Last Updated: 7 September 2026 I Reading Time: 6 minutes
Summary
Running a business means making decisions that can have long-lasting legal and financial consequences, whether you’re drawing up a contract, taking on staff, or resolving a dispute with a supplier. Many business owners only think about calling a solicitor once something has already gone wrong, but early legal advice is often far cheaper and less stressful than sorting out a problem after the event.
This article looks at five of the most common reasons UK businesses instruct a solicitor, from setting up contracts and resolving disputes to handling employment issues and protecting commercial premises. Understanding when legal advice can help means you can act early, protect your business, and avoid costly mistakes.
Quick answer
Businesses in the UK most commonly instruct a solicitor for contract drafting and review, resolving commercial disputes, employment issues, business structuring or transactions, and property or lease matters. Getting advice early, rather than once a problem has escalated, usually saves time, money and stress, and helps protect the business from unnecessary risk.
In this article
- Drafting and reviewing contracts
- Resolving commercial disputes
- Employment matters and settlement agreements
- Business structuring, growth and transactions
- Commercial property and lease issues
- How GLP Solicitors can help
- Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
- A solicitor can help prevent problems before they arise, not just fix them afterwards.
- Poorly drafted or missing contracts are one of the most common causes of business disputes.
- Employment law changes regularly, so specialist advice helps businesses stay compliant.
- Legal support during growth, mergers or restructuring protects the value of the business.
- Commercial leases and property agreements often contain terms that are easy to overlook.
- Early legal advice is generally more cost-effective than dealing with a dispute later.
- Dispute resolution doesn’t always mean court, many issues are resolved through negotiation or mediation.
Drafting and Reviewing Contracts
Contracts sit behind almost every business relationship, whether that’s with a supplier, customer, contractor or partner. A well-drafted contract sets out exactly what each side is responsible for, what happens if something goes wrong, and how disputes should be handled.
Many businesses use templates found online or copy old agreements without updating them for the specific deal. This can leave important gaps, particularly around payment terms, liability, and what happens if the contract needs to end early.
A solicitor can help by:
- Drafting bespoke terms and conditions for your business
- Reviewing supplier, client or partnership agreements before you sign
- Making sure contracts reflect current UK law
- Building in clear processes for resolving disagreements
Resolving Commercial Disputes
Disagreements between businesses, or between a business and a customer or supplier, are common. These might involve non-payment, breach of contract, disputes over the quality of goods or services, or disagreements between business partners.
Left unresolved, disputes can affect cash flow, damage working relationships, and take up significant management time. A solicitor can advise on the strongest way to resolve the issue, which isn’t always through court proceedings.
Common dispute resolution routes include:
- Negotiation between the parties
- Mediation, with the help of an independent third party
- Formal legal proceedings, where necessary
Getting advice early, before a dispute escalates, often means it can be resolved more quickly and with less cost to the business.
Employment Matters and Settlement Agreements
Employment law affects every business with staff, from recruitment through to dismissal. Getting it wrong can lead to tribunal claims, reputational damage and significant cost.
Businesses often seek legal advice when:
- Drafting or updating employment contracts and staff handbooks
- Managing disciplinary or grievance procedures
- Considering redundancies or restructuring
- Offering an employee a settlement agreement to end their employment on agreed terms
A settlement agreement needs to be legally sound to be binding, and the employee must take independent legal advice before signing. A solicitor can guide businesses through this process correctly from the outset.
Business Structuring, Growth and Transactions
As a business grows, changes, or takes on new opportunities, legal advice often becomes essential. This might include:
- Choosing the right legal structure (sole trader, partnership, limited company)
- Buying or selling a business
- Bringing in new business partners or investors
- Drafting or reviewing shareholder or partnership agreements
Getting this right from the start helps avoid disputes further down the line and protects everyone’s interests, including the business itself.
Commercial Property and Lease Issues
Many businesses rely on commercial premises, whether that’s an office, shop, warehouse or land. Commercial leases and property agreements can be complex, and the terms agreed at the outset can have a significant impact later.
A solicitor can help with:
- Reviewing or negotiating lease terms
- Advising on rent reviews, break clauses and repair obligations
- Telecommunications mast agreements for landowners
- Resolving disputes between landlords and tenants
Understanding your obligations before signing a lease, or before entering into an agreement over land, can prevent costly disagreements later.
How GLP Solicitors can help
At GLP Solicitors, our business and commercial law team supports companies across Greater Manchester and beyond with contracts, disputes, employment issues and property matters. We take the time to understand your business and explain your options clearly, so you can make informed decisions with confidence.
Whether you need a one-off contract reviewed or ongoing support as your business grows, our team can advise on the best way forward and, where a dispute has already arisen, help resolve it as efficiently as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ideally, before a problem arises rather than after. Many businesses first instruct a solicitor when setting up contracts, taking on staff, or entering a lease, as getting advice at this stage helps prevent disputes later. However, it’s never too late to seek advice if an issue has already come up.
Yes, small businesses can benefit from legal advice just as much as larger companies, particularly around contracts, employment and disputes. Many legal problems affecting small businesses stem from informal agreements or missing paperwork that a solicitor could have addressed early on.
A settlement agreement is a legally binding agreement between an employer and employee, usually used to end employment on agreed terms. Businesses use them to bring employment to a close in a clear, mutually agreed way, reducing the risk of a later tribunal claim.
Costs vary depending on the type of work involved, from a fixed fee for reviewing a contract to hourly rates for ongoing advice or dispute resolution. Many solicitors, including GLP, offer an initial conversation to discuss your situation and the likely costs involved before you commit.
Yes, many commercial disputes are resolved through negotiation or mediation rather than court proceedings. This is often quicker, less costly, and better for preserving business relationships. Court action is generally considered when other routes haven’t worked.
Without a written contract, it can be harder to prove what was agreed if a dispute arises. Verbal or informal agreements can still be legally binding, but they’re much more difficult to enforce, which is why written terms are strongly recommended.