[Date]

Strictly Private and Confidential

[Client name]

[Client address]\

Dear [Sirs/insert name]

Our relationship with you in relation to[Name of project/the provision of services]

1.                Introduction

1.1             This engagement letter (the ‘Engagement Letter’), together with our standard terms and conditions (‘Terms and Conditions’) sets out the terms on which we, [Full name of your company] (‘[Short name of your company]’ or ‘the Supplier’), have agreed to act for [Insert name of business] (the ‘Client’).  A copy of our current Terms and Conditions is appended to this letter. 

1.2             By executing the counterpart of this Engagement Letter the Client accepts and agrees to be bound by the terms of this Engagement Letter and the Terms and Conditions (together, the ‘Agreement’).

2.                Scope of our engagement

2.1             Under this Engagement Letter we will provide to the Client the following services (the ‘Services’) until completion of [include description of the project] as specified below during the ‘Engagement Period’:

(a)         [Phase 1 work];

(b)         [Phase 2 work];

(c)         [Phase 3 work];

(d)         [Phase 4 work].  

2.2             The duties and responsibilities of the Supplier are limited solely to those expressly specified in this Engagement Letter and the Terms and Conditions.

2.3             We shall not be obliged to provide any other advice or services unless we expressly agree to do so in accordance with the provisions of the Terms and Conditions.

3.                Fees and expenses for the provision of the Services

3.1             In consideration of the Supplier’s agreement to provide the Services, the Client agrees to pay the Supplier a total of [Currency symbol] [insert amount] plus VAT, if applicable, in respect of each Engagement Period (the ‘Fee’).

3.2             The Fee shall be paid as follows:

(a)         an initial kick-off fee of [insert amount], payable upon signature of this letter, which must be received by the Supplier’s designated bank account in cleared funds before the Supplier shall be obliged to commence activities preparatory to the provision of the services; and thereafter

(b)         upon completion of each phase: Phase 1: [Insert amount]; Phases 2 & 3: [Insert amount 1]; Phase 4::f[insert amount 2].

3.3             The Supplier shall invoice the Client in respect of each payment following the completion of each phase, together with any agreed expenses and VAT applicable.  The Fees shall be payable within 15 days following the issuance of the Supplier's invoice for each Phase.  The Client acknowledges that the Supplier has the right to suspend the provision of its Services in the event of late payment or failure to settle an invoice in full, and to claim interest on any unpaid balance.

4.                Term and termination

The Engagement Period beginning on [insert start date] will end upon completion of the Services or [Insert end date] whichever is the [Insert “earliest” or “latest”], unless the Agreement is otherwise terminated by the Client or the Supplier pursuant to the provisions of clause 2 of the Terms and Conditions.

5.                Acceptance

Please confirm the Client's acceptance of the terms of this Engagement Letter and the Terms and Conditions by signing below and returning one executed copy to us.

Yours sincerely,

…………………………………

[Your job title]

[Full name of your company]

The Client has had the opportunity to take independent advice regarding the Engagement Letter and Terms and Conditions and hereby accepts to deal with the Supplier on such terms. 

Signed: [Signed]

Director/authorised signatory: [Director/authorised signatory]

PRINT NAME: [Print name]

for and on behalf of [Insert name of client]

Terms and conditions of [Insert your full company name]

1.                Definitions and interpretation

1.1             In these Terms and Conditions, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:

1.2             Any capitalised term not defined in these Terms and Conditions shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Engagement Letter.

1.3             In these Terms and Conditions and the Engagement Letter, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)         any reference to the Agreement or this Agreement includes reference to the Engagement Letter and these Terms and Conditions as varied, amended, supplemented, extended, restated and/or replaced from time to time;

(b)         any reference to a clause or sub-clause is to a clause or sub-clause of these Terms and Conditions;

(c)         the headings in these Terms and Conditions are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect their construction or interpretation;

(d)         use of the singular includes the plural and vice versa;

(e)         use of any gender includes the other genders;

(f)           any reference to a 'person' includes a natural person, firm, government, state, partnership, company, corporation, association, organisation, institution, foundation, trust or agency (in each case whether or not having separate legal personality);

(g)         any reference to a statute, statutory provision or subordinate legislation ('legislation') shall (except where the context otherwise requires) be construed as referring to such legislation as amended and in force from time to time and to any legislation which re-enacts or consolidates (with or without modification) any such legislation;

(h)         reference to 'writing' or 'written' includes the representation or reproduction of words, symbols or other information in visible form by electronic communication;

(i)           any reference to a party is to a party to the Agreement and shall, where relevant, be deemed to be a reference to or include, as appropriate, its lawful successor, assignee or transferee; and

(j)           any phrase introduced by the terms 'including', 'include', 'in particular' or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms.

