Frequently Asked Legal Questions

Labour and employment law covers legal issues arising from employment relationships, workplace conditions, employment documentation, disciplinary matters, termination and related disputes.

Written employment documentation helps define the terms and responsibilities of the employment relationship. The appropriate documentation depends on the nature of the employment and applicable requirements.

Depending on the relationship, an employment agreement may address duties, compensation, working arrangements, confidentiality, intellectual property, termination and other relevant terms.

The employer should review the employment terms, relevant documents, circumstances, applicable requirements and the process being followed.

A disciplinary notice communicates concerns or allegations relating to an employee's conduct or performance and provides an opportunity to respond, depending on the circumstances and applicable process.

Retrenchment is a legal concept relating to termination of employment in circumstances covered by applicable labour law. Whether a particular termination falls within the concept depends on the facts and applicable law.

Review the notice, preserve the relevant employment documents and communications, and consider obtaining professional legal assistance before responding where the matter is significant.

Legal support is available for appropriate employment and workplace disputes, including matters involving contracts, disciplinary action, termination and related issues.

Contract review helps identify important obligations, payment terms, liabilities, termination provisions, dispute mechanisms and other terms before the agreement is accepted.

The appropriate terms depend on the transaction. Common areas include the parties, scope, payment, responsibilities, confidentiality, intellectual property, liability, termination and dispute resolution.

Yes. Legal support includes review and analysis of commercial contracts and business agreements based on the transaction and circumstances.

A vendor agreement sets out the relationship between a business and a supplier or service provider, including responsibilities, payment, delivery, performance and other agreed terms.

An NDA, or non-disclosure agreement, is a contract addressing the disclosure and use of confidential information between parties.

Review the contract, relevant correspondence and supporting documents first. The appropriate response depends on the nature of the breach, contractual terms and applicable law.

Contracts, invoices, purchase orders, correspondence, payment records, delivery records and other documents connected with the transaction may be relevant.

MSME legal matters may include delayed payments, commercial contracts, recovery, legal notices, vendor disputes and other business-related disputes.

MSME Samadhaan is a government mechanism associated with delayed-payment matters involving eligible micro and small enterprises.

Eligibility depends on the applicable legal requirements and the status and circumstances of the enterprise. The relevant facts and documents should be reviewed before relying on a particular mechanism.

Review the contract or purchase terms, invoices, delivery records, payment history and communications. The appropriate recovery option depends on the facts and applicable law.

A legal notice is one possible step in some payment disputes. Whether a notice is appropriate depends on the transaction, documents, contractual terms and circumstances.

Relevant records may include contracts, purchase orders, invoices, delivery records, statements of account, payment records and communications.

Founders may consider documenting roles, responsibilities, ownership, decision-making, confidentiality, intellectual property and arrangements relating to future changes in the founder relationship.

A shareholders' agreement is a contractual arrangement addressing matters between shareholders, such as rights, responsibilities, decision-making and other agreed terms.

An NDA may be relevant when confidential business, technical, commercial or other sensitive information is shared with another party.

Ownership depends on the nature of the work, the relationship between the parties, applicable law and the contractual terms governing the work.

Ownership should be examined through the agreement, the nature of the engagement, applicable law and the terms concerning intellectual property.

Depending on the business model, a startup may need agreements with founders, employees, customers, vendors, consultants, technology providers and other parties.

A trademark is a sign used to distinguish the goods or services of one business from those of another.

A patent is a form of intellectual property protection relating to qualifying inventions, subject to applicable legal requirements.

Copyright relates to rights in qualifying original creative and expressive works, subject to applicable law.

Businesses often consider trademark protection when developing a brand. Whether and when to pursue registration depends on the brand, business plans and relevant legal considerations.

Yes. Intellectual property rights may be licensed through appropriate contractual arrangements, subject to the nature of the rights and applicable law.

Ownership depends on the nature of the work, employment relationship, contractual terms and applicable law.

Trademark rights may be subject to assignment, subject to applicable legal requirements and documentation.

Preserve transaction records, communications and other relevant information. The appropriate reporting and legal options depend on the circumstances.

Electronic evidence includes digital records such as emails, messages, transaction records, electronic documents and other digital information that may be relevant to a legal matter.

Relevant records may include messages, emails, screenshots, transaction records, account information and other communications connected with the incident.

Legal support is available for appropriate cyber-related complaints and disputes based on the facts and applicable legal framework.

A business should assess the incident, preserve relevant information and review the contractual, operational and legal issues arising from the circumstances.

Digital payment disputes may be reviewed based on the transaction, records, communications and circumstances involved.

Keep the purchase records, document the problem and preserve communications with the seller or service provider. The available legal options depend on the circumstances.

Deficiency in service is a legal concept concerning shortcomings in a service in circumstances covered by applicable consumer law.

Preserve the order, payment, refund request and communications. The appropriate next step depends on the transaction and applicable legal framework.

Relevant records may include invoices, receipts, order confirmations, payment records, warranty documents, photographs and communications.

Legal support is available for appropriate consumer matters involving defective goods, deficient services, refunds, warranties and related disputes.

Whether a legal notice is appropriate depends on the nature of the dispute, contractual terms, applicable law and circumstances.

The notice should be reviewed carefully along with the relevant documents before preparing a response or deciding on further action.

No. Depending on the dispute, negotiation, mediation, arbitration or other resolution methods may also be relevant.

Mediation is a process in which parties attempt to resolve a dispute with the assistance of a neutral third party.

Arbitration is a dispute-resolution process in which a dispute is referred to an arbitrator or arbitral tribunal where the applicable agreement and law provide for arbitration.

The duration varies based on the nature of the matter, forum, procedural stage, complexity and other circumstances. No fixed timeframe applies to every case.

Bring documents relevant to the matter, such as agreements, notices, invoices, correspondence, payment records and other records connected with the dispute.

An enquiry through a website does not by itself establish an advocate-client relationship. The nature of the professional relationship depends on the circumstances and applicable professional requirements.

Bring a clear summary of the issue and the documents relevant to the matter. Avoid sending unnecessary confidential information through an unsecured enquiry form.

Early legal review may help identify contractual, procedural or documentation issues before a matter develops further. The appropriate timing depends on the circumstances.

No. Website content provides general legal information. Advice for a specific matter requires consideration of the relevant facts, documents and applicable law.