Commercial Law: Your Trusted Partner for Business Transactions and Disputes
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At mlplaw, we understand that every business is unique, with its own set of challenges and objectives.
That’s why we take a personalised approach to every case, working closely with you to understand your specific needs and goals.
Whether you’re a start-up looking to establish solid legal foundations or a multinational corporation seeking strategic advice, we’ll tailor our services to meet your requirements effectively and efficiently.
Our expertise in the following areas
Technology, IT, Software and Digital
At mlplaw we recognise the critical role that commercial contracts and technology play in today’s business landscape.
Our expert solicitors are here to provide you with comprehensive legal support tailored to your commercial and technology needs.
We can help with:
- E-commerce legal advice;
- Software As A Services (SaaS);
- Cloud and Subscription services (PaaS, IaaS);
- Software Development;
- Software Licensing;
- Outsourcing;
- Research and Development, Joint Ventures and Collaboration;
- Regulatory
Business Affairs and Succession Planning
We specialise in helping clients build their businesses and achieve successful exits – maximising value and making any transaction as smooth as possible. Critical to the success of any transition – family businesses to next and future generations, and business owner exits – is having clear and up to date plans and arrangements in place for your business. Our business and succession planning experts provide support across all aspects of your personal and business affairs, including:
- Corporate governance
- Succession planning and management
- Business continuity planning
- Shareholder and partnership agreements
- Exit strategies and business sales
- Family business transition planning, family charters and legacy building
- Tax-efficient succession and estate planning
Why is succession planning important for businesses?
Succession planning is crucial for businesses to ensure a smooth transition of leadership and ownership, minimize disruptions during changes, and preserve the long-term viability and legacy of the business.
Brand and Business Protection
In this ever-growing and ever-opening marketplace, it is increasingly important to safeguard your brand and business assets.
At mlplaw we offer a comprehensive suite of legal strategies including:
- Trademark registration and enforcement
- Copyright protection and commercialisation
- Brand management and protection
- Intellectual property audits and strategy
- Anti-counterfeiting measures
- Trade secret protection and non-compete agreements
- Defending any allegations of infringements
How can businesses protect their brand and intellectual property assets?
Businesses can protect their brand and intellectual property assets through strategies such as trademark registration, copyright protection, patent filings, trade secret protection, confidentiality agreements, and enforcement of intellectual property rights against infringers.
Outsourcing, Joint Venture and consultancy agreements
If you need to collaborate with other businesses or individuals to carry out your business, we offer services to help optimise these strategic partnerships, helping you to collaborate whilst protecting your interest.
These include:
- Drafting and negotiating outsourcing agreements
- Joint venture agreements and strategic alliances
- Consultancy and advisory agreements
- Service level agreements (SLAs) and performance metrics
- Risk assessment and management
What factors should businesses consider when entering into joint venture or consultancy agreements?
Businesses should consider factors such as the objectives and scope of the collaboration, the allocation of responsibilities and resources, the distribution of profits and losses, intellectual property ownership and licensing, confidentiality obligations, and exit strategies.
Confidentiality Agreements (NDAs)
At some stage you will need or receive a confidentiality agreement (or NDA) to sign. We can help with producing or reviewing an agreement that fits your needs. Our experienced commercial solicitors can help with:
- Producing an agreement that suits your needs, including the suitability of provisions such as non-compete or non-solicitation (non-poaching) of customers, or employees;
- Protecting highly valuable information;
- Sharing information for limited purposes;
- Protecting discussion around forming business relationships including R&D, collaboration and Joint Venture agreements; and
- Breach of agreements and dispute resolution.
Why are confidentiality agreements (NDAs) important for businesses?
Confidentiality agreements are used by businesses to protect sensitive information, trade secrets, and proprietary data from unauthorised disclosure or use by third parties. This helps them to safeguard their competitive advantage, business strategies and reputation.
Data protection
Our specialist data protection solicitors protect our clients across a wide range of data protection issues in the UK and around the world. Our practical, commercial advice covers many areas, including:
- Data Protection and GDPR compliance;
- Appropriate policies – stand alone or alongside commercial agreements and business relationships;
- ICO queries or dealing with a data breach or data leak; and
- Dispute resolution.
Website terms and privacy policies
It is a legal requirement to have your website terms of use, cookie and privacy policies available and agreed by visitors to your website. There is an ever increasing need to ensure your terms and policies stay up to date. This is especially important when it comes to privacy and your policies surrounding use of visitor and customer data.
Ensuring your online presence complies with legal standards, our Commercial team provides expert guidance on:
- Drafting and updating website terms of use
- Amending terms to have more client-focussed ‘friendly’ wording
- Creating comprehensive cookie and privacy policies
- Compliance with GDPR and other data privacy laws
- Handling user data requests and rights
What are the key elements of an effective website terms of use agreement?
