Consultancy agreement

DATE

[Date]

PARTIES

1. [[INDIVIDUAL NAME] of [address]] OR [[COMPANY NAME], a company

incorporated in [England and Wales] (registration number [registration
number]) having its registered office at [address]] OR [[PARTNERSHIP
NAME], a partnership established under the laws of [England and Wales]
having its principal place of business at [address]] (the "Consultant"); and

2. [[INDIVIDUAL NAME] of [address]] OR [[COMPANY NAME], a company

incorporated in [England and Wales] (registration number [registration
number]) having its registered office at [address]] OR [[PARTNERSHIP
NAME], a partnership established under the laws of [England and Wales]
having its principal place of business at [address]] (the "Client").

AGREEMENT

1. Definitions

1.1 In this Agreement[, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise]:

"Agreement" means this agreement including any Schedules, and any

amendments to this Agreement from time to time;

"Charges" means the following amounts:

(a) [the amounts specified in Part 5 of Schedule 1 (Services particulars)];

(b) [such amounts as may be agreed in writing by the parties from time to
time]; and

(c) [amounts calculated by multiplying the Consultant's [standard time-

based charging rates (as notified by the Consultant to the Client before
the date of this Agreement)] by the time spent by the Consultant's
personnel performing [the Services] (rounded [down by the Consultant
to the nearest quarter hour])];

[additional list items]

"Client Materials" means [all works and materials supplied by or on behalf

of the Client to the Consultant for incorporation into the Deliverables or for
some other use in connection with the Services];

"Deliverables" means [those [deliverables] specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1

(Services particulars) that the Consultant has agreed to deliver to the Client
under this Agreement] OR [[define deliverables]];

"Effective Date" means [the date of execution of this Agreement];

 "Intellectual Property Rights" means [all intellectual property rights
wherever in the world, whether registrable or unregistrable, registered or
unregistered, including any application or right of application for such rights
(and these "intellectual property rights" include copyright and related rights,
database rights, confidential information, trade secrets, know-how, business
names, trade names, trade marks, service marks, passing off rights, unfair
competition rights, patents, petty patents, utility models, semi-conductor
topography rights and rights in designs)];

"Schedule" means any schedule attached to the main body of this

Agreement;

"Services" means the consultancy services specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1

(Services particulars);

"Term" means [the term of this Agreement, commencing in accordance with

Clause 3.1 and ending in accordance with Clause 3.2]; and

"Third Party Materials" means the works and/or materials comprised in the
Deliverables (excluding the Client Materials), the Intellectual Property Rights
in which are owned by a third party[, and which are specified in Part 2 of
Schedule 1 (Services particulars) or which the parties agree in writing shall be
incorporated into the Deliverables].

2. Credit

2.1 This document was created using a template from SEQ Legal
(https://seqlegal.com).

You must retain the above credit. Use of this document without the credit is an
infringement of copyright. However, you can purchase from us an equivalent
document that does not include the credit.

3. Term

3.1 This Agreement shall come into force upon the Effective Date.

3.2 This Agreement shall continue in force [indefinitely] OR [until [date], at the
beginning of which this Agreement shall terminate automatically] OR [until
[event], upon which this Agreement shall terminate automatically], subject to
termination in accordance with Clause 11 or any other provision of this
Agreement.

4. Services

4.1 The Consultant shall provide the Services to the Client in accordance with this
Agreement.

4.2 The Consultant shall provide the Services [with reasonable skill and care] OR
[in accordance with the standards of skill and care reasonably expected from
a leading service provider in the Consultant's industry] OR [[specify
standard(s)]].

5. Deliverables
5.1 The Consultant shall deliver the Deliverables to the Client.

5.2 The Client must promptly, following receipt of a written request from the
Consultant to do so, provide written feedback to the Consultant concerning
the Consultant's proposals, plans, designs and/or preparatory materials
relating to the Deliverables and made available to the Client with that written
request.

5.3 The Consultant shall [ensure] OR [use its best endeavours to ensure] OR [use
reasonable endeavours to ensure] that the Deliverables are delivered to the
Client in accordance with the timetable set out in Part 3 of Schedule 1
(Services particulars).

