Contracts Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on contracts for uk businesses.
Who Owns Copyright In a Photograph?
If you run a small business, good photos can be the difference between blending in and standing out. Whether you’re paying for a product shoot, building a new website, or commissioning a...
9 April 2026
Employee Leaving in the UK: Employer Checklist for Notice, Pay and Covenants
An employee leaving your business can feel like a disruption (especially in a small team), but it’s also a moment where getting the legal basics right can save you serious time, cost...
8 April 2026
How To Redeem Preference Shares In the UK
If you’ve raised money using preference shares, you’ve probably done it for a good reason: to bring in funding without giving away day-to-day control, while still offering investors a clear “deal” on...
8 April 2026
How To Protect Your Brand In The UK: Key Legal Steps For SMEs And Startups
When you’re building a small business or startup, your brand isn’t just a logo or a name on a website. It’s your reputation, your customer trust, and often the thing that makes...
8 April 2026
Employing Freelancers In The UK: Legal Essentials For Employers
Engaging freelancers can be a smart way to grow your small business or startup without committing to permanent headcount too early. You can bring in specialist skills (design, development, marketing, finance, operations)...
8 April 2026
Master Franchisee: Responsibilities, Rights And Legal Considerations In The UK
Expanding a proven business model across a bigger territory can be a powerful growth move - but it’s also where the legal detail really starts to matter. If you’re looking at franchising...
8 April 2026
Extending Redundancy Notice Periods in the UK: Employer Guide
If you’re running a small business, redundancy is one of those situations you hope you’ll never need to deal with - but if trading conditions change, you may not have much choice....
8 April 2026
Who Can Witness A Signature On A Deed In The UK? Legal Requirements
If you run a small business, you’ll eventually sign something that needs to be done “as a deed” (not just as a standard contract). This often comes up with property documents, guarantees,...
8 April 2026
How To Recruit Staff In the UK: A Legal Checklist
Hiring your first (or next) team member is a big milestone. It’s also one of those moments where “doing it properly” matters - because the way you recruit can create legal risk...
8 April 2026
Share Subdivision in the UK: Uses and Legal Steps
If you run a limited company, you’ll eventually bump into questions about your share structure. Maybe you’re bringing on a co-founder, planning for investment, or simply trying to make your cap table...
8 April 2026
Starting And Running An Online Franchise Business: UK Legal Considerations
Running a franchise online business can be a brilliant way to build a scalable venture with an established brand, proven systems, and (often) built-in customer demand. But the legal side can feel...
8 April 2026
What Happens When a Shareholder Dies in a UK Company?
If you run a UK limited company with co-founders, friends, or family members as shareholders, it’s worth asking an uncomfortable (but very practical) question: what happens if one of you dies? A...
8 April 2026Doctrine Of Mistake In UK Contract Law: When Contracts Are Void
Most small business owners don’t set out to sign “bad” contracts. Usually, you’re moving fast - onboarding a new supplier, closing a deal with a customer, agreeing terms with a landlord, or...
7 April 2026Shareholder Rights in UK Private Limited Companies: What You Can and Can’t Do
If you run a UK private limited company, it’s easy to assume “shareholders own the company, so they can decide everything”. In practice, shareholder rights in the UK are real (and powerful),...
7 April 2026
Types Of Business Partners In The UK: Liability, Profits And Decision-Making
Bringing in a business partner can be one of the fastest ways to grow a small business. You can split the workload, pool cash, share contacts, and move quicker than you could...
7 April 2026
Are Text Messages Legally Binding in the UK? When Texts Form Contracts
You’re negotiating with a customer, a supplier, or a freelancer, and the deal is moving fast. Someone sends: “Sounds good. We’ll do it for £3,500. Start Monday?” You reply: “Agreed. Please go...
7 April 2026Trade Secrets: UK Examples And How To Protect Yours
If you run a small business, some of your most valuable “assets” won’t show up on your balance sheet. They’re the things you’ve learned the hard way: how you price, how you...
7 April 2026Managing Management Staff: UK Legal Obligations And Best Practices
Bringing in (or promoting) management staff is a big milestone for any small business. Done well, it can take pressure off you, improve consistency, and help you scale. But there’s a catch:...
7 April 2026What Is a Joint Venture in Business? UK Joint Venture Guide
If you’ve found a potential collaborator who has the skills, assets, or market access you don’t - a joint venture can be a smart way to grow faster without taking on everything...
7 April 2026
KPI Bonus Schemes in UK Employment Contracts: Structuring Incentives
If you’re running a small business, a KPI bonus can feel like the perfect win-win: your team has a clear target, and you only pay extra when the business performs. But bonus...
7 April 2026
Contract-Free Agreements: What Businesses Should Know Before Going “No Contract”
It’s tempting to go contract-free when you’re running a small business. Maybe you’re moving quickly, the job seems straightforward, you’ve worked with the customer before, or it just feels awkward to “bring...
7 April 2026Joint Venture Contracts: Key Terms, Risks And Drafting Tips
If you’ve found a business partner who has the skills, contacts, technology, or capital you’re missing, a joint venture can be a smart way to grow faster (without giving up full control...
7 April 2026Copyright Template: Protect Your Business Content Legally In the UK
If you run a small business, chances are you’re creating valuable content every week without even realising it. Your website copy, product descriptions, brochures, proposal decks, training manuals, social posts, photos, videos,...
6 April 2026Small Business Exit Strategy Legal Checklist for UK Founders and SMEs
Most small business owners don’t start a company thinking about how they’ll leave it. But having a clear small business exit strategy is one of the smartest things you can do as...
6 April 2026
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