Companies Act 2006: Primary legislation governing company formation, operation, and management in the UK, relevant for franchising entities
Contract Law (Common Law): Fundamental principles of contract formation, enforcement, and remedies under English common law
Competition Act 1998: Regulates anti-competitive behavior and agreements, crucial for territory restrictions and market division in franchising
Enterprise Act 2002: Supplements competition law and provides framework for market regulation
UK Competition Law: Post-Brexit competition regulations derived from EU law, affecting vertical agreements and franchise relationships
Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Regulation (VABER): Provides exemptions for certain vertical agreements from competition law restrictions
Trade Marks Act 1994: Governs trademark protection and licensing, essential for franchise brand protection
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988: Protects intellectual property rights in franchise systems including manuals and business methods
Trade Secrets Regulations 2018: Protects confidential business information and know-how in franchise relationships
UK GDPR: Regulates data protection and privacy requirements for handling customer and business data
Data Protection Act 2018: UK's implementation of data protection requirements, complementing UK GDPR
Employment Rights Act 1996: Governs employment relationships which may affect franchise operations
TUPE Regulations 2006: Protects employees' rights when businesses transfer ownership
Consumer Rights Act 2015: Protects consumer interests and affects franchise operations dealing with consumers
Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008: Prevents unfair commercial practices in consumer-facing businesses
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000: Regulates financial services and markets, relevant if franchise involves financial products
Food Safety Act 1990: Ensures food safety standards in food-related franchises
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: Sets workplace safety standards applicable to all franchise operations
Landlord and Tenant Act 1954: Governs commercial property leases which may be relevant for franchise locations
Arbitration Act 1996: Provides framework for alternative dispute resolution in franchise agreements
BFA Code of Ethics: British Franchise Association's ethical guidelines for franchise operations in the UK
European Code of Ethics for Franchising: European ethical standards for franchising still relevant post-Brexit as best practice
