Grist Legal Plain-English legal clarity for UK business

Grist Legal

Plain-English legal clarity for UK business

Latest Articles

The Board's Blind Spot: Creditor Duties When a UK Company Starts to Struggle
Dispute Resolution

The Board's Blind Spot: Creditor Duties When a UK Company Starts to Struggle

When cash flow tightens, UK directors often focus on shareholders, staff and the next customer invoice. A less obvious duty can later become personal liability: acting in the interests of creditors. This guide explains the warning signs, the board paper trail that matters, and when to take advice before wrongful trading risk escalates.

Commercial Contracts

From Footer Link to Checkout: A UK Online Terms Audit for 2026

A link to website terms in the footer is not, by itself, a legal shield. In 2026, UK online businesses need their terms, sign-up flow and checkout to work together. This practical audit covers incorporation, consumer cancellation rights, pricing errors and unfair terms.

When a Shareholder Dies: The Buyout Clause That Prevents a Company Freeze
Dispute Resolution

When a Shareholder Dies: The Buyout Clause That Prevents a Company Freeze

A shareholder's death can leave shares stuck in probate and major decisions blocked. This article explains the default position, why a cross-option agreement and insurance matter, and what directors should review now.

The Algorithm in the Annex: A Practical Guide to AI Clauses in UK Commercial Contracts
Commercial Contracts

The Algorithm in the Annex: A Practical Guide to AI Clauses in UK Commercial Contracts

AI terms often sit in schedules and definitions rather than the main contract. This practical guide explains how UK businesses can spot data-use, IP, confidentiality and liability clauses before signing, and negotiate them proportionately.

Deadlock, Departure and Discount: A Co-Founder Exit Playbook for UK Companies
Dispute Resolution

Deadlock, Departure and Discount: A Co-Founder Exit Playbook for UK Companies

Most co-founder disputes begin as a disagreement about direction and end as a question about price. This playbook sets out the pressure points — deadlock, unfair prejudice, bad leaver drafting — and a step-by-step route to negotiating an exit before a claim is issued.

Verified or Blocked: The Companies House Identity Checklist UK Directors Need in 2026
Commercial Contracts

Verified or Blocked: The Companies House Identity Checklist UK Directors Need in 2026

Identity verification is no longer a Companies House formality — it now gates director appointments, filings and, in practice, bank mandates. This is a plain-English checklist for owner-managed companies, covering who is caught, the traps around agents and appointed persons, and what happens when verification is ignored.

When a Customer Goes Bust: Retention of Title and the Supplier's Recovery Playbook
Dispute Resolution

When a Customer Goes Bust: Retention of Title and the Supplier's Recovery Playbook

Retention of title can help suppliers recover stock when a customer becomes insolvent, but generic wording and poor records often undermine the claim. This guide explains how UK suppliers can improve their position before and after an insolvency event.

Five Boilerplate Clauses That Can Turn a Routine UK Contract Into a Costly Dispute
Commercial Contracts

Five Boilerplate Clauses That Can Turn a Routine UK Contract Into a Costly Dispute

Copied contract templates often carry small-print clauses that shift risk quietly and expensively. This practical guide explains five common boilerplate provisions UK SMEs should review before signing or reusing them.

A Solicitor's Letter Has Arrived: What UK Directors Should Do in the First Two Days
Dispute Resolution

A Solicitor's Letter Has Arrived: What UK Directors Should Do in the First Two Days

The first two days after a legal letter, petition threat or county court claim often shape the rest of the dispute. This director-level checklist covers deadlines, evidence, insurance, privilege and the limited value of a hurried reply.

A Thumbs-Up Can Bind You: Informal Messages and Contract Risk in 2026
Commercial Contracts

A Thumbs-Up Can Bind You: Informal Messages and Contract Risk in 2026

An emoji, a quick email sign-off or a WhatsApp thread can sometimes do more than arrange a meeting: it may create legally binding obligations. This practical guide explains where informal agreements arise in UK SMEs and how to audit your channels before the next dispute.