Inspired Legal Solutions for Business
Business Structure and Organisation
- Setting up a Partnership
- Setting up a Company
- Protecting your investment in a Company
- Keeping control of decision making
- Planning for the future
- Planning a joint venture
Brand Protection/Value Enhancement
- Safeguarding your brand/ logo
- Protecting your business information
- Logo/name being used by others
- Using another person’s logo/name
Dealing with your Customers and Suppliers
- Getting the right terms of business
- Customer privacy/data protection
- Debt recovery and enforcing payment
- Preparation, negotiation and review of agreements including:-
- Intellectual Property and Licensing
- Supply and Distribution
- Agency and Franchising
Employee Incentive Plans
- Share options
- Share incentives
- Other long term incentive plans
Raising Finance
- Loans etc including debentures and other security
- Personal guarantees
- Debt factoring and invoice discounting
- Share Capital
- Ordinary and preference shares
- Share subscription and Investment Agreements
Buying/Selling a Business
- Overview for first timers
- Asset Sale/Purchase
- Share Sale/ Purchase
- Management Buy out
- Sale/Purchase of a business in Administration
Compliance with regulations
- Companies House/ Filing Requirements
- Consumer Protection
Online Retail
In the fast paced world of e-commerce keeping up to date with change is critical.
This includes the vast body of legislation that has developed around the online marketplace such as:
Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008
Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002
Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000And when things go wrong the footprint that disgruntled customers leave on internet forums can have a damaging effect on future trade.
We assist businesses by preparing easily understood legal terms which help to ensure their online contracts are valid and enforceable.
We assist businesses to comply with the ever increasing amounts of consumer protection legislation.
We take action against websites that publish comments about online businesses where those comments are untrue and can have a damaging effect on your business.
Residential Construction
see commercial property - Site acquisition, joint venture agreements, plot sales etc
Information Technology
IT Professionals- within this industry it is common for IT professionals to work on a consultancy basis. Often they work through service companies and need to comply with the rules of IR35. We advise on all aspects of the consultancy arrangements including ownership of intellectual property, confidentiality and the relationship between the individual consultant, the service company and the “employer”.
Suppliers-principal issues for software suppliers are also ownership of intellectual property and protection against breach of confidence. Software development contracts need particularly careful consideration as regards these issues and arrangements for payment at various stages of the development.
Where third party software is integrated with or incorporated into your own software care has to be taken to comply with the relevant licensing terms.
Users- In the last 20 years information technology has become a critical day to day part of modern business. Purchasing the right systems and ensuring their constant availability is critical. Contracts need to accommodate the needs of the user and the user needs to be made aware of any pitfalls contained in the small print of suppliers.
Critical issues relating to procurement include:
- Is the software bespoke or off the shelf?
- If bespoke- who owns the intellectual property rights, what is the change control process, time extensions for development. Has functionality been adequately described
- Limitations of liability
- Has any ‘open source’ software been used in the creation of new software or systems
- Hardware compatibility
- Ongoing maintenance and service levels
- Escrow arrangements under which the customer can access the source code and related materials if the supplier defaults.
Electronics
Intellectual property is a key component of success, often the value in a product line is dependant on it being ‘first to market’. Once invented it is surprisingly easy for a product to be copied and replicated. We advise on intellectual property rights issues and licensing arrangements including employment related issues and issues surrounding the disclosure of commercially sensitive material.
We also offer advice on joint venture agreements to companies and individuals together with a full complement of business related legal advice.
Medical/Residential Care
Professional Partnerships
We act for medical professionals in the preparation of partnership agreements (including spouse partnerships), the sale of entire practices, property dealings, succession planning and joining and exit from partnership.
Owner Managed Care Homes
We act for care home owners in purchase or sale of businesses, and in relation to regulations requirements of and dealings with the Care Quality Commission.
Cleartalk
We understand that our clients need certainty over pricing and aim to be transparent with our pricing structure at all times.
For those clients who require absolute certainty and predictability on fees we offer a range of fixed price retainers which enables your business to have access to our qualified legal advisors who will advise on all types of business legal issues including company, employment and evaluation of the merits of claim for a potential litigation dispute.
Contact our business team on 01202 525 333 or email business@ellisjones.co.uk
