Business Personal
Call us today 0330 107 0106
Chat with us

Home Commercial Solutions Agency and distribution agreements

Agency and distribution agreements

When running a business, it can often be useful to forge relationships with others who can help get your product to market or to procedure orders for your goods and services. This can be done in a number of ways, including through the appointment of a commercial agent or via entering a distribution agreement.

At IMD Corporate, our commercial solutions team have a wealth of experience in drafting contracts for each type of arrangement, both here in the UK and abroad.

Chat with us
Call us today 0330 107 0106

When might an agency or distribution arrangement be useful?

There are many circumstances in which an agency or distribution arrangement may be helpful to your business operations and ambitions for growth, including where you want to enter a foreign market and would find it useful to have a representative on the ground or where you need to increase the size and geographic reach of your sales team but do not have the resources to take on additional personnel.

Agency or distribution — what is the difference?

Under an agency arrangement, your appointed representative is engaged to do one thing and that is to secure you contracts. Once the contract has been agreed, the agent steps out of the picture and is left to you to deliver what has been promised.

This is in contrast to a distribution arrangement, under which your representative agrees to buy in what you produce and to then sell it on to their own customers with no further involvement expected from you.

In most cases, an agency arrangement is best suited to businesses who sell high-value, bespoke goods or who provide services that need to be personally delivered and a distribution arrangement is best suited to businesses who sell low-value, commoditized products in which no service element is required.

How can we help

By drawing on our experience of working with a variety of organisations across a diverse range of sectors, including entertainment, IT and construction, our commercial contracts lawyers can help you to:

  • consider the pros and cons of agency and distribution arrangements in order to decide where either are a good fit for your business needs and ambitions;
  • explore alternative options, such as joint ventures, franchising or outsourcing arrangements and how these stack up when you take account of employment law considerations and the TUPE regulations;
  • access whether it is in your interests to agree to any exclusivity rights over a particular geographic area or part of your product offering;
  • carry out legal due dilligence to ensure your proposed business partner is capable and trustworthy; and
  • negotiate terms for any proposed deal and draft the resultant agreement.

We can also help you to review existing arrangements to ensure they remain fit for purpose and assist you with the appointment of further agents or distributors in the event you find one or both of these models work well for you.

Our law experts are here to help you

Marcin Durlak

Marcin Durlak

Managing Partner

For an initial consultation, call our UK International Solicitors on 0330 107 0106 or request a free call back.

Chat with us

Diversity, respect, honesty, a
commitment to excellence and above all in everything we do we care

IMD Corporate – the right lawyers for your business

As a full-service law firm, our commercial lawyers are passionate about reducing the risk of commercial disputes through specialist contracts that are sector and industry-specific and fit for the jurisdictions in which your business operates.

No company, whether a start-up, SME or multi-national, can avoid all business disputes. That is where our dispute resolution solicitors step in to react quickly at the first sign of a claim or jurisdictional dispute. With our legal expertise, combined with a pragmatic commercial focus, we can work with you to find the best solution to your problems

Talk to us today about:

Employment

If your business is based in the UK or EU and employs one or more people then you will need to comply with employment laws designed to ensure staff are treated fairly and that pay and conditions meet minimum statutory requirements. You will also be obliged to provide a safe working environment and to ensure that those you engage have the legal right to work in the country in which they are or will be stationed.

Failure to comply with any relevant rules or regulations could result in you being pursued for employee compensation and may also lead to you being fined and imprisonment for senior personnel. For this reason, it is important that you stay up to date with legal requirements and implement policies and procedures geared towards ensuring your duties are discharged.

Find out more

Dispute Resolution

At IMD, our team of expert commercial litigation solicitors excel in the prevention and resolution of business disputes, combining sharp technical know-how with unparalleled client service and meticulous attention to detail.

