Agency Law
AGENCY LAW ADVICE WEST LONDON AND AGENCY AGREEMENTS
West London Agency Law Solicitors
Agency relationships serve a vital function in the economy. Without them the commercial landscape as we know it would look very different. Naturally, there are lots of benefits of agency relationships. If you want to expand your business internationally, having an agent represent you abroad will save you the expense and risk of properly establishing yourself. Agents can also help expand your domestic business organically and cheaply; unlike employees, you do not have to pay wages and can pay commission based on performance and targets.
However, agency law is very complicated. The distinction between different types of agency and agent/ employee relationships can be very subtle.
For example, shop assistants usually act as both employee and agent. They are an agent in the sense they are in a position to dispose of the principal’s goods (the principal also being the employer) and therefore change his position under the law by making contracts with third parties (customers).
What are the risks of not understanding agency law?
If you do not properly draft an agency agreement, you could find that your agent is in fact your employee, with the result that he/she is entitled to a guaranteed minimum wage and both of you are subject to extra tax liabilities that would not exist if the relationship was an agency one. Other possible risks you may be exposed to include the agent having the power to change your legal position beyond what you intended. If the agent is deemed to have “apparent authority” (that is authority to do something on the behalf of you from the viewpoint of third parties), he might sell goods and services you did not necessarily intend to sell, and you will be legally bound to deliver them to the buyer.
Get what you intended
If you want to make sure that you get what you want out of an agency relationship, you should consult an expert agency law solicitor. Our West London agency law solicitors understand the complexity of the law and will guide you every step of the way to make sure you understand where you stand and help you get what you want. They strive to provide a value for money service which offsets the risks and costs of not properly understanding how agency law affects you. Being based in West London, they fully understand the nature of the local business landscape, which makes the service more relevant and convenient for you.
What our agency solicitors can do for you
As our solicitors have accumulated years of experience, they are in a great position to provide you with a full-range of services related to all areas of agency law. In drafting an agency agreement, for example, they will:
- Make sure there are clear restrictions on the agent’s authority to do things on your behalf, helping to avert some of the risks discussed above.
- Determine commission levels
- Define exclusivity
- Define the agent’s territory
- Make provisions for termination of the agreement
- Define what will constitute a breach of the agreement
- Clarify the position with regards to expenses
To find out how our agency solicitors in West London can help, contact us today for to book your appointment.