5.4 The Consultant warrants to the Client that:

(a) [the Deliverables will conform with the requirements of Part 2 of

Schedule 1 (Services particulars) [as at the date of delivery of the
Deliverables]];

(b) [the Deliverables will be free from [material defects]]; and

(c) [[the Deliverables] OR [the Deliverables when used by the Client in

accordance with this Agreement] will not infringe the Intellectual
Property Rights[ or other legal rights] of any person[, and will not
breach [the provisions of any law, statute or regulation],] in [any
jurisdiction and under any applicable law]].

[additional list items]

6. Licence

6.1 The Consultant hereby grants to the Client [a non-exclusive, worldwide,

perpetual and irrevocable] licence to [copy, store, distribute, publish, adapt,
edit and otherwise use] the Deliverables[ (excluding [the Third Party
Materials and the Client Materials])][ for the following purposes: [identify
purposes]].

7. Charges

7.1 The Client shall pay the Charges to the Consultant in accordance with this
Agreement.

7.2 All amounts stated in or in relation to this Agreement are, unless the context
requires otherwise, stated [inclusive of any applicable value added taxes] OR
[exclusive of any applicable value added taxes, which will be added to those
amounts and payable by the Client to the Consultant].

8. Payments

8.1 The Consultant shall issue invoices for the Charges to the Client [from time to
time during the Term] OR [on or after the invoicing dates set out in Part 5 of
Schedule 1 (Services particulars)] OR [at any time after the relevant Services
have been delivered to the Client] OR [in advance of the delivery of the
relevant Services to the Client].
8.2 The Client must pay the Charges to the Consultant within the period of [30
days] following [the issue of an invoice in accordance with this Clause 8] OR
[the receipt of an invoice issued in accordance with this Clause 8].

8.3 The Client must pay the Charges by [debit card, credit card, direct debit,
bank transfer or cheque] (using such payment details as are notified by the
Consultant to the Client from time to time).

8.4 If the Client does not pay any amount properly due to the Consultant under
this Agreement, the Consultant may:

(a) charge the Client interest on the overdue amount at the rate of [8% per
annum above the Bank of England base rate from time to time] (which
interest will accrue daily until the date of actual payment and be
compounded at the end of each calendar month); or

(b) claim interest and statutory compensation from the Client pursuant to
the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

9. Warranties

9.1 The Consultant warrants to the Client that:

(a) [the Consultant has the legal right and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement];

(b) [the Consultant will comply with all applicable legal and regulatory
requirements applying to the exercise of the Consultant's rights and the
fulfilment of the Consultant's obligations under this Agreement]; and

(c) [the Consultant has or has access to all necessary know-how, expertise
and experience to perform its obligations under this Agreement].

[additional list items]

9.2 The Client warrants to the Consultant that it has the legal right and authority
to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this
Agreement.

9.3 All of the parties' warranties and representations in respect of the subject
matter of this Agreement are expressly set out in this Agreement. To the
maximum extent permitted by applicable law, no other warranties or
representations concerning the subject matter of this Agreement will be
implied into this Agreement or any related contract.

10. Limitations and exclusions of liability

10.1 Nothing in this Agreement will:

(a) limit or exclude any liability for death or personal injury resulting from
negligence;

(b) limit or exclude any liability for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;

 (c) limit any liabilities in any way that is not permitted under applicable
law; or

(d) exclude any liabilities that may not be excluded under applicable law.

10.2 The limitations and exclusions of liability set out in this Clause 10 and
elsewhere in this Agreement:

(a) are subject to Clause 10.1; and

(b) govern all liabilities arising under this Agreement or relating to the
subject matter of this Agreement, including liabilities arising in contract,
in tort (including negligence) and for breach of statutory duty, except to
the extent expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement.

10.3 [Neither party shall be liable to the other party] OR [The Consultant shall not
be liable to the Client] OR [The Client shall not be liable to the Consultant] in
respect of any loss of profits or anticipated savings.

