Overview
Supply and distribution agreements are the backbone of many businesses — but poorly drafted contracts leave manufacturers, suppliers and distributors exposed to margin erosion, IP leakage and costly disputes when relationships break down. When disputes do arise, they escalate quickly: non-payment, quality issues, missed delivery windows and termination conflicts can interrupt operations and materially impact margin.
STA Legal advises clients across the supply chain: from manufacturers structuring their first distribution network, to established businesses renegotiating long-term supply arrangements, to those enforcing their rights when things go wrong. We act for manufacturers, exporters, distributors, agents, retailers and traders.
What We Handle
Drafting and structuring
- Exclusive and non-exclusive distribution agreements
- Supply and purchase agreements (including long-term and framework contracts)
- Agency agreements and commercial agent regulations compliance
- White-label, private label and co-manufacturing arrangements
- Minimum purchase obligations and territory protection
- IP licensing within supply and distribution structures
- Termination, exit and transition planning
Supply and purchase disputes
- Non-conforming goods, quality and specification issues and rejection rights
- Late delivery, missed schedules and consequential loss disputes
- Retention of title and recovery of goods
- Pricing, deduction, set-off and reconciliation disputes
- Force majeure and change-in-market disputes affecting performance
Distribution, agency and network disputes
- Termination disputes and notice validity
- Exclusivity and territory disputes
- Destruction or sale of warehoused goods
- Minimum performance and KPI disputes
- Parallel supply, grey market and brand control disputes
- Claims for damages, accounts and injunctive relief where appropriate
- Wrongful termination claims and urgent interim relief
Our Approach
We focus on the commercial realities of your supply chain, not just the legal mechanics. That means agreements that reflect how your business actually operates — with clear provisions on pricing, forecasting, exclusivity, IP ownership and termination that reduce ambiguity and the risk of dispute.
Where disputes do arise, we move decisively: supply chain disruption has immediate commercial consequences, and our litigation team is experienced in obtaining urgent relief where necessary.
Regulatory Considerations
Distribution and agency arrangements can trigger competition law issues — particularly around territorial restrictions, resale price maintenance and selective distribution. We advise on competition compliance as an integrated part of commercial drafting, not an afterthought.
