Advice for commercial principals and agents

The agency relationship

An initial review establishes the agent’s role, the business arrangement and the scope of any authority. The name given to an agreement alone may not answer all the questions about the relationship.

I can consider proposed or existing terms concerning the work, territory, responsibilities, remuneration and the duration of the arrangement. Distribution arrangements have a separate service page.

Commission and performance

Advice may concern how remuneration is described, what work has been carried out and a disagreement about commission or other obligations. I will consider the agreement and the facts before advising on a position.

Whether particular rules apply depends on the individual relationship and matter.

Changes and ending the relationship

A principal or agent may want advice before changing the terms or ending the arrangement, or after a disagreement has arisen. I consider contractual questions and the options for negotiation, arbitration or mediation within the agreed scope.

I do not offer court litigation. The role, conflicts and engagement terms must be settled before substantive advice begins.

Party advice in arbitration or mediation

What to mention when contacting me

Say whether you are the principal or agent, whether there is a written agreement and whether the issue concerns terms, commission, performance or ending the relationship. A short, non-confidential outline is sufficient for an initial enquiry; do not send detailed legal documents through the form.