Contracts Articles

Expert articles and practical legal guides on contracts for uk businesses.

What Does “Unfit For Purpose” Mean Under UK Law?

What Does “Unfit For Purpose” Mean Under UK Law?

“Unfit for purpose” is a phrase that pops up quickly when a customer says your product didn’t do what it was supposed to do. It can also arise in B2B deals when...

23 December 2025
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Buying a Restaurant in the UK: Legal Checklist

Buying a Restaurant in the UK: Legal Checklist

Buying a restaurant can be a faster, lower-risk way to enter hospitality than starting from scratch. You’re potentially acquiring a brand, a location that already works, trained staff and established suppliers. But...

22 December 2025
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Voluntary Redundancy: Benefits For UK Employers

Voluntary Redundancy: Benefits For UK Employers

Restructuring is never easy, but sometimes it’s necessary to protect your business’ future. If you’re looking at ways to reduce headcount, voluntary redundancy can be a smart, low‑friction option that delivers cost...

22 December 2025
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Probation Notice Periods in the UK: What Employers Should Know

Probation Notice Periods in the UK: What Employers Should Know

Hiring someone new is exciting - but the first few months are critical. A clear probation notice period helps you move quickly if it isn’t the right fit, while staying compliant with...

22 December 2025
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Seller Financing a Business in the UK: How To Structure and Protect

Seller Financing a Business in the UK: How To Structure and Protect

Seller financing (also called “vendor finance” or “owner financing”) can be a practical way to get a business sale across the line when a buyer can’t or won’t pay 100% of the...

22 December 2025
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Bank Covenants: What They Are And How They Work

Bank Covenants: What They Are And How They Work

If you’re taking out a business loan or looking at growth finance, you’ll quickly come across “bank covenants”. They can look intimidating at first glance, but once you know how they work,...

22 December 2025
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How Business Mergers and Acquisitions Work in the UK

How Business Mergers and Acquisitions Work in the UK

Thinking about buying another business, selling your own, or joining forces with a competitor? Business mergers and acquisitions (M&A) aren’t just for big corporates. SMEs use M&A to grow faster, enter new...

22 December 2025
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Key Elements Of Misrepresentation Under UK Law

Key Elements Of Misrepresentation Under UK Law

When you’re negotiating a new supplier deal, signing a software licence, or pitching your services to a client, statements are made on both sides. If a statement turns out to be false...

22 December 2025
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Commercial Lease Agreements in the UK: What To Know

Commercial Lease Agreements in the UK: What To Know

Signing a commercial lease is one of the biggest commitments your small business will make. Get it right and you lock in the right premises on fair terms that support growth. Get...

22 December 2025
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Sale Of Goods Act UK: Buying And Selling Goods Explained

Sale Of Goods Act UK: Buying And Selling Goods Explained

If you sell, buy or manufacture goods in the UK, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (often shortened to the “Goods Act”) still matters. While consumer sales are largely covered by the...

22 December 2025
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What Does a Business Partner Do?

What Does a Business Partner Do?

Thinking about bringing a business partner on board? Great move - the right partner can accelerate growth, share the load and open doors you couldn’t reach alone. But before you shake hands,...

22 December 2025
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How To Plan, Structure And Complete A Small Business Merger In The UK

How To Plan, Structure And Complete A Small Business Merger In The UK

Thinking about a merger business to accelerate growth, expand your customer base or streamline costs? For many UK small businesses, merging with a competitor, supplier or complementary firm can be a faster...

22 December 2025
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Legal Leverage Strategies for UK Small Businesses

Legal Leverage Strategies for UK Small Businesses

“Leverage” gets thrown around a lot in startup circles, but what does it actually look like for a small business in the UK? In simple terms, leverage is about getting more output...

22 December 2025
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Trademark Licence Agreements In The UK: What Businesses Should Know

Trademark Licence Agreements In The UK: What Businesses Should Know

Let’s say you’ve built a strong brand and other businesses now want to use your name or logo on their products or services. Great news - that brand equity is valuable. The...

22 December 2025
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Anti-Competition Law in the UK Explained

Anti-Competition Law in the UK Explained

Running a growing business is exciting - but there are a few competition law traps that can catch SMEs off guard. Even everyday sales tactics or contract clauses can cross the line...

22 December 2025
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Indirect And Consequential Loss: What To Put In UK Contracts

Indirect And Consequential Loss: What To Put In UK Contracts

If you sell to customers or work with suppliers, sooner or later you’ll negotiate a “limitation of liability” clause. That’s the bit that decides who pays for what if something goes wrong....

22 December 2025
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Joint Venture Agreement in the UK: Key Clauses

Joint Venture Agreement in the UK: Key Clauses

Teaming up with another business can unlock bigger contracts, new markets and shared expertise. That’s exactly what a joint venture is designed to do - you combine resources for a defined project...

21 December 2025
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Mutual Mistake in UK Contract Law Explained

Mutual Mistake in UK Contract Law Explained

Even with careful negotiations, it’s easy for two businesses to end up “talking past” each other. You think you’ve agreed one thing, the other side thinks it’s something else, and the written...

21 December 2025
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Lead Investor: What To Know Before Raising A Round

Lead Investor: What To Know Before Raising A Round

Securing a lead investor can be a tipping point for your fundraising round. The right lead doesn’t just bring capital - they set the terms, attract other investors, and often become a...

21 December 2025
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Understanding Signing Authority: How to Legally Sign Documents for Someone Else with Permission in the UK

Understanding Signing Authority: How to Legally Sign Documents for Someone Else with Permission in the UK

In today’s fast-paced business world, there are plenty of scenarios where you might need to sign documents on behalf of someone else - perhaps an absent co-founder, a business partner away on...

21 December 2025
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Risks Of Starting A New Business In The UK And How To Reduce Them

Risks Of Starting A New Business In The UK And How To Reduce Them

Starting a new venture is exciting - but every startup comes with risk. The trick isn’t to avoid risk entirely (that’s impossible), it’s to understand where the risks lie and put sensible...

21 December 2025
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Free Partnership Agreement Template in the UK: What to Use and Avoid

Free Partnership Agreement Template in the UK: What to Use and Avoid

Thinking about going into business with a partner? A simple “handshake deal” or a quick download of a free partnership agreement template might feel like the fastest way to get started. But...

21 December 2025
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Commercial Negotiation: Legal Essentials

Commercial Negotiation: Legal Essentials

Commercial negotiation is part of everyday business life - from onboarding a new supplier to closing a big customer contract or partnering with a distributor. The stakes can be high: the wording...

21 December 2025
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What Is an Asset Sale?

What Is an Asset Sale?

If you’re exploring how to sell your business (or buy part of someone else’s), you’ll quickly run into two common routes: selling shares or selling assets. An “asset sale” is often the...

21 December 2025
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