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IT Contracts Guides & Features

What is a fixed term contract?

How fixed term contracts differ from regular contracts through agencies, limited companies and brollies.

How IT contractors are affected by Fujitsu v IBM - part two

Why you need to be clear on the scope of duties at the outset, before any dispute arises.

How IT contractors are affected by Fujitsu v IBM

What the IT sector's tiniest consultancies should take from a battle between two of its giants.

How to handle the public sector's CL1 contracts

PCG offers guidance on new IR35-unfriendly contracts being foisted on freelancers.

Ready a fine-tooth comb for your next contract

You can’t afford to skim-read amid new clauses for persons who are ‘controlling’ or ‘off-payroll.’

Don’t rely on rights in ‘unlawful’ agreements

A contract ruled as illegal is no basis to bring claims on the rights it may afford.

Why IT contractors must check indemnity tenses

Incurred or to be incurred? That is the question which robbed a bank of its losses.

Nobody likes a bully when negotiating your contract

Even lawful ‘bullying’ tactics can render your contract unenforceable – IT lawyer.

Contractor checklist: structure and clauses a contract for services should include

Barrister, John Antell, on getting the contract right.

When is an agency worker not an employee? Answer – most of the time

Contracts for services that reflect the arrangements are still determinative of status – Lawspeed.

On paper, when is an employee not an employee?

Why the courts could be about to make consultancy agreements more appealing.

Contract basics for IT contractors

Seven questions IT freelancers should ask about their contract.

Beating the IT contract crunch: i) client cuts

Legal aid on fighting cuts to your pay, duration and contract.

Beating the IT contract crunch ii) broken promises

Legal aid for when agents, clients and contractors go back on their word.

Beating the IT contract crunch iii) pressure points

Legal aid for when contractors are pushed to accept the unacceptable.

IR35 contracts & risk: 10 things to be wary of when signing a consultancy contract

What should you be wary of before agreeing a contract with your agency or client? There are two broad areas that contractors should be concerned with - exposure to commercial risk and exposure to IR35 liabilities.

When is a contract not a contract?

Legal expert on what the high court is saying about ‘subject to contract’ negotiations.

How NOT to frame freelancer-agency contracts

Four contractual sins for agency contractors to abhor, by Cubism Law's David Buckle.

What NOT to miss in freelance contracts

The four contract hooks that freelancers overlook, by Cubism Law's David Buckle.

Putting the gross in ‘gross negligence’

Clients seeking the highest standards of care have cause to redraft supplier contracts.

Age of email blurs what’s a binding contract

Why unnecessary problems are likely to loom for contractors who fire off emails, by commercial solicitor Sue Mann.

Entire agreement clauses don’t work

Or at least, they don’t do everything you might want them to, writes IT lawyer Richard Nicholas.

Contracting out of your obligations upon failure isn't easy

Companies can’t leave creditors out of pocket if they fold, reminds contracts advisor Paul Cox.

Why IT contractors mustn’t ignore ‘terms & conditions on request’

IT lawyer Richard Nicholas on a contractual request you can’t afford to turn down.

What NOT to do with freelance contracts

The five contract mistakes that freelancers make, by Cubism Law's David Buckle.

Offset the IR35 risk of long-term IT contracts

How IT contractors can win longer lasting work without paying the price.

Contractors' Questions

Contractors' Questions: Are hospital visits cause to cut my notice period?

'Client has no leg to stand on if a knee-op makes you leave your contract early.'

Contractors' Questions: Will going direct breach the non-compete clause?

Wording about bypassing is the key to getting around legal bother.

Contractors' Questions: Is their cut to my rate a breach of contract?

They have no greater right to reduce the rate than you have to increase it -- lawyer.

Contractors' Questions: Should I accept emails as being my contract?

The legal lowdown for an ex-business techie, re-engaged via his inbox as a contractor.

Contractors' Questions: Who signs confirmation of work arrangements?

Legal expert points a PSC towards who should sign what.

Contractors' Questions: Can a contract offer for May be guaranteed now?

How to get a commitment to take you on in the future, signed and sealed in the present.

Contractors' Questions: Do I have to use their invoice template?

Law firm cautions against imposing a fee for the extra time a client invoice template takes.

Contractors' Questions: Will the consultancies stop me going direct?

Contractual tips for when you want to cut out the middle man – or men.

Contractors' Questions: What about contracting for a new client's rival?

Law firm helps a loyalty-conscious contractor, eyeing a second income source.

Contractors' Questions: What if the rate I was extended on is reneged?

Legal aid for a contractor who rejected a rival's higher rate after spotting it in his renewed contract.

Contractors' Questions: Should I fight ex-client's 'no parking' policy?

The legal breakdown for a contractor written-off by a client who curbs cars on-site.

Contractors' Questions: When can I go direct-to-client?

Legal points for a contractor with a client who wants to cut out the agent.

Contractors' Questions: Do I owe the agency eight days of my daily rate?

Law firm advises what to do when you overwork and get billed for the privilege.

Contractors' Questions: Should I be paid for ‘unsatisfactory’ work?

Legal aid for an unpaid IT contractor, let go for a reason his contract doesn’t cover.

Contractors’ Questions: Should the agency be charging me admin fees?

Deductions he didn’t agree to are cause for an IT temp to complain to the authorities. 

Contractors’ Questions: Can I bypass the agent and go direct?

What’s reasonable sits at the heart of covenants one contractor needs to consider.

Contractors' Questions: Must my friend and I bother with a contract?

Lawyer cautions about a paperless partnership, but says it may be a reasonable approach.

Contractors' Questions: How to draw up a late start date clause?

Legal aid for a project contractor feeling stung by shoddy time-keeping.

Contractors' Questions: Is my contract's indemnity as bad as it sounds?

