Contracts are essential to underpin the commercial relationships between businesses and consumers, businesses and other businesses and employers and employees.
However, poorly drafted or ill-advised contracts have the potential to cause more problems than no contract at all. Lengthy and eye-wateringly expensive litigation can quickly arise where parties to a contract cannot agree on how to interpret its terms.
It is therefore essential to consult a specialist contracts solicitor to draft and review your contract to ensure the agreement is clear, unambiguous and easy to understand. Our contract law solicitors regularly assist individuals and businesses across all sectors with comprehensive contract drafting and review services.
Utilising years of experience, we can achieve a positive outcome for you efficiently and cost-effectively, tailoring our advice carefully in line with your overall commercial strategy and minimising any potential for future disputes. Where disputes have arisen in relation to a contract, we can also expertly review the documents concerned and provide insightful advice on your contractual rights and obligations, and outline options for resolving the matter as succinctly as possible.
For further information, please contact your local branch in Peterborough, Oundle and Huntingdon.
Our contract solicitors’ expertise
The right contract can make your requirements clear and protect your interests when disputes and problems arise. Our extensive expertise includes:
- Commercial contracts;
- Supplier agreements;
- Shareholder agreements and partnership agreements;
- Employment contracts;
- Share sale and purchase agreements; and
- Asset sale and purchase agreements.
Commercial Contracts and Supplier agreements
We have expertise in drawing up agreements with suppliers. Having the right agreement in place with a supplier can ensure that you get the service you need and that you pass on your own obligations such as Health and Safety requirements to your suppliers.
Shareholder agreements and partnership agreements
Shareholder and partnership agreements define exactly how a business is run, including how its assets will be owned, the financial obligations and entitlements of the members, and how decisions about the business will be made.
There are default rules under company and partnership law. However, as every business is unique it is always recommended to assess whether a shareholder agreement or partnership agreement is the best option in the circumstances.
We can provide practical advice tailored in line with your overall business strategy and goals. We can also draft the terms of your agreement on your behalf and advise in relation to their interpretation and application.
Share sale and purchase agreements
When buying or selling a company or interest in a company, it is necessary to draw up a share sale or purchase agreement outlining the terms of the transaction.
Typical agreements include warranties and restrictive covenants, for example, to prevent members setting up rival businesses or poaching customers and to provide comfort against liabilities. It is essential to obtain legal advice when entering into a share sale or purchase agreement to properly understand the tax and other financial implications of the transaction as well as assistance with undertaking your due diligence.
Asset sale and purchase agreements
One way to wholly or partly acquire or dispose of a business is to enter into an asset sale and purchase agreement. In these situations, the ownership of the business tends not to change as no shares change hands (unless a share sale and purchase agreement is drawn up alongside).
A robust asset sale and purchase asset will include essential terms including the price, the precise assets to be sold, and any other special payment terms. If you are buying company assets, it is your responsibility to carry out due diligence to discover as much information about the business as possible.
We can draft and review asset sale and purchase agreements, including providing advice on the terms of said agreements and assisting throughout due diligence investigations.
Employment contracts
Contracts of employment are crucial for underpinning the entire employer-employee relationship. A well drafted contract will set out the exact terms of the employee’s association with their employer, including pay and commission, details of bonuses and profit sharing, any flexible working arrangements, holiday allowance, termination provisions and restrictive covenants.
We offer comprehensive employment contract drafting and review services to ensure you, as an employer, are complying with employment law or are taking steps in relation to the employee which are consistent with their contract.
Why choose Hunt & Coombs contract solicitors?
Hunt & Coombs is a full solution law firm based in Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. We’re proud to have served our local communities across Peterborough, Oundle and Huntingdon, for many years.
Our approach is to apply specialist levels of legal knowledge to achieve people-driven, practical results. By choosing us as your contract solicitors, you won’t receive a one-size-fits all template, but carefully tailored advice, drafting, and review services designed to suit your individual needs and goals. We’ve been recognised for our excellent customer service and legal practice management with the Law Society Lexcel Accreditation.
Hunt & Coombs is independently regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