An effective website terms of use agreement should include provisions regarding your client/customer’s rights and responsibilities, your intellectual property rights, clear limits to parties’ liability, your privacy policy (or a link to it), and mechanisms to resolve any disputes that might arise. It should be written in plain English and serve to protect all parties, giving peace of mind when entering into the agreement.
Commercial Contracts and Trade Agreements
Facilitating smooth and secure business transactions, we our commercial law specialists cover:
- Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts
- International trade agreements and cross-border transactions
- Sales and purchase agreements
- Agency and distribution agreements
- Joint venture and partnership agreements
- Compliance with trade regulations and sanctions
What should businesses consider when entering into commercial contracts and trade agreements?
To protect their interests and ensure compliance, businesses should carefully consider key terms such as pricing, payment terms, delivery obligations, warranties, intellectual property rights, mechanisms to resolve disputes, addressing exclusivity or territorial restrictions, and clarity around termination of the contract.
Supply, Agency and Distribution Agreements
If you operate a business that involves using third parties to carry out certain elements of your business, it’s crucial to ensure that your supply chain operates seamlessly and effectively.
Our Commercial team provides expertise in:
- Drafting and negotiating supply agreements
- Agency agreements and representative contracts
- Distribution and franchise agreements
- Logistics and transportation contracts
- Risk management and liability clauses
- Dispute resolution and contract enforcement
Franchising
If you operate a franchise business or wish to franchise out all or part of your business, our Commercial team provides services to support the growth and success of your franchise network such as:
- Franchise agreement drafting and review
- Franchise disclosure documents
- Franchisee onboarding and training
- Intellectual property protection for franchises
- Compliance with franchise regulations
- Dispute resolution and franchise termination
Competition Law & International Law
Competition Law can affect every business and a wide range of business relationships. Our expert competition law solicitors advise on the full range of issues relating to private organisations. We provide practical commercial advice on all aspects of UK, EU and international competition law through our trusted worldwide network of law firms, including:
- Issues around distribution, franchising, or licensing;
- Anti-competitive agreements;
- Assessing impacts of mergers or acquisitions (including Market Share tests);
- Merger control;
- Abuse of a dominant position; and
- Dispute Resolution.
Why choose us
1. Expertise and Experience
Our Partner-led teams have decades of experience in assisting all types of businesses and business owners in different transactions and offer a first-class experience.
We are also a Legal 500 recommended team.
2. Our Approach
Providing comprehensive business legal services to all shapes and sizes of businesses in a dynamic and interpersonal way, our commitment to you is reliability, flexibility, honesty and transparency.
3. Collaboration
Taking time to understand you and your business and working in tandem with you and in collaboration with other experienced teams within the business (ie. Employment, Commercial, Property, Disputes) to achieve results in an effective manner.
Testimonials
“Stephen and everyone at mlp have looked after myself, my family and my business now for well over a decade and we could not imagine dealing with anyone else for our legal advice. He has helped us grow our company from a small £2m turnover business to over £33m including countless property deals, Employment contracts, HR issues, all our commercial dealings and the acquisition of 17 stores and for all this we will be forever grateful. Plus, with us both being City fans, we have had a great 10 years of football to talk about before and after our business meetings. Tracy and I would just like to say thank you for all the help, advice and most importantly friendship.”
Simon Vardy, Sim Trava
“Our business relationship with Stephen goes back over nearly two decades which is testament to both his wide-ranging legal expertise and also his easy manner and working style. Stephen has provided constant support with our business and personal affairs over this time and we view him as both a trusted advisor and a friend. We have always found mlp to be approachable, flexible and efficient and continue to work with them on both a corporate and personal level.”
John
“We always receive timely advice and it is given in plain and understandable terms.”
Claire Gardner, MD Osborne Delta (Lightning Conductors) Ltd
“Very efficient and responsive in engaging clients, keeping them up to date on the progress of matters, and responding to queries.”
Legal 500
“I have worked with MLP law now both on a personal and a business capacity since mid 2018. Regardless of the service that Howorth or I have required the support, advice and attention to detail has always been first class. There is always a clear focus on the needs of the client and ensuring that the desired outcome is achieved in a friendly and professional manner. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend MLP law.”
Jim Liptrot, Howorth Air Tech
“Stephen is great at simplifying situations and explaining legal processes in basic terms so that you are able to understand and make the right decisions for your business. He is responsive and supportive as well as extremely knowledgeable. We have used Stephen on two occasions and were delighted with his expertise and service given. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending him to anyone needing commercial, legal support for their business.”
LD, Review Solicitors
“Stephen and his team of experts at MLP have been advising us since 2014 on areas ranging from commercial transactions and the legal due diligence around them to employment law, commercial disputes, and property. Always prompt to respond, I’ve found the help and advice I’ve received over the years is accurate, with the balance of risks clearly explained, but always accompanied with recommendations that are in a commercial context. Added to this, the personal and cheerful touch that is always present in their service makes them a delight to work with. I’d highly recommend them!”
MG, Review Solicitors