2.                Duration and Termination

2.1             [These terms and conditions shall apply for the engagement period and shall automatically renew for consecutive periods of equal length to the initial engagement period thereafter unless otherwise terminated in accordance with this clause 2.]

2.2             Without prejudice to any other rights or remedies which the parties may have and subject to the provisions of Clause 2.3 below, either party may terminate the Agreement by giving the other not less than 60 [Alter as appropriate] days' written notice before the end of the Engagement Period.

2.3             Either party may terminate the Agreement immediately by giving written notice to the other if:

(a)         the other party commits a material breach of any of the terms of the Agreement and (if such a breach is remediable) fails to remedy that breach within 30 days of that party being notified in writing of the breach; or

(b)         an order is made or a resolution is passed for the winding up of the other party, or circumstances arise which entitle a court of competent jurisdiction to make a winding-up order of the other party; or

(c)         an order is made for the appointment of an administrator to manage the affairs, business and property of the other party, or documents are filed with a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of an administrator of the other party, or notice of intention to appoint an administrator is given by the other party or its directors or by a qualifying floating charge holder; or

(d)         a receiver is appointed of any of the other party's assets or undertaking, or circumstances arise which entitle a court of competent jurisdiction or a creditor to appoint a receiver or manager of the other party, or if any other person takes possession of or sells the other party's assets; or

(e)         the other party makes any arrangement or composition with its creditors, or makes an application to a court of competent jurisdiction for the protection of its creditors in any way; or

(f)           the other party ceases, or threatens to cease, to trade; or

(g)         the other party takes or suffers any similar or analogous action in any jurisdiction in consequence of debt.

2.4             On termination of the Agreement for any reason:

(a)         the Client shall immediately pay to the Supplier all of the Supplier's outstanding unpaid invoices and interest (if any) and, in respect of Services supplied but for which no invoice has been submitted, the Supplier may submit an invoice, which shall be payable immediately on receipt;

(b)         subject to the payment of all amounts due by the Client under the Agreement for the relevant Deliverables, the Supplier shall provide the Client with any completed Deliverables created up to the date of termination; and

(c)         the accrued rights of the parties as at termination and the continuation of any provision expressly stated to survive or implicitly surviving termination (including, but not limited to, the Supplier's right to be paid Commission in respect of Introduced Investors notwithstanding that such investment is made after the termination of this Agreement), shall not be affected.

3.                Supplier's obligations

3.1             The Supplier shall use all reasonable endeavours to provide the Services and deliver the Deliverables to the Client in accordance with the Engagement Letter.

3.2             The Supplier shall appoint the Supplier's Manager who shall have authority contractually to bind the Supplier on all matters relating to the Services.  The Supplier shall use reasonable endeavours to ensure that the same person acts as the Supplier's Manager throughout the Engagement Period, but may replace him from time to time where reasonably necessary in the interests of the Supplier's business, in which case the Supplier shall promptly notify the Client of the identity of the new Supplier's Manager.

4.                Client's obligations

4.1             The Client shall:

(a)         co-operate with the Supplier in all matters relating to the Services and appoint the Client's Manager in relation to the Services, who shall have the authority contractually to bind the Client on matters relating to the Services; and

(b)         provide, in a timely manner, such material and information as the Supplier may request and ensure that it is accurate in all material respects.

4.2             If the Supplier's performance of its obligations under the Agreement is prevented or delayed by any act or omission of the Client, its agents, subcontractors or employees, the Supplier shall not be liable for any costs, charges or losses sustained or incurred by the Client arising directly or indirectly from such prevention or delay.

5.                Change of Services

5.1             If either party wishes to change the scope or execution of the Services, it shall submit details of the requested change to the other in writing.

5.2             If either party requests a change to the scope or execution of the Services, the Supplier shall, within a reasonable time and at no additional cost for the Client, provide a written estimate to the Client of:

(a)         the likely time required to implement the change;

(b)         any variations to the Fee arising from the change;

(c)         the likely effect of the change on the delivery of the Services; and

(d)         any other impact of the change on the terms of the Agreement.

