Common Law of Contract: Fundamental principles of contract law in England and Wales, including offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention to create legal relations
Consumer Rights Act 2015: Legislation protecting consumer rights, applicable if consulting services are provided to consumers rather than businesses
Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977: Regulates unfair terms in contracts, particularly exclusion and limitation clauses
Misrepresentation Act 1967: Governs false or misleading statements made during contract formation
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988: Protects intellectual property rights including copyright in works created during consulting engagement
Trade Marks Act 1994: Protects trademarks and related intellectual property in consulting deliverables
Trade Secrets Regulations 2018: Protects confidential business information and trade secrets shared during consulting relationship
UK General Data Protection Regulation: Regulates the processing and handling of personal data in the UK post-Brexit
Data Protection Act 2018: UK's implementation of data protection standards, working alongside UK GDPR
Employment Rights Act 1996: Relevant for determining employment status and rights of consultants vs employees
IR35 Legislation: Tax legislation determining whether a consultant should be treated as an employee for tax purposes
Agency Workers Regulations 2010: May apply if consultant is placed through an agency or similar arrangement
Competition Act 1998: Ensures consulting agreement doesn't breach competition law or create unfair market advantages
Enterprise Act 2002: Supplements competition law and provides additional business regulation framework
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000: Relevant if consulting services involve financial advice or regulated financial activities
Civil Procedure Rules: Governs court procedures if legal disputes arise from the consulting agreement
Arbitration Act 1996: Provides framework for arbitration as alternative dispute resolution method
Value Added Tax Act 1994: Governs VAT obligations for consulting services
