Home About us Our services Our team Careers Blog News & events Get in touch Covid-19 Get in touch 01202 499255 Advice for business Home Advice for business Business contracts Business Contracts Our team of bright experts has the experience to offer the proactive advice you need when negotiating, drafting or reviewing your business' contracts. The team's expertise is recommended in the 2021 and 2022 Legal 500, the leading independent guide to law firms. From agreements between the members of a partnership or company to consumer contracts and service agreements, contracts are essential to define individuals’ and corporate bodies’ professional relationships and to avoid and resolve conflict. At Frettens Solicitors, we expertly handle both business-to-business and business-to-consumer issues on behalf of clients across the UK, not just in Christchurch, Ringwood and the surrounding areas of Dorset and Hampshire. With our vast range of experience and legal expertise, we are able to spot potential problems early, negotiate effectively and help manage risk in your business contracts and documents. Our commercial sensitivity and business acumen means we will quickly get to grips with your strategy and objectives, helping you achieve the best possible outcome swiftly and cost-effectively. We offer free initial appointments to new clients. So, get in touch with our corporate solicitors in Christchurch and Ringwood now to set up a meeting or discuss your case. Business Contracts in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Ringwood and the New Forest How our commercial and corporate solicitors can assist you We are proactive in eliminating legal shortcomings in both standard and bespoke contracts and offer practical advice on important contractual issues. We can help you with a full range of business contracts, including: Shareholders agreements Acquisition / disposal agreements Agency agreements Partnership and LLP agreements and dissolution Sponsorship and endorsement agreements Franchising Guarantees Joint venture agreements Distribution agreements Licensing agreements Sale of goods / services Terms and conditions of trading Shareholders agreements Shareholder agreements set out the obligations, rights and responsibilities of a company’s shareholders towards the company and to one another. The positives of creating a shareholder agreement are that the exact terms of the agreement are not made public like other company contracts (such as the articles of association), but breaches of the agreement can be legally enforced between the shareholders. We can advise on whether creating a shareholder agreement is right for you as well as handling the drafting and negotiation with any other interested parties. Acquisition and disposal agreements We can advise on the acquisition and/or disposal of a business both through asset purchase/sale or share purchase/sale. We will provide advice on the procedure and implications of the transaction, for example, conducting due diligence, your tax obligations, and the benefits and drawbacks of warranties and guarantees. Agency agreements If your business uses an intermediary to fulfil the sale of goods or service, a solid agency agreement will set out exactly what is expected on them and the scope of their responsibilities. It will also give you an avenue for redress if any conflicts arise or anything otherwise goes wrong. It is therefore an essential agreement to have in place and we will ensure your document promotes your interests and is completely watertight and unambiguous in effect. Partnership and LLP agreements and dissolution A partnership agreement will set out how you and the other partners in your business interact and your respective duties and rights. It will also set out provisions for removing or replacing partners, dissolving the partnership, and resolving disputes. If you do not put a partnership agreement in place, your business will be governed by the Partnership Act 1890 – in many cases, these provisions will not be suitable. We will provide advice about the terms of your partnership agreement to produce a document which protects and promotes your rights. Sponsorship and endorsement agreements Sponsorship and endorsement can be a successful and cost-effective alternative to traditional advertising. However, ensure you have appropriate contracts in place to regulate the relationship between the sponsor and the other party and set out the exact terms of the arrangement to avoid conflict later on. Franchising A franchising agreement will allow you to run your business under a franchise’s brand. Our advice includes reviewing and negotiating franchising agreements to ensure your rights and commercial interests as a franchisee are adequately protected. Guarantees Personal guarantees are common when new businesses and limited companies are initially formed. They typically require the guarantor to pay for any debts should the business get into financial difficulty. Our advice includes drafting personal guarantees, ensuring you fully understand the terms, and reviewing the validity of agreements where a lender is trying to call in a debt. Joint venture agreements Embarking on a new business project is exciting but daunting and you will need strong advice on the best way to structure your venture. We can provide advice on setting up limited companies, entering into partnerships, and the relevant contracts which you need to underpin your chosen structure. Distribution agreements A distribution agreement is essential to allow you to distribute your products or services within another market or country without establishing a physical business presence in that area. We can help you set up a tailored contract designed to ease your transition smoothly into your new market. Licensing agreements Our expertise includes all kinds of licensing agreement, including intellectual property, local authority licensing, trade marking, business property licensing, franchise licensing, and publishing agreements. Sale of goods and supply of services A written contract setting out the terms of the sale of goods or supply of services is vital for setting out your relationships with your customers, suppliers and other relevant parties. We will advise on the strict consumer laws surrounding your agreements and how best to navigate your responsibilities and avoid disputes. Terms and conditions of trading We can provide expert advice in all matters involving the terms and conditions and formation of contracts. We will carefully identify the unique risks, challenges and opportunities facing your business and tailor our advice accordingly to achieve an agreement which fulfils your needs and achieves your objectives. Why choose Frettens solicitors? At Frettens, we offer full solution commercial law services to individuals and businesses across Dorset, Hampshire and the surrounding areas. We work tirelessly to produce positive, commercially-focused results for all types of business across a wide range of industries and sectors. Our first step will be to get to know you and your commercial goals inside out so we can specifically tailor our advice to suit your individual needs. Our corporate and commercial team, led by Matt Fretten, is highly recommended by the Legal 500 for our work in Dorset and South Wiltshire. Amongst our talented team, Karen Edwards at our Ringwood office is named a “Rising Star”. Frettens Solicitors is independently regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Frequently Asked Questions about Business Contracts What is a personal guarantee? What are heads of terms? What is due diligence? What is a partnership agreement? What is a retention of title clause? What are force majeure clauses? Is COVID-19 a trigger under any ‘force majeure’ clause? What is a shareholders' agreement? Get in touch with our corporate and commercial solicitors today We offer free initial appointments to new clients. So, get in touch with our corporate solicitors in Christchurch and Ringwood now to set up a meeting or discuss your case. Get in touch Name Email Telephone Intellectual Property Related Business Contract Articles Personal guarantees and independent legal advice A guide to heads of terms The importance of having a properly drafted partnership agreement Shareholders agreements - an overview What our clients say about us I have worked with Matthew Fretten and his team for many years. Throughout that time I have received practical, pragmatic, honest, relevant and value for money advice on every occasion. The team is friendly, approachable and obviously close knit. There are no egos, just a commitment to excellent client service and to each other. 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