5.3             If the Client wishes the Supplier to proceed with the change pursuant to which notice is given under the preceding provisions of this Clause 5, the Supplier has no obligation to do so unless and until the parties have agreed in writing on the necessary variations to the Fee, and any other relevant terms of the Agreement to take account of the change.

5.4             The Supplier may, from time to time and subject to the Client's prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), change the Services in order to comply with any applicable statutory or regulatory requirements, provided that such changes do not materially affect the nature and scope of the Services or the Fee.

6.                Payments of Fees and Commissions

6.1             The price for the Services shall be the Fee as set out in the Engagement Letter, which Fee is exclusive of VAT. The Fee in respect of each Engagement Period shall be paid to the Supplier without deduction or set-off. 

6.2             In the event of any successful investment in the Client by an Introduced Investor, the Client shall pay the Supplier the Commission as set out in the Engagement Letter.

6.3             The Supplier shall invoice the Client in accordance with the provisions of the Engagement Letter payments, together with any expenses and VAT.

6.4             The Client shall pay each invoice submitted to it by the Supplier, in full and in cleared funds, within 15 days of receipt.

6.5             Without prejudice to any other right or remedy that it may have, if the Client fails to pay the Supplier any instalment of the Fee or Commission on the due date, the Supplier may:

(a)         suspend all Services until payment has been made in full;

(b)         claim interest on any late payment allowed by legislation; or

(c)         terminate the Agreement with immediate effect.

(d)         file an “Unpaid Invoice” dispute on www.disputesregister.org

7.                Intellectual property rights

7.1             As between the Client and the Supplier, all Intellectual Property Rights and all other rights in the Pre-existing Materials shall be owned by the Supplier.  Subject to sub-clause 7.3, the Supplier licenses all such rights to the Client free of charge and on a non-exclusive, non-transferable basis solely to such extent as is necessary to enable the Client to use the Pre-existing Materials for its own business purposes.  In particular the Client is not permitted to sublicense, resell or make the Pre-existing Materials (or information contained therein) available to third parties for any commercial purposes other than that set out in the Engagement Letter without prior written permission of the Supplier and any extracts or summaries of the Pre-existing Materials must contain proper attribution to the Supplier in such form as it may approve from time to time.  If the Agreement is terminated, this licence shall automatically terminate with immediate effect.

7.2             As between the Client and the Supplier, all Intellectual Property Rights and all other rights in the Deliverables other than the Pre-existing Materials shall be owned by the Client.  The Client licenses all such rights to the Supplier free of charge and on a non-exclusive, sub-licensable and transferable basis.  This licence shall continue indefinitely, notwithstanding the termination of the Agreement for any reason.    

7.3             The Client acknowledges that, where the Supplier does not own any Pre-existing Materials, the Client’s use of rights in Pre-existing Materials is conditional on the Supplier obtaining a written licence (or sub-licence) from the relevant licensor on such terms as will entitle the Supplier to license such rights to the Client.  Upon receiving notice of such licence or sub-licence, the Client agrees to comply with its terms. 

8.                Confidentiality

8.1             The Receiving Party undertakes to keep the Disclosing Party's Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to any third party except as expressly permitted by these Terms and Conditions.

8.2             Each party undertakes that it will not, without the prior written consent of the other, disclose to any third party the existence or terms of the Agreement.

8.3             The restrictions and obligations set out in this Clause 8 do not apply to information which the Receiving Party is clearly able to demonstrate by documentary or other evidence:

(a)         is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of breach of the Agreement by the Receiving Party;

(b)         was received by the Receiving Party from a third party unless the Receiving Party knew that the third party was under an obligation of confidentiality to the Disclosing Party in relation to the information;

(c)         was rightfully in its possession prior to disclosure to it by the Disclosing Party;

(d)         was developed independently without access to, or use or knowledge of, the Confidential Information; or

(e)         was disclosed with the prior written consent of the Disclosing Party.

8.4             This Clause 8 does not prohibit disclosure of Confidential Information to:

(a)         the Receiving Party's directors, employees, contractors and/or members of its Group who need to know it in relation to the provision of the Services;

(b)         the Receiving Party's auditors/accountants and professional advisers who need to know it; or

(c)         the Financial Conduct Authority or HM Revenue & Customs or any other person having a statutory or regulatory right to request and receive that Confidential Information provided that, to the extent permitted by law, the Receiving Party gives the Disclosing Party such prior notice of such disclosure as is reasonable in the circumstances.