Find out more

List of notable commercial cases

  • Advising one of the largest European banks on a number of occasions in respect of validity and construction of guarantees and on demand bonds, together with validity of agreements varying the guarantees and the underlying multi-million facility agreements.
  • Advising on the establishment of a large entertainment company. Preparing various corporate and investment documents and leading extensive negotiations of shareholder agreement and ancillary documents. In addition, we provided various legal support to the company on on-going basis.
  • Acting for a major automotive manufacturer in a joint venture with a UK company to commence production and distribution on the product in the UK and the Commonwealth. Negotiating and preparing all the relevant joint venture documents.
  • Acting for the construction company in a large scale building project of circa £25m. Involved in negotiating an extensive JCT D&B contract as between our client (main contractor) and the local authority who were their client in this project.
  • Drafting Terms & Conditions and Warranty terms for a leading UK manufacturer of steel doors,  windows and partitions.
  • Representing a sub-contractor in construction contract negotiations involving a large number of parties for construction of a museum in Kuwait.
  • Advising on and drafting SaaS (Software as a Service) contract for  the Client entering the UK market
  • Advising on both pro-supplier and pro-customer Software Development Agreements for various Clients
  • Advised a technology start up to set up and validate a messaging  app, a direct competitor to Facebook’s Messenger
  • Advising the client on and negotiating terms of corporate and personal guarantees tied to a cross-border commercial contract.
  • Assisting a charity in preparation of various terms and conditions and contractual agreements.
  • Advising the client on the terms of a joint venture agreement in an innovative waste management project.
  • Advised the first Polish-owned bridging company in the UK
  • Advising the client on the validity of execution of a number of international corporate finance agreements

Do you have a legal issue that
needs to be resolved in the UK?

Chat with us

Why us?

Why Choose IMD Corporate?

01.

Why Choose IMD Corporate?

Our team is adept at handling intricate cases involving international elements, such as division of assets across borders, child abduction and child relocation. This makes us particularly suited for individuals with international family or business ties.

02.

Award-Winning Legal Excellence

We are proud recipients of multiple national awards, a testament to our commitment to legal excellence. Our awards reflect our high standards and dedication to achieving the best outcomes for our clients. You can check the list of our awards by clicking here.

03.

Outstanding Client Testimonials

Our clients’ satisfaction speaks volumes about our services. We invite you to read the glowing testimonials on ReviewSolicitors, which showcase our ability to exceed client expectations.

04.

Proven Track Record in Complex Cases

Our firm has a proven track record of successfully handling complex legal cases, particularly those involving cross-border elements. Our expertise is especially beneficial for individuals seeking sophisticated legal solutions.

05.

Deep Cultural Understanding

At IMD Corporate, we recognise the significance of cultural nuances in legal matters. Our team, with its diverse cultural backgrounds, is uniquely positioned to understand and empathetically address the specific needs of clients from various international communities.

06.

Personalised and Compassionate Approach

We believe in a client-centric approach, offering personalised and compassionate legal advice. Understanding that each case is unique, we tailor our strategies to suit individual client needs.

07.

Comprehensive Legal Services

Beyond family law, we offer a wide range of legal services, making us a one-stop solution for all your legal needs, whether personal or business-related.

08.

Commitment to Client Communication

We believe in empowering our clients with knowledge. Our team ensures that you are well informed about the legal processes and your options, enabling you to make educated decisions.

09.

Comprehensive Legal Services

Our extensive network of international legal and professional contacts allows us to efficiently handle cases that span multiple jurisdictions, providing a seamless legal experience for our clients.

10.

High Ethical Standards

As a reputable law firm, we adhere to the highest ethical standards, ensuring transparency, integrity, and professionalism in all our dealings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Talk to us today

If you need legal advice, contact us today to request a free callback. Please note that all meetings are by appointment only in all our offices.

0330 107 0107

info@imd.co.uk

Talk to our AI agent now

Click the buton to start the conversation and receive an immediate response

Chat with us

    What time would you prefer us to contact you?

    Talk to our AI agent now

    Click the buton to start the conversation and receive an immediate response

    Chat with us
    This site is registered on wpml.org as a development site. Switch to a production site key to remove this banner.