it’s always important to make sure that the people you’re sharing…
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Share Options – Engaging employees with shares
Did you know you don’t have to pay your employees? Well, not quite, I am talking rubbish here. The minimum…
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7 Reasons Why Terms & Conditions Are Important To Your Business
7 Reasons why Terms & Conditions are important to your business By Kerry Gibbs Terms and Conditions are often seen…
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The Oddest Place You Will Find Terms and Conditions
The Oddest Place You Will Find Terms and Conditions By Molly Cronin We all know terms and conditions and…
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5 Top Tips for Start-ups and Growing Businesses
Due to the pandemic and global uncertainties, more people than ever have decided to take the leap into self-employment, to…
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Mistakes to Avoid When Making JCT Construction Contracts
I. Introduction Entering into a JCT construction contract can be a daunting process. Even though the standard form may look…
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Data Protection Post-Brexit: What you need to know & are you still compliant?
It doesn’t seem possible that it was 4 years ago that GDPR a European Regulation, was the buzz word of…
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JCT Building Contracts: 5 Major Pitfalls
JCT contracts are widely used and anyone working on a construction site is likely to have been asked to sign…
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9 Unexpected Uses for Sub-contractor Agreements
In this blog, we thought we’d focus on 9 reasons you may wish to have a sub-contractor agreement drafted –…
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New Year, New You, New Business?
Every year many of us come up with resolutions, personal ones, maybe business, might be a general whole life overhaul….
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Which JCT Contract Training Courses Are Right for Your Team?
As the saying goes, “knowledge is power”. This is why subcontractors are strongly encouraged to sign up for JCT contract…
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Should you sign your client’s contract or use yours?
In business everyone is pushing to get that sale and is willing to promise their client anything if they will…
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Terms and Conditions for Start Up Businesses
When you are considering starting a new business, there are many things you need to consider to ensure you have…
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IR35 Rules Explained – What You Need to Know
As the saying goes, only two things in life are certain: death and taxes. Death is a given as it…
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What is a Partnership Agreement?
There is often some confusion over what a partnership is. A partnership is a formal arrangement by two or more…
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Does Your Website Comply With The Law?
Your website is usually the first point of contact between you and your customers and suppliers. As such, it is…
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Essential Considerations Before Signing a Shareholders’ Agreement
A shareholders’ agreement is essential for the survival of your business. Because disputes and disagreements can arise any time and,…
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How To Protect Minority Shareholder Rights
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Your Christmas Shopping Rights Explained
The average person spends £1,000 more at Christmas than any other time of the year. The majority of that sum…
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What Happens When a Shareholder Leaves a Company?
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Estimates vs Quotes – what's the difference?
Quotations – are they legally binding? We have several clients unsure about quotations and their place in business, whether they…
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Are your terms and conditions compliant with consumer law ?
If you work in a trade and are completing work on people’s homes, then it is fundamental your terms and…
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DPA vs GDPR
As of May 2018 we all have to comply with the GDPR right? Wrong. Kinda…. Because the GDPR is a…
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The Differences between Articles of Association, Shareholders’ Agreements and Investors’ Agreements
If you wish to invest in or perhaps build your own company, there are certain legal documents you need to…
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A Quick Guide to Drafting a Shareholders’ Agreement
Most business owners believe that nothing will go wrong when they first set up a company with a partner(s). In…
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Mistakes Start-Ups Must Avoid When Drafting a Shareholders’ Agreement
When trying to establish a start-up with business partners, one piece of expert advice you will often hear is that…
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Why Do You Need an IR35 Contract Review?
If you are self-employed, a contractor or a freelancer, being found violating IR35 can have severe consequences for your trade…
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What is IR35 and How is it Changing?
IR35, the UK’s anti-tax avoidance legislation, has been the subject of widespread criticism since it was first introduced 20 years…
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IR35 Compliance: What You Need To Know
Before IR35 took effect in April 2000, contractors who declared themselves as self-employed were able to provide personal services through…
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Your rights as a consumer during Covid-19 Pandemic – weddings, other events or services
Over the past few weeks I have been asked a number of questions regarding refunds etc from suppliers as a…
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Main Reasons Why Most Companies Need a Signed Shareholders' Agreement
Having your own business and being your own boss is undoubtedly a dream-come-true for many people. For them, there is…
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What Is a Shareholders' Agreement and Why Is It Important?
Setting up a company with a partner, whether it be a business partner or friends and family, can often be…
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Moving your business online or launching a business online during the coronavirus pandemic.
