Good contracts form the backbone of agency business: they create clarity between agency and client about expectations and responsibilities, they apportion risk and they are the key reference point when projects change, personnel move on or relationships shift.  They create value for the agency and are of course fundamental when problems arise and if well written will contain vital protections against liability and loss.

YOU WILL LEARN

The key legal provisions in a good client/agency contract: what they mean, the negotiation points, the usual sticking points and how to try and resolve them. When you can give and when you need to be careful. All in the context of the commercial dynamics of the client/agency relationship. The focus is on client/agency contracts but the principles can be applied to other agency contracts.

CONTENT

• Retainer v project model
• Service definition and SOWs
• Delivery dates and ‘time of the essence’
• Term
• IP – ownership and licensing
• Legal and regulatory compliance – who is responsible
• Data protection and data security
• Confidentiality
• Payment terms
• Exclusivity
• Team and key personnel
• Territory
• Limitations and exclusions of liability
• Termination

DELEGATE LEVEL

Account Directors/CFOs/Owner Managers – any team members responsible for contracting.

DATES AND TIME

3rd December 2026, 9.30am to 10.30am

TRAINER:

Dominic Bray is a partner in the Marketing and Advertising Group at law firm Lee & Thompson.  He also heads the firm’s Dispute Resolution Group.

Lee & Thompson is widely recognised as one the UK’s leading law firms for the creative industries and its Marketing & Advertising team is highly regarded by clients, peers and the leading legal directories (Chambers and Legal 500). Lee & Thompson works with a range of agencies (from small independent to large groups), brand owners, content creators, and technology providers in the sector. They have worked with the Alliance for many years, operating the Alliance Legal Service and Alliance Pitch Protection and providing help and advice to all our member agencies.

Dominic is an experienced and pragmatic lawyer with a focus on dispute resolution in intellectual property, media and entertainment, technology and sport. He also advises on regulatory compliance and enforcement in a range of areas including data protection, and marketing and advertising.  Drawing on his dispute resolution experience, Dominic regularly advises on commercial negotiations and drafting, contract termination and renegotiation, and on risk assessment and clearance issues.

Dominic regularly teaches on legal issues that affect our member agencies. He runs the ever-popular ‘Keeping It Legal’ module on The Alliance Diploma and is known for presenting in an accessible and engaging manner, bringing the law to life through his many years of practical experience of what really matters.

He is recommended by Chambers & Partners (IP) and Legal 500 (Brand Management) where he is noted for his ability to “get to the heart of the problem”, reflecting his focus on providing pragmatic, commercially focused, risk-sensitive solutions.