8.5             Each party will ensure that any person mentioned in Clause 8.4 to whom it has voluntarily disclosed Confidential Information of the other party is made aware, prior to the disclosure of that Confidential Information, that it is confidential and that such person and the Receiving Party owe a duty to the Disclosing Party to keep it confidential.  The Receiving Party shall be responsible for procuring that such person complies with the duty of confidentiality and use imposed by these Terms and Conditions as if he were a party to the Agreement and will be responsible for any unauthorised disclosure or use by such person of the Confidential Information pursuant to these Terms and Conditions.  For the avoidance of doubt, this Clause 8.5 does not apply to disclosures by a party pursuant to Clause 9.4(c).

8.6             This Clause 8 shall survive termination of the Agreement, however arising.

9.                Data Privacy

Each party is responsible for complying with any requirements and obligations that may apply to each of them respectively under applicable data protection laws and regulations relating to Personal Data made available to it.

10.             Non-Solicitation

The Client undertakes that it shall not, without the prior written consent of the Supplier, at any time from the Effective Date to the expiry of 12 months after the termination of the Agreement, solicit or entice away from the Supplier or attempt to employ any employees or directors of the Supplier, provided, however, that employment of prospective employees resulting from general advertising or unsolicited contacts initiated by an employee are not prohibited.

11.             Warranties

11.1          The Supplier warrants that:

(a)         it has the right to enter into the Agreement, and to grant the rights granted thereunder; and

(b)         it will perform the Services with reasonable skill and care in a competent and professional manner.

11.2          The Client warrants that it has the right to enter into the Agreement and to grant the rights thereunder.

12.             Indemnification

12.1          Subject to Clause 7.3, the Supplier agrees, at its own expense, promptly to defend, indemnify and hold the Client, its officers and employees harmless from and against any claims, demands, losses, damages, liabilities, expenses (including legal costs), judgments, actions or causes of action made or brought or incurred by the Client based on any third party claim that any Deliverable or Pre-existing Material used by the Client in accordance with these Terms and Conditions infringes or violates any Intellectual Property Rights of any third party except to the extent such claim:

(a)         is covered by the indemnification obligations of the Client to the Supplier in Clause 12.3;

(b)         arises from or relates to any modification to any Deliverable not performed or authorised by the Supplier; or

(c)         arises from or relates to the Client's use of any Pre-existing Material other than in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.

12.2          If such a claim is made (other than in relation to images or third party quotes contained within the Deliverables), the Supplier shall:

(a)         procure for the Client the right to continue to use the Deliverable or the Pre-existing Material in question, free of any liability for such infringement; or

(b)         modify the Deliverable or the Pre-existing Material in question so that it becomes non-infringing whilst otherwise complying with these Terms and Conditions.

12.3          The Client agrees, at its own expense, promptly to defend, indemnify and hold the Supplier, its members, agents and employees harmless from and against any third party claims, alleged claims, demands, losses, damages, liabilities, expenses (including legal costs), judgments, actions or causes of action made or brought against or incurred by the Supplier in connection with or related to:

(a)         any claim that the Client Material infringes upon any Intellectual Property Right or any other right of any third party or any claim that such materials are defamatory or otherwise not in compliance with applicable law; or

(b)         the Client's products or services, except to the extent that such claim arises as a result of or in connection with any of the Deliverables incorporated into such products or services.

12.4          The party providing indemnification will only do so to the extent that:

(a)         the indemnified party provides prompt written notice of any claims or actions for which it claims indemnification;

(b)         the indemnified party provides the party providing indemnification with reasonable assistance and cooperation in the defence of such claim or action; and

(c)         the party providing indemnification will have sole control over the defence and settlement of any such claim or action, provided that the indemnified party may participate in such defence at its own cost and that the indemnifying party may not settle any claim in a manner that imposes any obligation or liability on the indemnified party without the indemnified party's prior written consent.

13.             Limitation of liability

The Client's attention is particularly drawn to the provisions of this clause

13.1          This Clause 13 sets out the entire financial liability of the Supplier (including any liability for the acts or omissions of its members, employees, agents and subcontractors) to the Client in respect of:

(a)         any breach of the Agreement;

(b)         any use made by the Client of the Services, the Deliverables or any part of them; and

(c)         any representation, statement or tortious act or omission (including negligence) arising under or in connection with the Agreement.

13.2          All warranties, conditions and other terms implied by statute or common law are, to the fullest extent permitted by law, excluded from the Agreement.

