Completing and updating your company's Person with Significant Control Register

As of 26 July 2017, it has been a legal requirement that limited companies and limited liability partnerships maintain a Person with Significant Control Register ( PSC Register ) so why is it, after all this time, when I look up a company at Companies House...

Having a contract in writing: why you need one and why it's a good investment

Many business deals are concluded by “Gentleman’s Agreements”. These can work for people and businesses - until there is an issue or uncertainty. Unfortunately, deals and relationships in business can, and do, go wrong for many reasons....

Do your non-compete clauses protect your franchise?

In the recent case of Francotyp-Postalia v Whitehead and others the High Court considered whether to sever a non-compete clause from a franchise agreement. Non-compete clauses (which are also referred to as restrictive covenants) help protect a franchisor...

Franchisor owes a duty of care to franchisee

In the recent case of MGB Printing and Design Limited v Kall Kwik UK Limited [2010] EWHC 624 (QB), the High Court issued a warning to all franchisors, holding that a duty of care is owed by a franchisor to a potential franchisee. The facts of the case...

What happens if a franchisor fails?

The UK operations of coffee shop franchises Coffee Republic and O’Brien’s Sandwich Bars have recently gone into administration. With the economic climate there is a risk that other franchises will follow - what does this mean for the Franchisor...