10.4 [Neither party shall be liable to the other party] OR [The Consultant shall not
be liable to the Client] OR [The Client shall not be liable to the Consultant] in
respect of any loss of revenue or income.

10.5 [Neither party shall be liable to the other party] OR [The Consultant shall not
be liable to the Client] OR [The Client shall not be liable to the Consultant] in
respect of any loss of use or production.

10.6 [Neither party shall be liable to the other party] OR [The Consultant shall not
be liable to the Client] OR [The Client shall not be liable to the Consultant] in
respect of any loss of business, contracts or opportunities.

10.7 [Neither party shall be liable to the other party] OR [The Consultant shall not
be liable to the Client] OR [The Client shall not be liable to the Consultant] in
respect of any loss or corruption of any data, database or software.

10.8 [Neither party shall be liable to the other party] OR [The Consultant shall not
be liable to the Client] OR [The Client shall not be liable to the Consultant] in
respect of any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage.

11. Termination

11.1 Either party may terminate this Agreement by giving to the other party [at
least 30 days'] written notice of termination.

11.2 Either party may terminate this Agreement immediately by giving written
notice of termination to the other party if the other party commits a material
breach of this Agreement.

11.3 Either party may terminate this Agreement immediately by giving written
notice of termination to the other party if:

(a) the other party:

(i) is dissolved;
 (ii) ceases to conduct all (or substantially all) of its business;

(iii) is or becomes unable to pay its debts as they fall due;

(iv) is or becomes insolvent or is declared insolvent; or

(v) convenes a meeting or makes or proposes to make any

arrangement or composition with its creditors;

(b) an administrator, administrative receiver, liquidator, receiver, trustee,

manager or similar is appointed over any of the assets of the other
party;

(c) an order is made for the winding up of the other party, or the other
party passes a resolution for its winding up[ (other than for the purpose
of a solvent company reorganisation where the resulting entity will
assume all the obligations of the other party under this Agreement)]; or

(d) [if that other party is an individual:

(i) that other party dies;

(ii) as a result of illness or incapacity, that other party becomes

incapable of managing his or her own affairs; or

(iii) that other party is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or order.]

12. Effects of termination

12.1 Upon the termination of this Agreement, all of the provisions of this
Agreement shall cease to have effect, save that the following provisions of
this Agreement shall survive and continue to have effect (in accordance with
their express terms or otherwise indefinitely): [Clauses 1, 6, 8.2, 8.4, 10, 12,
13.2 and 15].

12.2 Except to the extent that this Agreement expressly provides otherwise, the
termination of this Agreement shall not affect the accrued rights of either
party.

13. Status of Consultant

13.1 The Consultant is not an employee of the Client, but an independent

contractor.

13.2 The termination of this Agreement will not constitute unfair dismissal; nor will
the Consultant be entitled to any compensation payments, redundancy
payments or similar payments upon the termination of this Agreement.

14. Subcontracting

14.1 The Consultant must not subcontract any of its obligations under this
Agreement without the prior written consent of the Client[, providing that the
Client must not unreasonably withhold or delay the giving of such consent].

OR
14.1 Subject to any express restrictions elsewhere in this Agreement, the
Consultant may subcontract any of its obligations under this Agreement[,
providing that the Consultant must give to the Client, promptly following the
appointment of a subcontractor, a written notice specifying the subcontracted
obligations and identifying the subcontractor in question].

14.2 The Consultant shall remain responsible to the Client for the performance of
any subcontracted obligations.

15. General

15.1 No breach of any provision of this Agreement shall be waived except with the
express written consent of the party not in breach.

15.2 If any provision of this Agreement is determined by any court or other

competent authority to be unlawful and/or unenforceable, the other
provisions of this Agreement will continue in effect. If any unlawful and/or
unenforceable provision would be lawful or enforceable if part of it were
deleted, that part will be deemed to be deleted, and the rest of the provision
will continue in effect (unless that would contradict the clear intention of the
parties, in which case the entirety of the relevant provision will be deemed to
be deleted).

15.3 This Agreement may not be varied except by a written document signed by or
on behalf of each of the parties.

15.4 Neither party may without the prior written consent of the other party assign,
transfer, charge, license or otherwise deal in or dispose of any contractual
rights or obligations under this Agreement.

