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Setting up a business involves complying with a range of legal requirements. Find out which ones apply to you and your new enterprise.
What particular regulations do specific types of business (such as a hotel, or a printer, or a taxi firm) need to follow? We explain some of the key legal issues to consider for 200 types of business.
While poor governance can bring serious legal consequences, the law can also protect business owners and managers and help to prevent conflict.
Whether you want to raise finance, join forces with someone else, buy or sell a business, it pays to be aware of the legal implications.
From pay, hours and time off to discipline, grievance and hiring and firing employees, find out about your legal responsibilities as an employer.
Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy.
Commercial disputes can prove time-consuming, stressful and expensive, but having robust legal agreements can help to prevent them from occurring.
Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.
With information and sound advice, living up to your legal responsibilities to safeguard your employees, customers and visitors need not be difficult or costly.
As information technology continues to evolve, legislation must also change. It affects everything from data protection and online selling to internet policies for employees.
Intellectual property (IP) isn't solely relevant to larger businesses or those involved in developing innovative new products: all products have IP.
Knowing how and when you plan to sell or relinquish control of your business can help you to make better decisions and achieve the best possible outcome.
From bereavement, wills, inheritance, separation and divorce to selling a house, personal injury and traffic offences, learn more about your personal legal rights.
Whether you are suing or being sued, any kind of lawsuit can be stressful, expensive and time-consuming. Understanding the best way to deal with a dispute can help reduce the problems and increase your chances of success.
Going to court should always be a last resort: wherever possible, you should try to negotiate a solution. Exchanging information and explaining your position to the other side can help. It can count against you later if you don't take reasonable steps to settle before going to court.
At any stage in the proceedings, you can make an offer to the other party to settle the dispute. By making an offer 'without prejudice' it cannot be used against you later in court. You should always take advice on exactly how to proceed.
If you can't settle a commercial dispute, you have to decide whether it is sensible to go to court. Unless you have a strong case and the evidence to back up your claims, litigation can be very risky. A court case can also be a major distraction from running your business.
Even if you expect to win, you need to consider the costs. If you do win, the other side has to pay some of your legal costs - but not all of them, so you will still be out of pocket. If they cannot afford to pay (for example, because they become insolvent), you may not be able to recover either your compensation or any part of your legal costs from them. If you lose the case, you pay your own legal costs and part of the other side's costs.
A court case starts with one side in a dispute issuing a claim in the County Court or the High Court. Details are then sent to the defendant. The defendant can admit liability, make an offer to settle or defend the claim.
If the defendant decides to defend the claim, the case is allocated to one of three tracks. Small claims - typically up to £10,000 but sometimes larger - are usually allocated to the small claims track. This is the cheapest and least formal procedure; you may be able to handle a small claims case yourself, online.
Larger cases (up to £25,000) are allocated to the fast track, which also uses somewhat simplified procedures. The largest cases go to the multi-track. Legal advice is strongly recommended for fast track or multi-track cases.
Whatever track the case takes, the court will issue directions saying what you need to do to prepare for the hearing and setting out a timetable. Each side will need to disclose relevant documents to each other before the hearing. Missing any deadlines may mean that you lose your right to continue the claim.
Finally, the court will make its decision, including deciding who should pay which legal costs. Although you may be able to appeal against a decision, this can be difficult and will inevitably increase costs further.