Corporate & Business Law · European Union
Protect Your Business With a Watertight Agency Agreement
Agency relationships look simple on paper — you find the clients, the principal pays a commission — but the moment a territory, a customer list or a termination clause is contested, the whole deal can unravel. We match you, free of charge, with a commercial lawyer who drafts, reviews and negotiates agency agreements across Europe, so your commission, exclusivity and exit terms are actually enforced.
- 155+ legal services, 14 practice areas
- Commercial lawyers across the EU & EEA
- No fee to get matched
No commitment. No hidden fees.
Get matched with a lawyer
Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
Who this is for
Whether you’re the agent or the principal, the contract decides who gets paid — and who gets sued
An agency agreement is the contract between an agent, who negotiates or concludes sales on behalf of a business, and the principal they represent. Under most European commercial codes, agency relationships carry statutory rights that cannot simply be written away — including compensation or indemnity on termination, notice periods and a duty of good faith. Whether you are a self-employed commercial agent building a client base for a manufacturer, or a principal appointing agents across several countries, the written terms determine how commission is calculated, who owns the customer relationships and what happens when either side walks away. Because agency law is partly harmonised within the EU but still applied differently in each country, a contract drafted for one market rarely travels cleanly to another.
Why agency deals go wrong
Agency disputes are rarely about the sales.
They’re about the small print.
Commission structures, exclusivity and termination rights vary sharply by country — and a loosely drafted clause can cost you a whole territory.
Unclear commission terms
Commission may be calculated on orders placed, paid or invoiced — each formula changes what you earn. Without a precise, written definition, a principal can delay or withhold payment and the agent has little leverage to argue.
Exclusivity promised but not written
A verbal promise of an exclusive territory is worth little in most jurisdictions. If exclusivity, minimum targets and the agent’s rights are not set out in writing, the principal can appoint a rival in your area with no penalty.
Termination without compensation
Across Europe, agents typically hold a statutory right to compensation or indemnity when the relationship ends. A contract that quietly applies foreign law, or ignores these rights, can strip away what you have spent years building.
What you get
An agency agreements lawyer who drafts for your market
We only match you with commercial lawyers who regularly handle agency and distribution contracts in your target countries.
Contract drafting & review
Your lawyer drafts or reviews the agreement line by line — commission formula, territory, exclusivity, targets and post-termination restraints — so every term matches the commercial law of the country where you will actually operate.
Commission protection
Clear, enforceable definitions of how and when commission accrues, what happens on late payment or direct sales by the principal, and how clawbacks work — so your income is not left to interpretation.
Termination & exit planning
Notice periods, compensation or indemnity on termination, and restrictive covenants are set out correctly from day one, protecting the goodwill and client base you have built.
Cross-border advice
Operating in several countries? Your lawyer coordinates the local statutory differences so one coherent framework governs the relationship, rather than a patchwork of incompatible national rules.
Coverage
Agency agreements lawyers across Europe
Commercial agency law is partly harmonised at EU level, but each country still applies its own compensation rules, notice periods and formalities. The right lawyer is one who works with your specific market’s commercial code on a regular basis. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Agency agreements — common questions
What is the difference between an agent and a distributor?
An agent negotiates or concludes sales on behalf of the principal and is typically paid commission, while a distributor buys and resells the goods on its own account. The distinction matters because most European countries grant agents specific statutory protections — including compensation on termination — that distributors do not automatically receive.
Am I entitled to compensation when my agency agreement ends?
In most EU countries, a commercial agent is entitled to compensation or an indemnity when the agreement ends, provided the conditions in the relevant national law are met. The amount and test vary by country, so it is worth having a lawyer assess your position rather than accepting the principal’s first offer.
Should I apply my own country’s law to the agreement?
Not necessarily. The choice of governing law affects your statutory rights, and in many countries an agent cannot simply be deprived of local protections by a choice-of-law clause. A lawyer can advise which law and forum give you the strongest practical position before you sign.
What should an agency agreement cover?
At a minimum, a well-drafted agreement covers the territory and products, exclusivity, commission rate and calculation, payment terms, targets, notice periods, and what happens on termination. The exact clauses that matter depend on the country and the sector, which is why a local commercial lawyer should review it.
Can a principal terminate without notice?
Most countries allow immediate termination only for a serious breach, and otherwise require a statutory or contractual notice period that often lengthens with the duration of the relationship. Terminating without proper notice can trigger a claim for compensation, so the grounds should be checked by a lawyer first.
Do I need a lawyer for a standard agency template?
Even a ‘standard’ template can carry a foreign governing law clause or omit statutory compensation rights that would otherwise protect you. Because the consequences only surface when the relationship ends, it is usually cheaper to have the agreement reviewed now than to litigate a vague clause later.
Free case review
Don’t let a vague clause decide the value of your business
Tell us whether you are the agent or the principal, and we’ll connect you with a commercial lawyer who handles agency agreements in your market — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.