We’re here with practical legal information for your business. Learn about employment law, company law and more.

Starting up

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.

Business ownership and management

While poor governance can bring serious legal consequences, the law can also protect business owners and managers and help to prevent conflict.

Finance and business strategy

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.

Employment law

From pay, hours and time off to discipline, grievance and hiring and firing employees, find out about your legal responsibilities as an employer.

Marketing and selling

Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy.

Contracts, disputes

Commercial disputes can prove time-consuming, stressful and expensive, but having robust legal agreements can help to prevent them from occurring.

Commercial premises law

Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.

Health and safety

With information and sound advice, living up to your legal responsibilities to safeguard your employees, customers and visitors need not be difficult or costly.

Data protection and IT

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

Intellectual property (IP) isn't solely relevant to larger businesses or those involved in developing innovative new products: all products have IP.

Exit strategies

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.

Personal law

From bereavement, wills, inheritance, separation and divorce to selling a house, personal injury and traffic offences, learn more about your personal legal rights.

Dismissals and redundancies

Following the right dismissal and redundancy procedures helps protect your business and minimise the risk of a legal dispute at tribunal.

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Settlement agreements

Under a settlement agreement, a compensation payment is typically given to the employee in return for the employee agreeing not to make any claims against the employer.

Managing an employee's departure - checklist

Sooner or later, every business with employees will experience turnover. Use our handy checklist to make sure the exit period is handled well.

Essential guide to redundancy

A shift in the economic climate, merger or move to a new location can all make redundancies inevitable. Our overview of how to manage redundancies.

Giving references

Writing a reference for an ex-employee can land you in legal hot water. Understand your rights and obligations when providing references.

When is a dismissal is automatically unfair?

There will automatically be a finding of unfair dismissal against you, if you sack an employee or select them for redundancy for any of these reasons.

Giving references FAQs

Giving references - answers to common questions about what references you must give employees and the possible consequences

Making redundancy a last resort

If you need to cut costs, you don’t always need to make redundancies. We list some ways you can cut your costs, not your workforce.

Disciplining employees for activities outside of work

If your workers' leisure activities create problems with other colleagues or could potentially damage your business' reputation – what can you do?

Terminating an employee's contract

From reclaiming your business' property to ensuring your confidential information is kept secret, you must make sure that everything you do is legal.

Dismissals - dealing with common situations

A claim for unfair or wrongful dismissal, or unlawful discrimination, is worrying and time-consuming, and can be costly to your business.

Making redundancies

You may be able to avoid making redundancies at all. However, if it does become necessary you need to follow the right procedures - read our guide.

Dismissing employees: key facts

Always take advice before dismissing employees. They could bring one or a combination of three claims against you if you handle the dismissal badly.

Essential guide to dismissing employees

Dismissing an employee may be your best option if their performance is unacceptable, or their position no longer exists. Here are some simple rules.