Contracts of Employment

Having the right contracts of employment is the foundation of successful employer-employee relationships. Up-to-date and jargon-free employment contracts and documentation will not only assist with the day-to-day running of your business but could prove invaluable if a dispute arises.

Morr & Co Solicitors' team of specialist contract law solicitors offer contract writing services and can help you to develop employment contracts, directors’ service agreements, and consultancy agreements that are designed to protect the interests of your business as far as possible. That means bespoke rather than off the peg documents, with all the appropriate and necessary terms and based on a detailed understanding of your business, your sector and your specific needs. We can also review your existing contracts of employment to ensure that they are up to date, comply with best practice and effectively protect your interests.

Contract law solicitors

With employment patterns and locations changing so rapidly, and with working from home arrangements set to increase, you may be uncertain about how that affects contracts of employment, or even whether personnel should be treated as employed or self-employed, directors, partners or consultants. We work with clients to explore the benefits and risks associated with each scenario and help you make appointments that suit your business.

There are many ways our contract solicitors are able to support you, and your business including:

• Contracts of employment, director’s service agreements and consultancy agreements
• Health check of existing contracts
• Establishing employment status
• Amending terms and conditions
• Assisting with flexible working arrangements

In the event that you want to change a contract of employment, you may be legally obliged to consult with the affected employees. We will advise on this process to ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible.

FAQs

Is a handwritten contract legally binding?

Any contract is binding provided it contains the key elements of offer, acceptance, consideration, intention to create legal relations, certainty of terms and that the entities entering into that contract have capacity to do so. This means that a handwritten contract can be binding, as can an oral contract.

What are the requirements for a valid contract?

For a contract to be legally binding, the contract must contain the following elements:

• Offer - a promise by one party to enter into a contract on certain terms. It must be specific, complete, capable of acceptance and made with the intention of being bound by acceptance.
• Acceptance – is final and unconditional assent to an offer must relate to the precise terms of the offer with no variation.
• Consideration- is the concept that each party must exchange something of value for a contract to be binding. This can involve promises such as a promise not to do something, a promise to pay money or a promise to do something.
• Intention to create legal relations – is the clear indication that each party intends to enter a legally binding contract.
• Certainty of terms – parties must ensure that their agreement is complete and is not vague or ambiguous.

If all these elements exist, you have entered into a legally binding contract.

Please contact one of the team for more information or to discuss your requirements.