These uncertain times have forced business owners to start thinking differently, whether that is by changing the way they are…
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IR35 changes delayed due to coronavirus
The Government has delayed controversial changes to the IR35 tax system in response to the coronavirus pandemic. This has given…
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Force Majeure in Construction Contracts
What are JCT and construction contract provisions about Coronavirus? We have had many clients contact us the past couple of…
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Coronavirus COVID-19 and Force Majeure
The COVID-19 Coronavirus is disrupting both public life and business across the globe in various countries, events being called off,…
Read MoreThe Ultimate Guide to Freelancing
What is a Freelancer? Freelancers are self-employed and they offer services to support businesses – usually where they were employed…
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“There are no terms, I didn’t sign anything” – how the ‘secret contract’ can damage your business
Thousands of contracts are entered into every day, many of which one party may not have any idea what the…
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Happy International Data Privacy Day 2020
Our personal data is everywhere, and as business owners you are responsible for processing that data safely and securely. A…
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Buy Now Pay Later – Terms Exposed
The likes of Klarna and Clearpay have become the new way to shop online. Known as point-of-sale loans, major online…
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Why you must have terms and conditions on your eCommerce website
Barnes and Shirley who are a eCommerce marketing agency and consultancy invited us to feature on their website to share…
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What you need to know about IR35
IR35 was first introduced in April 2000 with the aim to address tax avoidance by individuals working in the role…
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"I am owed money but there was no contract in place"
“I am owed money but there was no contract in place” This is a common statement I see and hear…
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The ultimate guide to website terms and conditions
Why does my website need terms and conditions? Every business needs terms and conditions to fully protect them. It clearly…
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Check your contracts before you Thomas Cook it!
Are you a package travel company, or even just offering stays to your clients? With Thomas Cook sadly going under…
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What's the difference between 'off the shelf' templates and bespoke contracts?
The High court found that a clause contained in the standard terms and conditions of an IT supplier was unenforceable…
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IR35 : Off-Payroll Tax
IR35 : Off-Payroll Tax IR35 is tax legislation which has been in force since April 2000 designed to combat tax…
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The Ultimate Guide to Your Shareholders Agreement
Your Shareholders Agreement will help & protect you. In this ultimate guide we share the do’s and don’ts in getting…
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The ultimate guide to legal contracts
Our ultimate guide to Legal Contracts answers businesses frequently asked questions. Make sure your contracts are legal and protect your…
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Important new VAT rules for Construction Services from 1st October 2019
It was announced in 2017 that the government intended to introduce a new set of VAT rules specifically for the…
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IR35 … who wins?
This piece of legislation has been in force since 2000 which was designed to tackle tax avoidance from ‘disguised employment’….
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Your Rights As A Consumer
Whilst predominately we help our clients with commercial contracts and other business law stuff we have also helped and advised…
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GDPR – One Year On!
It has now been almost a year since GDPR became enforceable by law, after attending an event yesterday where I…
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Free Template Privacy Policy
Do you need a privacy policy and what should it include? Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) you…
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Why you shouldn't do business without terms and conditions
Getting your terms and conditions drafted professionally is never a top priority when starting a business. Many may steal from…
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Can I charge interest on late payments?
When your clients do not pay you on time not only does this create cash flow problems, it increases the…
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IR35 – what it currently means to freelancers and the self employed
Many consider leaving permanent employment to become a contractor or a freelancer and do not consider the things that need…
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Terms and Conditions Free Template
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]…… and why these free or low cost documents could end up costing you…
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GDPR Made Simple for Business Owners
The implementation date has been and gone and whilst there was a lot of unnecessary panic and worry. It is…
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Why you should never copy and paste your T&C's like Seaborne Freight
So it isn’t new news that the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling had awarded the no-deal Brexit ferry contract worth £13.8m…
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The Santa Clause – Is it a legally binding contract?
My favourite Christmas film has got to be ‘The Santa Clause’ starring Tim Allen. Tim Allen plays a father called…
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Understanding the “14 day cooling off period” when purchasing goods
As part of my Business Law masters, one of the modules this year has been ‘Consumer Law.’ Whilst this area…
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Do we need a shareholder agreement?
When setting up a business, business owners do not usually think about what could go wrong within that business. At…
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How to ensure you always get paid … and on time.
When in business the ultimate aim is to make money right? You expect to be paid for your labour, product…
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Cancelling Credit Agreements
As consumers we are protected by the law more so than if we were to enter into agreements as a…
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Do you offer 'retreats' or 'overnight' stays to customers as one of your services??
I wrote an article back in July which mentioned the new travel regulations that were coming into force. At the…
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What makes a good B2B contract?
I find it quite interesting that when I asked the question “do you read terms and conditions”, the general answer…
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Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts
Last month I submitted an assignment for my Business Law masters. The question related to unfair terms, exclusion clauses in…
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Where did it go wrong for Carillion?
The current affairs of Carillion has brought doubt into the many minds of those in the construction industry. “Whats going…
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Intention to Create Legal Relations and Consideration
Intention to create legal relations Intention to create legal relations is one of the necessary elements in the formation of…
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Contract Offer and Acceptance
All contracts are made through the process of an offer and acceptance. This process is the first requirement of any…
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The Importance of a Partnership Agreement
Are you in a business partnership? Do you even know what a partnership is? Unsure whether you need a Partnership…
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The Importance of Terms & Conditions
Minimise the problems in your business so you can concentrate on doing what you do best.
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Recruitment contracts and legal support for agencies
Imagine having someone who are affordable, personable and qualified at the end of a phone should any problems occur?
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Ensuring your Terms and Conditions are Legally Effective
Are your Terms and Conditions really working for you?
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What is a Contract?
For this blog, I felt it relevant to go back to the basics. On Tuesday, I went on a commercial…
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Are you ready for the GDPR?
It is important that any business that holds or uses personal data should not ignore the GDPR however there really…
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