States

This document describes New York’s freedom of contract laws and many of the common exceptions to them. It also discusses the Uniform Commercial Code which defines the rules for distribution and sales representative agreements throughout the state. In addition, the document explains issues regarding franchise laws, tax considerations, and competition/anti-trust/non-compete covenants. Prepared by: Harter Secrest & Emery LLP.

This document provides a thorough description of Ohio’s laws regarding distributorships, franchise agreements, monopolies, trade relationships, and other specific types of businesses. Prepared by: Walter & Haverfield LLP.

This document outlines Minnesota's laws regarding franchises, distributors, sales representatives, and how their contracts are to be created. Prepared by: Mackall, Crounse & Moore PLC.

This document describes how the New Jersey Sales Representatives’ Rights Act, freedom of contract, and the Franchise Practice Act help to determine business actions. A brief overview of New Jersey's economy is also provided. Prepared by: Fox Rothschild LLP.

This document defines Pennsylvania’s laws pertaining to freedom of contract and franchises and is a part of a series of documents on trade law reports. It also discusses the Commissioned Sales Representative Act and Pennsylvania’s economic background. Prepared by: Fox Rothschild LLP.

This document describes Maryland's freedom of contract laws and their restrictions on non-compete provisions and exclusivity. The Maryland Fair Distributorship Act is also explained in detail, along with information regarding sales taxes. Prepared by: Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP

This document provides an overview for the legal climate of conducting business in Delaware. Also included is a section on freedom of contract. Prepared by: Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLC

This document describes the Illinois Sales Representatives Act in detail and how it affects all aspects of business, from the manufacturer to the sales representatives. It also discusses exemplary damages and attorneys’ fees, choice of law and forum-selection clauses, and other common issues regarding contracts. Opens in PDF. Prepared by: Shefsky & Froelich Attorneys at Law.

The document outlines how Indiana law applies to the relationships between companies, sales representatives, and distributors. It also defines Indiana’s restrictions for terms in written contracts, exclusivity and anti-trust considerations, non-compete provisions, and choice of law. Prepared by: Kightlinger & Gray, LLP. Opens in PDF.

The Sales Representative and Distributorship Contracts in Massachusetts document describes how Massachusetts law regulates agreements with a sales representative or distributor. It also outlines the process for handling contracts and the exceptions for freedom of contract, terms in contracts, independent employment laws, uniform commercial code, and business taxes. Prepared by: Sherin and Lodgen LLP.

This document describes Michigan’s use of Freedom of Contract and its exceptions. The Michigan Sales Representative Act and Michigan’s limitations on the enforceability of non-competition agreements are also briefly described. Issues such as absent or ambiguous terms, oral contracts, franchise relationships, taxes, and antitrust laws are discussed as well. Prepared by: Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. File opens in PDF.

This document provides the legal framework that a manufacturer who is interested in pursuing a sales representative or distributorship arrangement in Oregon should follow. Brief summaries of potential legal issues involving contracts, representative statutes, noncompetition provisions, franchise details, tax implications, and Oregon antitrust laws are also included. Prepared by: Ater Wynne LLP Attorneys at Law.

This document examines Utah’s freedom of contract laws, and its specific exception: the Utah Sales Representative Commission Payment Act. It also describes several other common issues in sales representative or distributorship arrangements such as non-competition provisions, franchise or business opportunity laws, tax implications, and antitrust law complications. Prepared by AterWynne LLP Attorneys at Law.

This document covers legal issues dealing with business contract law in the State of Virginia. It has information on topics such as freedom of contract, franchise, exclusivity, choice of law, non-compete provisions, and special tax considerations. Prepared by: Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP

This document provides a brief description of the Washington Sales Representative Statutes along with many of the common issues that arise such as wholesale agreements, commission deadlines, and post-termination commission contingencies. It also touches on several other potential issues such as noncompetition provisions, franchise or business opportunity possibilities, tax implications, and Washington antitrust laws. Prepared by: Ater Wynne LLP Attorneys at Law.

This document describes the Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law and the Wisconsin Franchise Investment Law in depth. Prepared by: DeWitt Ross & Stevens Law Firm.