15.5 This Agreement is made for the benefit of the parties, and is not intended to
benefit any third party or be enforceable by any third party. The rights of the
parties to terminate, rescind, or agree any amendment, waiver, variation or
settlement under or relating to this Agreement are not subject to the consent
of any third party.

15.6 Subject to Clause 10.1, this Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement
between the parties in relation to the subject matter of this Agreement, and
shall supersede all previous agreements, arrangements and understandings
between the parties in respect of that subject matter.

15.7 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with

[English law].

15.8 The courts of [England] shall have exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate any
dispute arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

EXECUTION

The parties have indicated their acceptance of this Agreement by executing it

below.
SIGNED BY [[individual name] on [...............], the Consultant] OR [[individual
name] on [...............], duly authorised for and on behalf of the Consultant]:

........................................

SIGNED BY [[individual name] on [...............], the Client] OR [[individual name]

on [...............], duly authorised for and on behalf of the Client]:

........................................
SCHEDULE 1 (SERVICES PARTICULARS)

1. Specification of Services

[Specify Services]

2. Specification of Deliverables

[Specify Deliverables]

3. Timetable

[Insert timetable]

4. Client Materials

[Specify Client Materials]

5. Financial provisions

[Insert financial provisions]

 Free consultancy agreement: drafting notes
This is a free consultancy agreement. It includes straightforward provisions
regarding the provision of consultancy services and the supply of deliverables
resulting from the provision of those services.

The template incorporates a licence to use the deliverables, but does not include
any assignment of rights in the deliverables. Accordingly, the consultant retains
ownership.

You are welcome to use the document without purchasing a licence, providing that
you retain the SEQ credit in the document. The document is identical to the
consultancy agreement (basic) document, save for the credit.

DATE

 Insert the date of execution of the document.

PARTIES

Subsection 1

 Is the first party an individual, a company or a partnership?

 What is the full name of the individual (including middle names)?

 What is the postal address of the first party?

 What is the full company name of the first party?

 In which jurisdiction is the first party incorporated?

 What is the registration number of the first party?

 What is the registered office address of the first party?

 What is the name of the first party partnership?

 In which jurisdiction is the first party partnership established?

 Where is the principal place of business of the first party?

Subsection 2

 Is the second party an individual, a company or a partnership?

 What is the full name of the individual (including middle names)?

 What is the postal address of the second party?

 What is the full company name of the second party?

 In which jurisdiction is the second party incorporated?

  What is the registration number of the second party?

 What is the registered office address of the second party?

 What is the name of the second party partnership?

 In which jurisdiction is the second party partnership established?

 Where is the principal place of business of the second party?

AGREEMENT

Clause 1: Definitions

Clause 1.1

Definition of Charges

 What charges are payable under this document?

 How should the time-based charging rates be described or specified?

 Will all the services be subject to time-based charging, or only some of the
services?

 How are time-based charging units to be rounded?

Definition of Deliverables

 What type of thing are the deliverables (e.g. written reports, software
programs, graphical works)?

Definition of Effective Date

 When will the contract come into force?

Definition of Term

 Define "Term", the period during which the contract will subsist.

Definition of Third Party Materials

 Must all third party materials incorporated into the deliverables be

specifically identified in the specification of the deliverables or included
subject to the parties' agreement?

Clause 2: Credit

Clause: Free documents licensing warning

Optional element. Although you need to retain the credit, you should remove the
inline copyright warning from this document before use.

Clause 3: Term

Clause 3.2
  Is the term of the contract indefinite, or will it come to an end upon some
agreed date, or upon the occurrence of a defined event?

 Upon what date will the contract terminate?

 Upon the occurrence of what event will the contract terminate?

Clause 4: Services

Clause 4.2

Optional element. Must the services meet any specified standard(s)?

 What standard(s) must the services meet?

Clause 5: Deliverables

Optional element.

Clause 5.2

Optional element.

Clause 5.3

Optional element.

 Is the obligation to supply deliverables in accordance with the agreed

timetable: (i) absolute; or (ii) an obligation to use best endeavours; or (iii)
an obligation to use reasonable endeavours?