13.3          Subject to Clause 13.4, the Supplier shall not be liable under or in connection with the Agreement for any loss of actual or anticipated income or profits, loss of contracts, loss of business, loss of goods or for any special, indirect, consequential or pure economic loss, cost, charge, expense or damage of any kind howsoever arising and whether caused by tort (including negligence), breach of contract or otherwise.  The Supplier's aggregate liability under or in connection with these Terms and Conditions, whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise, shall in no circumstances exceed 100% of the aggregate Fee paid by the Client up to and including the date on which the relevant claim arose.

13.4          Nothing in this clause limits or excludes the liability of the Supplier:

(a)         for death or personal injury resulting from negligence;

(b)         for any damage or liability incurred as a result of fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or

(c)         so far as the Services include the provision of any regulated activities (as defined in the FCA Rules) for any duty or liability the Supplier may have to the Client under the FCA Rules.

14.             Force majeure

A party shall have no liability to the other party if it is prevented from or delayed in performing its obligations under the Agreement or from carrying on its business by acts, events, omissions or accidents beyond its reasonable control, including strikes, lock-outs or other industrial disputes (whether involving the workforce of the Supplier, the Client or any other party), failure of a utility service or transport network, act of God, war, riot, civil commotion, malicious damage, compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction, accident, breakdown of plant or machinery, fire, flood, or storm (a 'Force Majeure Event').  Should the Force Majeure Event continue for longer than one month (or such other period as the parties may have expressly agreed in writing), the party adversely affected shall have the option of terminating the Agreement immediately without further liability other than such liabilities as have already accrued up to the effective date of termination.

15.             Entire agreement; supremacy

These Terms and Conditions and the documents referred to herein constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties and supersede any previous agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter of the Agreement.  To the extent that there is a conflict between the terms of the Engagement Letter and these Terms and Conditions, the terms of the Engagement Letter shall prevail unless expressly specified otherwise therein.

16.             Variation

Subject to Clause 5, no variation of this Agreement shall be valid unless it is in writing and signed by or on behalf of each of the parties.

17.             Waiver

17.1          A waiver of any right under this Agreement is only effective if it is in writing and it applies only to the party to whom the waiver is addressed and the circumstances for which it is given.

17.2          Unless specifically provided otherwise, rights arising under this Agreement are cumulative and do not exclude rights provided by law.

18.             Severance

18.1          If any provision (or part of a provision) of the Agreement is found by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, the other provisions will remain in force.

18.2          If any invalid, unenforceable or illegal provision would be valid, enforceable or legal if some part of it were deleted, that provision will apply with whatever modification is necessary to make it valid, enforceable and legal.

19.             Notices

Notice given under the Agreement shall be in writing, sent for the attention of the person, and to the address given in this Engagement Letter (or such other address, fax number, email address or person as the relevant party may notify to the other party) and shall be delivered personally, sent by fax or email or sent by pre-paid, first-class post or recorded delivery. A notice is deemed to have been received, if delivered personally, at the time of delivery, in the case of fax or email, at the time of transmission, in the case of pre-paid first class post or recorded delivery, 48 hours from the date of posting and, if deemed receipt under this clause 19 is not within business hours (meaning 9.00 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday on a day that is a business day), at 9.00 am on the first business day following delivery. To prove service, it is sufficient to prove that the notice was transmitted by fax or email, to the fax number or email address of the party as the case may be or, in the case of post, that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed and posted.

20.             Status of pre-contractual statements

Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that, in entering into the Agreement it does not rely on any undertaking, promise, assurance, statement, representation, warranty or understanding (whether in writing or not) of any person (whether party to the Agreement or not) relating to the subject matter of the Agreement, other than as expressly set out in the Agreement.

21.             Assignment

Neither party may assign or transfer its rights or obligations under the Agreement to any other person without the other party's prior written consent.

22.             No partnership or agency

Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or shall operate to, create a partnership between the parties, or to authorise either party to act as agent for the other, and neither party shall have authority to act in the name or on behalf of or otherwise to bind the other in any way (including the making of any representation or warranty, the assumption of any obligation or liability and the exercise of any right or power).

23.             Rights of third parties

This Agreement is made for the benefit of the parties mentioned herein and (where applicable) their successors and permitted assigns and is not intended to benefit, or be enforceable by, anyone else.

24.             Governing law and jurisdiction

24.1          This Agreement and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of England and Wales.

24.2          The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim that arises out of or in connection with the Agreement or its subject matter.