Agent agreements

Agent agreements are contracts between two parties; an agent and a principal. Parties to agent agreements can be both individuals and companies. The main goal of these agreements is to allow the agent to act on behalf of the principal, legally binding the principal to agreements they enter.

This relationship places much power in the hands of the agent. The law therefore places the agents under fiduciary duties, ensuring that the agent’s behaviour will always be for the benefit of the principal. In a business setting, company directors are said to have agent agreements with the company, where they serve as agents and the company is the principal. With company law the fiduciary duties are also defined in statute (specifically the Companies Act). These are set to ensure that the agent’s actions reflect their company’s best interest.

Agent agreements may arise without the need for writing, and on occasion without intent. Whenever a party permits another party to act on its behalf there is the potential for an agency agreement to arise

If you are a party to an agent agreement, it is important for you to know what your legal requirements are, and what protections you may find in the law. Agent agreements are found in all areas of law, but most legal issues and disputes arise from contract law and from land or property law. This is because in these fields the agents are often individuals who could have conflicting interests.

If you would like to obtain legal advice on agent agreements, Contact Law can put you in touch with a local specialist contract solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding local specialist contract solicitors please call us on 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.

Quick enquiry form

First name

Surname

Postcode

Daytime phone number

Email address

As featured in:

Contact Law complies with Rule 9 of the 2007 Solicitors Code of Conduct regarding referrals published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and any solicitor to whom we refer you is an independent professional, from whom you will receive impartial and confidential advice. You are free to choose another solicitor. In the event that you instruct a solicitor, Contact Law will be paid a referral fee by the solicitor that is equivalent to 15% of profit costs on your case and/or an annual membership fee to participate in our solicitor network, but this will not be added to your bill. Click here for more information on the SRA

Thomson Reuters (Legal) Limited (trading as Contact Law) is a company registered in England and Wales (company number 1679046) whose registered address is 100 Avenue Road, London NW3 3PF. Please direct all postal correspondence for Contact Law to FindLaw, The Warehouse Office Suites, 12a Ravensbury Terrace, London, SW18 4RL