Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982: Core legislation governing service contracts in England and Wales, particularly regarding implied terms about reasonable care and skill in service provision
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999: Legislation governing whether and how third parties can enforce terms of the contract, even if they are not direct parties to it
Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977: Regulates unfair terms in contracts and sets out which terms may be unenforceable due to unreasonableness
Consumer Rights Act 2015: Relevant if the client could be classified as a consumer rather than a business, providing additional protections
Employment Rights Act 1996: Important to consider to ensure the consulting agreement doesn't inadvertently create an employment relationship
IR35 Legislation: Tax legislation regarding off-payroll working rules, particularly relevant if the consultant is operating through a limited company
UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018: Legislation governing the handling and protection of personal data and confidential information in the UK
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988: Governs intellectual property rights and their ownership/transfer during the consulting engagement
Contract Formation Common Law: Common law principles regarding contract formation including offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention to create legal relations
Common Law Duty of Confidentiality: Common law principles governing the protection and handling of confidential information in business relationships
