Common Law Contract Principles: Fundamental principles governing contract formation, offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention to create legal relations under English common law
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999: Legislation governing how third parties may enforce terms of a contract to which they are not a direct party
Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977: Controls the use of exclusion and limitation clauses in contracts, setting limits on what terms can be considered fair and enforceable
Consumer Rights Act 2015: Legislation protecting consumers in business transactions, relevant if consulting services might involve business-to-consumer relationships
Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982: Sets out implied terms for contracts involving the supply of services, including that services must be carried out with reasonable care and skill
Services Regulation 2009: Regulations governing service providers in the UK, including disclosure requirements and professional liability
UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR): Post-Brexit data protection legislation governing how personal data must be handled, processed, and protected
Data Protection Act 2018: The UK's implementation of data protection laws, working alongside UK GDPR to regulate personal data processing
Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR): Specific rules governing privacy and electronic communications, including electronic marketing and cookies
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988: Protects intellectual property rights including copyright in works created during consulting engagements
Trade Marks Act 1994: Legislation protecting trademarks and governing their use in business relationships
Employment Rights Act 1996: Relevant for ensuring consultant status is clearly distinguished from employment relationships
IR35 Legislation: Tax regulations determining whether a consultant should be treated as an employee for tax purposes
Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998: Allows businesses to claim interest on late payments from other businesses
Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2013: Updated regulations on payment terms and compensation for late payment in commercial transactions
Bribery Act 2010: Anti-corruption legislation affecting business relationships and requiring adequate procedures to prevent bribery
Competition Act 1998: Prohibits anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant market positions
Enterprise Act 2002: Framework for merger control and market investigations, relevant for consulting agreements that might affect market competition
Arbitration Act 1996: Framework for arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution method in England and Wales
Civil Procedure Rules: Rules governing civil litigation in England and Wales, relevant for dispute resolution clauses