Legal aid for a techie feeling stung by a clause committing him to make good any loss.

Contractors' Questions: Do I waive my rights if I accept this IPR clause?

Solicitor senses room to negotiate but warns a web developer against being too demanding.

Contractors' Questions: Should I reject agency's 6-month lock-in clause?

Lawyer advises an IT contractor that the real question is to opt in or out.

Contractors' Questions: Are contractual changes a trick I can challenge?

Legal aid for a team of IT contractors feeling stung by an agency and outsourcer.

Contractors’ Questions: Is my early termination an unfair dismissal?

Legal aid for a stung IT contractor sizing up a right he doesn’t have.

Contractors' Questions: Can I charge 5% interest each week I'm unpaid?

Lawyer cautions a Plan B contractor against inserting an 'exorbitant' interest clause.

Contractors' Questions: Should I be eligible for 4 weeks' pay?

Legal aid for an IT contractor feeling dumped on Valentine's Day.

Contractors' Questions: Should I accept client's incoming offer to go perm?

Veteran IT contractor helps a techie hinting at making the client pay for renewal delay.

Contractors' Questions: What if the client threatens to ignore my notice period?

Contractual tips for a techie who expected extension, not taunts about sudden termination.

Contractors' Questions: Is agency liable for not serving me my notice period?

Legal adviser cautions an IT contractor against taking on his recruiter over a 4-week clause.

Contractors' Questions: What if my IT contract's shorter than I was told?

Lawyer gently reminds why breach of trust doesn't always equate to breach of contract.
 

Contractors' Questions: What if my agency won't pay for client-approved work?

Legal aid for a contractor owed £7,200 by a recruiter reliant on unwritten clauses.

Contractors' Questions: How to shake off a contract I signed?

Legal defence tips for an IT worker under attack from an agency.

Contractors' Questions: What if the role I netted is on offer internally?

Walking away is sad but sound advice when your offered contract is put to permies.

Contractors' Questions: Was I misled about my recruiter's margin?

Legal aid for an IT contractor feeling stung by the agency on his daily rate.

Contractors' Questions: Can I ditch this dull contract to get a better one?

Legal expert cautions a bored IT contractor in receipt of a tempting offer.

Contractors' Questions: Is my termination clause legally binding?

Legal aid for an IT contractor facing restrictions on his career and company.

Contractors' Questions: Any advice for unpaid 2e2 contractors?

Legal aid for contractors stung by 2e2 going into administration.

Contractors’ Questions: Is the schedule of services legally binding?

Limited company contractor eyeing the schedule to reflect his new working reality.

Extra cause for contractors to take care with restrictive covenants

Your options; if end-users tighten up to stop a 'tidal wave' of their clients defecting to you.

Contractors’ Questions: What to do if my rate gets cut?

Practical tips for IT contractors told to drop their pay or leave.

Contractors’ Questions: What if I was terminated prior to start date?

Expert aid for a new IT contractor left hanging after leaving permiedom.

Contractors’ Questions: Does the agency’s closure void the contract?

Legal aid for an IT contractor hoping the restrictive covenants died with the agency.

Contractors’ Questions: Is my acceptance on email binding?

Legal aid for a freelancer with more IT contract offers than he can manage.

Contractors’ Questions: Does leaving me unpaid reduce their right to IP?

Legal aid for an IT contractor hoping to put the client’s IP rights in shackles until he’s paid in full. 

Contractors' Questions: How to keep my current client?

Legal aid for an agency contractor stuck with a 12-month restriction clause.

Contractors' Questions: Should I accept a 10-day termination clause?

Legal aid for an IT freelancer facing non-payment if he proves 'unsuitable'.

Contractors' Questions: What if I quit without giving notice?

Expert helps an IT freelancer stuck with his contract until it ends.

Contractors' Questions: Is my contract in the bag?

Legal expert on the world of difference between a contract and a contract offer.

Contractors' Questions: Should contract spaces be filled in later?

Legal expert says IT contractors shouldn't let agents fill in the blanks.

Contractors' Questions: How to draw up a contract?

Legal tips for drawing up a contract agreement between 'Ltd' and client companies.

Contractors' Questions: Is a non-payment clause fair?

Legal aid for an IT contractor facing a sharp termination clause.

Contractors' Questions: Is my agency contract unfair?

Legal aid for an IT contractor who doesn't get paid until his agency does.

Contractors' Questions: How to get a contract for freelancing?

Expert helps a new freelancer looking for a 'one size fits all' contract.

Contractors' Questions: Can I cancel a signed contract?

Expert helps an IT contractor tempted to renege his contract for a better offer.

Contractors' Questions: Should I start with no contract?

Legal tips for when IT contractor clients don't do paperwork until day one.

Contractors' Questions: Did I have an oral contract?

Legal aid for a freelancer who 'doesn't have a leg to stand on.'

Further Reading

Contractors' Questions: Is a clause stopping me being credited backdated?

Legal aid for a Plan B contractor worried his rights are being retrospectively revoked.

Review the contract on your terms, not when you're told

Don’t leave it to agents or clients to find fault with your commercial arrangements.

Should I invoice for downtime?

IT contractor advised to bill for hours sat at home twiddling his thumbs.

Contractors' Questions: Why no termination clause?

Legal aid to an IT contractor whose contract is silent on termination.

How to beat 'subject to approval'?

IT contractors should speak for themselves when client intentions aren't forthcoming.

What's in a contract?

Legal help for a freelancer who needs to draw up his own contract to go direct.

What now I've walked out on my contract?

Legal aid for an IT contractor who quit in week three of a 3-month contract.

Emails did not form a contract – ruling

Appeal Court judge: calls and emails were a business discussion, not a contract.

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