Clause 5.4

Optional element.

 What warranties will the Consultant give to the Client in relation to the
deliverables?

 Should the warranty of conformity only apply at the date of delivery of the
deliverables?

 What sort of defects does the Consultant warrant the deliverables will be
free from?

 Do the warranties relating to legality apply to the deliverables generally, or

just to uses permitted by this document?

 Will this warranty extend to legal rights other than intellectual property
rights?

 Should a warranty of legality be included?

 What (if any) jurisdictional limitations and applicable law limitations should
apply to these warranties?

Clause 6: Licence
Optional element.

Clause 6.1

 What type of licence will the Consultant grant to the Client?

 What exactly may the Client do with the deliverables?

 Do any rights in the deliverables need to be carved out from the licence
(e.g. rights in third party materials)?

 Will the licence be limited by reference to the purposes for which the
deliverables may be used?

 The rights in which elements of the deliverables should be carved out from
the licence?

 For what purposes may the deliverables be used?

Clause 7: Charges

Clause 7.2

Optional element.

 Are payment amounts stated inclusive or exclusive of VAT?

Clause 8: Payments

Clause 8.1

 When should invoices be issued?

Clause 8.2

 What is the period for payment of invoices?

 When does the period for payment of an invoice begin to run?

Clause 8.3

Optional element.

 Using what methods should payments be made?

Clause 8.4

Optional element.

 What contractual interest rate should apply to late payments?

Clause 9: Warranties

Optional element.

Clause 9.1
Optional element.

 What general warranties will the Consultant give to the Client?

Clause 9.2

Optional element.

Clause 10: Limitations and exclusions of liability

Contractual limitations and exclusions of liability are regulated and controlled by

law, and the courts may rule that particular limitations and exclusions of liability in
contracts are unenforceable.

The courts are particularly likely to intervene where a party is seeking to rely on a
limitation or exclusion of liability in its standard terms and conditions, but will also
sometimes intervene where a term has been individually negotiated.

The courts may be more likely to rule that provisions excluding liability, as opposed
to those merely limiting liability, are unenforceable.

If there is a risk that any particular limitation or exclusion of liability will be found to
be unenforceable by the courts, that provision should be drafted as an independent
term, and be numbered separately from the other provisions.

It may improve the chances of a limitation or exclusion of liability being found to be

enforceable if the party seeking to rely upon it specifically drew it to the attention
of the other party before the contract was entered into.

Exclusions and limitations of liability in UK contracts are primarily regulated by the

Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 ("UCTA").

Contracts regulated by UCTA cannot exclude or restrict a party's liability for death
or personal injury resulting from negligence (Section 2(1), UCTA).

Except insofar as the relevant term satisfies the requirements of reasonableness,

such contracts cannot exclude or restrict liability: (i) for negligence (which includes
a breach of an express or implied contractual obligation to take reasonable care or
exercise reasonable skill) (Section 2(2), UCTA); or (ii) for misrepresentation
(Section 3, Misrepresentation Act 1967).

In addition, if a contract is regulated by UCTA, and one of the parties is dealing on

the other's written standard terms of business, then except insofar as the relevant
contractual term satisfies the requirements of reasonableness the other party
cannot: (i) exclude or restrict his liability in respect of a breach of contract; or (ii)
claim to be entitled to render a contractual performance substantially different from
that which was reasonably expected of him; or (iii) claim to be entitled, in respect
of the whole or any part of his contractual obligation, to render no contractual
performance at all (see Section 3, UCTA).

UCTA includes various other restrictions, particularly in the case of contracts for the
sale of goods and contracts under which possession or ownership of goods passes.
If you wish to try to limit/exclude for liability in respect of reckless, deliberate,
personal and/or repudiatory breaches of contract, you should specify this in relation
to the relevant provision (for example, using the following wording: "The limitations
and exclusions of liability in this Clause [number] will apply whether or not the
liability in question arises out of any reckless, deliberate, personal and/or
repudiatory conduct or breach of contract"). In many circumstances, however, the
courts will find these types of limitations and exclusions to be unenforceable.

