lawyer

#Commercial Law.

What is Commercial Law?

Commercial law provides the rules that merchants and others involved in commerce must follow as they conduct business amongst themselves and with consumers. It governs the sales of goods and services, negotiable instruments, security interests, leases, principal and agent relationships, contracts of carriage, and much more. In a broad sense, commercial law also encompasses related issues like business bankruptcy and tax planning.

Because various legal issues may be included or excluded from the subject of commercial law depending upon how expansively it is defined, it may be more helpful to consider the matter in terms of timing. Commercial law covers legal issues that arise prior to the initiation of a lawsuit. By contrast, once a lawsuit is filed, the same issues are more properly characterized as litigation. Thus, commercial law attorneys help their clients negotiate and enter into business deals. Litigation attorneys help their clients defend their interests in court when deals go bad.

Elements of a Contract

The ability to form contracts represents the foundation of modern commercial law. Without contracts, sellers and buyers would be unable to enter into transactions, as they would have no guarantee that the other side will honor its half of the bargain. That is not to say that contracts are based on the goodwill or trustworthiness of parties in the marketplace. Rather, contracts are based on a system of rules for forming agreements that, if followed, allows parties to rest assured that the terms of their agreements will be enforced by the legal system if necessary.

Contracts are formed when the following three elements are present: an offer, an acceptance, and consideration. For an offer to be valid, specific rules must be followed. The offer must be made to an identified party, and it must set forth definite and certain terms. The offer must also demonstrate a present intent to enter into an agreement. Similarly, the other party must properly accept the offer in order for a contract to be formed. In most situations, a valid acceptance must mirror the offer. A purported acceptance that adds new terms to the deal will not count. Instead, it will be treated only as a counteroffer.

The final element required to form a contract is known as consideration. Consideration refers to a bargained-for exchange. It means that the person who promises to do something must receive a benefit in return. Otherwise, the promise is merely gratuitous, and there is no contract. For example, if the owner of a lawnmower promises to lend it to a neighbor, no contract exists and the owner can later refuse. But if the neighbor pays the owner $10 in consideration for the right to borrow the lawnmower, a contract has been formed and the owner must honor it.

The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)

Because commercial law is primarily found in state statutes, there is a potential for states to enact conflicting rules, thereby disrupting the flow of interstate commerce. The UCC was created to remedy this situation. It was drafted by a non-governmental body to provide a standardized set of statutes dealing with commercial law, which each state is free to adopt if it chooses. All states have now adopted some form of the UCC.

Not all commercial transactions are governed by the UCC, however. It applies to the sale of �goods.� This includes just about any movable object, but it does not include services or real estate. The UCC also provides special rules for those who regularly deal in the type of goods at issue, as opposed to non-merchants who only buy or sell them occasionally. Another unique aspect of the UCC is known as the �perfect tender rule.� General commercial law principles only require parties to substantially perform their contractual duties to avoid breach. Under the UCC, a contract will be breached if the goods (or their delivery) fail to conform to the agreement in any way.

Third Party Contract Issues

In today�s complex marketplace it is not unusual for a contract to affect the rights of a third party � that is, someone other than the parties who created the contract. This can create a number of legal issues. Consider the example of a bank who lends money to a borrower. After making the loan, the bank sells its right to collect the loan to another company. Is the borrower obligated to pay the company, even though the borrower never contracted with them directly? And if the borrower fails to pay, can the company turn around and sue the bank for breach of contract? Commercial law provides answers to these and other such questions involving third parties.

Contact a Commercial Law Attorney

If you are struggling with a commercial law issue, there is no reason to handle the matter on your own. An experienced attorney can explain how the law applies to your situation and suggest a course of action designed to protect your legal rights. Schedule a consultation today.