Insights

We're firmly in the swing of the festive season, which means bustling sales, exciting new agreements, and the unpredictable British weather (among other things!). While the Christmas spirit encourages optimism, as a business owner, you need to be prepared for the unexpected. This is where a force majeure clause comes in. It sounds fancy and complicated, but it's a vital concept that protects your business when things go seriously wrong through no fault of your own. So, let's

The UK's Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC Act) became law on 24 May 2024, although many of its provisions are yet to be brought into force. The DMCC Act brings with it the most significant changes to subscription contracts in a generation. The new rules protect consumers by eliminating 'subscription traps' and create an opportunity for traders to drive transparency, trust, and customer experience. The core subscription provisions were expected to come into

In my 10+ years as a solicitor, I have seen many disputes arise over informal contract changes. Whether it’s an 'agreed' price increase over coffee or an extra task promised in a WhatsApp message, if you don't vary your contract correctly, you risk the change being unenforceable (or, worse, breaching the original deal). Many small businesses believe that an email confirmation is enough to formally vary an agreement. However, most UK contracts contain a variation clause which

As a growing business owner, you’re juggling everything from sales to sourcing. Data protection compliance may sound like something only tech giants need to worry about. However, the truth is that any business holding personal data (whether in the form of customer email addresses or employee records) must comply with privacy laws. The good news? Compliance doesn't have to be a nightmare. Taking a few simple steps   can significantly reduce your risk of major penalties. Here a

If you're a business that innovates, hires freelancers, uses agencies, or develops custom software, your contracts can stop you sitting on an Intellectual Property (IP) time bomb. It's tempting to focus only on the scope and the fee. But without clear IP clauses, you risk losing ownership of your core asset, spending a fortune in court, or facing a claim for infringement simply because you used an outside resource. Your IP is your competitive advantage - protect it accordingl

In my 10+ years as a solicitor in England & Wales, I’ve seen SMEs sign ‘standard’ contracts that leave them legally and financially responsible for data breaches they didn't even cause. When it comes to UK GDPR, silence in your contract is a massive liability. We often talk about data protection when things go wrong: the breach, the fine, the angry letter from the ICO. But the biggest risks in data protection often start long before a cyber-attack. The biggest risks often sta