Business Law Library & Tracker

Contracts & Commercial

Commercial contracts, limitation clauses, contract interpretation and remedies.

Sources last reviewed 13 June 2026

Main law guides

91

Acts, regulations and codes worth reading first

Topics

16

Plain-English clusters

Published case explainers

21

Selected cases with a business lesson

Tracked updates

7

New, amended & reviewed

Plain-English explainers, not legal advice. Use the linked official source for section-level detail, and get advice for your situation.

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Main laws

Main lawUnited Kingdom

Arbitration Act 1996

UKPGA 1996 c 23

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Contracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Bribery Act 2010

UKPGA 2010 c 23

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Regulatory ComplianceContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008

SI 2008/1276

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993

SI 1993/3053

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Contracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Competition Act 1998

UKPGA 1998 c 41

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Consumer Rights Act 2015

UKPGA 2015 c 15

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999

UKPGA 1999 c 31

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Contracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

UKPGA 1988 c 48

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
IP & Brand ProtectionContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020

UKPGA 2020 c 12

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Insolvency & RestructuringContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002

SI 2002/2013

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Digital & EcommerceContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996

UKPGA 1996 c 53

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Construction & TradesContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Intellectual Property Act 2014

UKPGA 2014 c 18

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
IP & Brand ProtectionContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Landlord and Tenant Act 1954

UKPGA 1954 c 56

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Commercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998

UKPGA 1998 c 20

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Contracts & CommercialFinance, Payments & Security
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Limitation Act 1980

UKPGA 1980 c 58

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Contracts & CommercialFinance, Payments & Security
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000

UKPGA 2000 c 12

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Companies & StartupsContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Limited Partnerships Act 1907

UKPGA Edw 7 c 24

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Companies & StartupsContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Misrepresentation Act 1967

UKPGA 1967 c 7

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Contracts & CommercialConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Modern Slavery Act 2015

UKPGA 2015 c 30

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Regulatory ComplianceContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Partnership Act 1890

UKPGA Vict 53-54 c 39

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Companies & StartupsContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Patents Act 1977

UKPGA 1977 c 37

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
IP & Brand ProtectionContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Procurement Act 2023

UKPGA 2023 c 54

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Contracts & CommercialRegulatory Compliance
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Public Contracts Regulations 2015

SI 2015/102

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Contracts & CommercialRegulatory Compliance
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Sale of Goods Act 1979

UKPGA 1979 c 54

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Contracts & CommercialConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982

UKPGA 1982 c 29

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Contracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Trade Secrets (Enforcement, etc.) Regulations 2018

SI 2018/597

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
IP & Brand ProtectionContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006

SI 2006/246

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Employment & WorkplaceContracts & Commercial
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977

UKPGA 1977 c 50

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Contracts & Commercial

Tracker

  1. New13 June 2026

    Procurement Act added for suppliers selling to public bodies

    Suppliers should keep bid evidence, conflicts, exclusion declarations, insurance certificates and performance records organised before a tender deadline forces a scramble.

    Contracts & CommercialRegulatory Compliance

Cases

UK Supreme Court[2024] UKSC 239 July 2024

Abbey Healthcare (Mill Hill) Ltd v Augusta 2008 LLP

Collateral warranties should not be treated as interchangeable boilerplate. Developers, tenants, funders and contractors should check whether the document gives the...

Read explainer
Construction & TradesContracts & Commercial
UK Supreme Court[2024] UKSC 2812 Sept 2024

Tesco Stores Ltd v USDAW

Employers should be careful with promises described as permanent, guaranteed or protected. Cost pressure later may not justify undoing a carefully negotiated...

Read explainer
Employment & WorkplaceContracts & Commercial
UK Supreme Court[2023] UKSC 218 Jan 2023

Sara & Hossein Asset Holdings Ltd v Blacks Outdoor Retail Ltd

Commercial lease service charge clauses can control cash flow first and arguments later. Tenants should understand certification, payment timing and dispute rights...

Read explainer
Commercial Leases & PropertyContracts & Commercial
UK Supreme Court[2021] UKSC 2916 July 2021

Triple Point Technology Inc v PTT Public Company Ltd

Implementation contracts need careful delay, acceptance, termination and damages drafting. If the contract does not explain what happens when a project is late and...

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Contracts & CommercialDigital & Ecommerce
UK Supreme Court[2018] UKSC 2913 June 2018

Pimlico Plumbers Ltd v Smith

Contractor status needs to match the real working model. If a business requires personal service, controls presentation, allocates work closely and integrates the...

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Employment & WorkplaceContracts & Commercial
UK Supreme Court[2018] UKSC 2416 May 2018

Rock Advertising Ltd v MWB Business Exchange Centres Ltd

If a contract says variations must be in writing, do not rely on a casual call or email chain to change the deal. Sales, account management and finance teams should...

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Contracts & CommercialCommercial Leases & Property
UK Supreme Court[2015] UKSC 674 Nov 2015

Cavendish Square Holding BV v Makdessi; ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis

Liquidated damages, default charges, service credits and termination consequences need a legitimate commercial rationale. They should not look like punishment...

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Contracts & CommercialConsumer Law & Trading
UK Supreme Court[2011] UKSC 4127 July 2011

Autoclenz Ltd v Belcher

If your contractor agreement says one thing but daily operations say another, the operational reality can win. Substitution clauses, freedom language and...

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Employment & WorkplaceContracts & Commercial