Commercial contract dispute solicitors

Most commercial contract disputes come down to what the agreement actually says and what each side was entitled to expect. That sounds simple, but trading relationships are often run on a mix of signed contracts, standard terms, purchase orders and years of custom and practice.

Working out which terms govern the deal can be the first real question, especially where both sides have their own standard terms. Good records of orders, communications and performance make any dispute much easier to handle.

The contracts that govern your relationships with suppliers, customers, distributors and agents keep your business running. When one breaks down, the impact can be immediate, from disrupted supply to lost revenue and a relationship that is suddenly adversarial.

The questions are familiar ones. Has there been a breach? What does the contract allow each side to do about it? Can the relationship be salvaged, or should it be brought to a clean end? Some relationships also carry extra legal protections: commercial agents, for example, may have rights to compensation on termination under the Commercial Agents Regulations, which can significantly change the picture.

We get to grips with the agreement and the commercial reality behind it, then advise on the route most likely to protect the relationship where it is worth saving, or to exit cleanly where it is not.

The commercial relationship often matters as much as the strict legal position, so settlement is frequently the smart route. The aim is to protect your commercial position and resolve the dispute with as little damage as possible.