Somewhat different rules apply to limitations of liability in contracts with

consumers, and these provisions should not be used in relation to such contracts.

These guidance notes provide a very incomplete and basic overview of a complex
subject. Accordingly, you should take legal advice if you may wish to rely upon a
limitation or exclusion of liability.

Clause 10.1

Do not delete this provision (except upon legal advice). Without this provision, the
specific limitations and exclusions of liability in the document are more likely to be
unenforceable.

Clause 10.3

Optional element.

 Which of the parties will be the beneficiary of this limitation of liability?

Clause 10.4

Optional element.

 Which of the parties will be the beneficiary of this limitation of liability?

Clause 10.5

Optional element.

 Which of the parties will be the beneficiary of this limitation of liability?

Clause 10.6

Optional element.

 Which of the parties will be the beneficiary of this limitation of liability?

Clause 10.7

Optional element.

 Which of the parties will be the beneficiary of this limitation of liability?

Clause 10.8

Optional element.
"Consequential loss" has a special meaning in English law: it means any loss that,
whilst not arising naturally from the breach, was specifically in the contemplation of
the parties when the contract was made.

 Which of the parties will be the beneficiary of this limitation of liability?

Clause 11: Termination

Clause 11.1

 What notice period will apply to termination without cause by either party?

Clause 11.3

 Will the winding up of a party as part of a solvent company reorganisation

give rise to a right of termination for the other party?

 Will or might a party to the document be an individual, rather than a

corporate entity?

Clause 13: Status of Consultant

Optional element.

Clause 13.2

Optional element.

Clause 14: Subcontracting

Optional element.

Clause 14.1

 Will the Client only be permitted to withhold consent to subcontracting

where it is reasonable to do so?

Clause 14.1

 Will the Consultant be obliged to notify the Client of any subcontracting

arrangements?

Clause 15: General

Clause 15.1

Optional element.

Clause 15.2

Optional element.

Clause 15.3

Optional element.
This is intended to prevent, for example, one party wrongfully claiming that a term
of the contract was changed in a telephone call.

Clause 15.4

Optional element.

Clause 15.5

Optional element.

This provision is designed to exclude any rights a third party may have under the
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

Clause 15.6

Optional element.

Clause 15.7

This template has been drafted to work in the English law context. If you plan to
change the governing law, you should have the document reviewed by someone
with expertise in the law of the relevant jurisdiction.

 Which law will govern the document?

Clause 15.8

Optional element.

As a practical matter, it makes sense for the courts with expertise in the relevant
law to have the right to adjudicate disputes. Where one of the parties is outside
England (or at least the UK), you may want to grant the courts of their home
jurisdiction the right to adjudicate disputes, as this could ease enforcement in some
circumstances.

 The courts of which jurisdiction will have the exclusive right to adjudicate
disputes relating to the document (subject to applicable law)?

EXECUTION

Subsection: Execution of contract by first party (individual, company or

partnership)

 Will the contract be signed by the (first party) contracting individual, or a

person on behalf of the (first party) contracting entity?

 What is the full name of the first party signatory?

 On what date is the first party signing the contract?

 Add the full name of the person who will sign the document on behalf of the
first party.

 On what date is the contract being signed on behalf of the first party?
Subsection: Execution of contract by second party (individual, company or
partnership)

 Will the contract be signed by the (second party) contracting individual, or

by a person on behalf of the (second party) contracting entity?

 What is the full name of the second party signatory?

 On what date is the second party signing the contract?

 Add the full name of the person who will sign the document on behalf of the
second party.

 On what date is the contract being signed on behalf of the second party?

SCHEDULE 1 (SERVICES PARTICULARS)

Part 1: Specification of Services

 Insert the specification for the services.

Part 2: Specification of Deliverables

Optional element.

 Insert the specification for the deliverables.

Part 3: Timetable

Optional element.

 Insert the timetable for the performance of the parties' obligations.

Part 4: Client Materials

Optional element.

 Specify the client materials to be supplied by the Client to the Consultant.

Part 5: Financial provisions

 Insert financial provisions.