The term ‘Commercial Law’ encompasses a wide body of laws that govern commercial transactions, business issues and business deals.
These include the law of:
- Business contracts
- Bankruptcy
- Insolvency
- Patents
- Trade marks
- Designs
- Companies
- Partnership
- Export and import of merchandise
- Insurance
- Banking
- Agency
A number of other laws also govern business transactions. For instance business law, company law and contract law.
In the United Kingdom, our Commercial Law regulates the selling and buying of goods and services, when doing business within the UK. The Sale of Goods Act 1979 is the primary statute [written law] applied to the sale of goods. When we’re looking at the terms, acceptance and rejection in relation to the selling and buying of goods and services there’s also:
- Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977
- Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999
- Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000
The kind of legal agreements you may need assistance from a commercial lawyer with regard to business transactions (and these are just a few examples) are:
- Joint-venture
- Agency
- Franchise
- Collaboration
- Consultancy
- Licensing
- Research
- Framework
- Terms and conditions
- Website terms of use and supply
- Website privacy policies
- Non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
- Heads of agreement
- Bank guarantees
The truth is Commercial Law can be rather complex and includes all aspects of business, including advertising and marketing.
What next?
If you’re uncertain about any aspect of Commercial Law, or you simply need further guidance, it’s well worth having a chat with a qualified solicitor. But don’t simply choose the first, or the cheapest you can find. Likewise, don’t assume the one with the biggest fee will offer the best advice.
Talk to someone you can trust; a good place to start is by asking friends, colleagues and family for personal recommendations. There are a number of excellent solicitors who specialise in Commercial Law, who can give you specific information, peace of mind and some sound advice.
DISCLAIMER: This article should not be regarded as constituting legal advice in relation to particular circumstances. This article is merely a general comment on the relevant topic.