Distribution Agreements
As specialists in distribution arrangements, we have significant experience advising suppliers, distributors, and resellers of goods and services. Opal Legal is a Top 200 UK Law Firm
Distribution Agreements
Appointing a distributor or reseller to resell your goods and services in a new territory can be an attractive route to developing a new market. We can advise on the opportunities (and the pitfalls to avoid) for suppliers, distributors and resellers entering into distribution arrangements. As specialists in distribution arrangements, we have significant experience advising suppliers, distributors, and resellers of goods and services.
Suppliers
We advise suppliers seeking to establish new distribution arrangements, or, aiming to expand existing arrangements into new territories or new channels, and can provide suitable model documentation adapted to the details of the model envisaged.
Distribution agreements will commonly refer to the supplier’s standard terms of sale – for more about standard terms, please visit our Terms and Conditions section.
Distribution arrangements must be structured to achieve compliance with the competition law regime. We frequently advise on the requirements of competition law as they apply to our clients’ specific circumstances and their intended commercial models, and we draft agreements with a view to compliance with these requirements (including those set out in the Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Regulations).
Distributors and Resellers
The terms ‘distributor’ and ‘reseller’ are often used interchangeably – a distributor is someone appointed to resell the supplier’s products, and can be referred to as a reseller. In some cases, though, a supplier may distinguish between ‘distributors’ – which it appoints in respect of a specified territory and allows to appoint a further tier of ‘resellers’ in that relevant territory – and ‘resellers’, which will have direct contact with customers.
What is most important, for both the supplier and the distributor/reseller, is to ensure that the terms of the distribution agreement reflect the intended rights and obligations of the parties, regardless of the choice of the terminology used, and we are experienced in creating documents that are adapted to the client’s requirements.
Value-Added Resellers
The concept of the ‘Value Added Reseller’ is specifically used in the IT sector to refer to a business that combines software provided by a third party with its own hardware, software and/or services to provide a ‘value added’ combination for the benefit of its customers. If you are interested in the specific issues relevant to reselling in the IT sector, you can read more about our Technology sector and the services we provide.
Our Distribution Agreements Experience
Recent examples of our work in this area include:
-
drafting an exclusive supply agreement for a leading international supplier of healthcare products;
-
drafting an agreement governing the international supply of our client’s mobile phone accessories;
-
advising a manufacturer specialising in roofing products and materials with its supply agency and distribution network. We prepare a variety of agreements to be entered into by our client to appoint agents, distributors and marketing agents in relation to the sale and distribution of its products throughout various territories.
-
advising a manufacturer of heating and cabling products on its supply, distribution and agency agreements. Working closing with our client we assisted in the client’s expansion into markets internationally. We prepared agency agreements and distribution agreements as a mix of these arraignments were used to distribute the client’s products throughout a global market.
-
advising a start-up software company with its software services to be integrated with other client products and services (on a value-added reseller basis). We prepared a precedent VAR Reseller Agreement which included detailed terms to be implemented by the VAR within its contracts with its customers, to protect our client's software service offering and managing service level expectations). The agreement needed to be flexible as the nature of the products and services that our client’s software services can be integrated with are broad-ranging.
Why Work With Our Commercial Team
-
We provide a partner-led service to ensure you receive the best commercial legal advice and support.
-
You will receive city-quality commercial legal advice and commercial services at regional prices.
-
As part of a full-service commercial law firm, our commercial solicitors work closely with our Dispute Resolution, Employment, and Commercial Property departments to provide our clients with a seamless service.
-
We have been ranked as a Top Tier law firm by the Legal 500 for the last seven years and recognised as a Top 200 Law Firm in 2022.
-
Our commercial solicitors are easy to deal with and understand that a common-sense approach is often required.
-
We give our clients an estimate of the costs involved in undertaking any work at the outset and provide cost updates regularly.
-
We understand that each matter is unique to your circumstances and that you need support from a commercial lawyer experienced in dealing with various clients and types of work.
-
We are a full-service law firm operating from a one-site office, which means our teams communicate effectively and efficiently.
-
Our commercial team use the latest technology to ensure that we are working as efficiently as possible and that geographical distance does not prevent us from providing excellent legal advice and client service.
Testimonials
"Opal Legal Services has been a lifesaver for me. Their team of experts helped me navigate through a complex legal issue with ease. I highly recommend their services to anyone in need of legal assistance. Thank you, Opal Legal Services!"
John Smith
Our Costs
We will provide you with a flexible menu of fee options rooted in our promise of complete transparency over our charges. We assess the value of each project, task, or advice based on its commercial value to you and then provide you with fee options scoped against the type of service and advice you require.
Fee options can include, where appropriate, fixed fees, a retainer, hourly or day rates, or a blend of such options.
We provide you with regular cost updates and will not incur any additional charges without your agreement.
To find out more about the services we can provide, including our retainer service, please give us a call.
Contact Opal Legal Solicitors
If you have any more questions or would like more information, you can contact our Family Law Solicitors on: