Find a Solicitor for your

Confidentiality Agreement

How our confidentiality agreement solicitors can help

In today’s world, where information is everything, a solid confidentiality agreement brings real peace of mind. Our network of expert solicitors can help business owners and individuals protect their sensitive information. Here’s how a Lawhive solicitor can support you:

Will a standard confidentiality agreement do the job?

Lots of clients come to us wanting a simple, one-size-fits-all NDA they can use across their business. We get it - it’s quick, easy, and keeps costs down. However, the more important the transaction or sensitive the information, the more valuable it is to have an agreement tailored to that specific situation. A custom confidentiality agreement isn’t just about being cautious, it’s about making sure you’re truly protected. If it matters, it’s worth getting right.

Why choose Lawhive for a confidentiality agreement solicitor?

Creating, reviewing, or enforcing a confidentiality agreement can be time-consuming, stressful, and costly. But with Lawhive’s expert commercial solicitors on your side, the process becomes simpler and more affordable. Here’s why Lawhive is the smart choice:

• Expertise in contract law: We work with a network of confidentiality agreement solicitors who are experts in contract law. They come with years of experience and understand the nuances of NDAs.

• Clear, cost-effective prices: At Lawhive, transparency is key. You’ll get a fixed-fee quote upfront, with no hidden costs and no pressure to commit. Plus, our fees are typically up to 50% less than high street solicitors. More value, less hassle.

• Fast legal help: We aim to connect you with a solicitor in as little as 48 hours. And typically, it's even faster than that. With Lawhive, confidentiality agreements are straightforward, affordable, and hassle-free.

Types of confidentiality agreements in the UK

Confidentiality agreements come in various forms, each designed to protect sensitive information in different contexts. Knowing which agreement fits your needs is key to maintaining privacy and trust.

Unilateral confidentiality agreements

Unilateral confidentiality agreements are one-sided, meaning only one party (the disclosing party) is allowed to share confidential information. In contrast, the receiving party is not authorised to disclose confidential information to anybody other than the entities specified in the contract. If you're a business owner and want to disclose sensitive information to your new employees, suppliers, or other shareholders, you might consider signing a unilateral confidentiality agreement.

Mutual confidentiality agreements

Mutual confidentiality agreements, like unilateral ones, are legally binding and used to protect private information. The only difference is that mutual confidentiality agreements allow both parties to regulate how the other party shares and uses their sensitive information. Solicitors tasked with drafting this binding agreement are responsible for creating balanced terms that facilitate clear communication and mutual trust between the parties.

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in employment

A non-disclosure agreement in employment is another legally binding agreement that prevents employees from disclosing sensitive business information, such as business plans, product prototypes, client lists or intellectual property. This type of agreement, which is often incorporated in employment contracts, is not only active when someone starts a new job; it will still be in effect even after the employee has already left the company.

What's the difference between a one-way and mutual NDA?

There are two main types of non-disclosure agreements:

• One-way NDA: This is used when only one party is sharing confidential information - like when a business is looking for suppliers and needs to share details so they can get quotes or bids.

• Two-way (or mutual) NDA: A mutual NDA is for situations where both parties are sharing sensitive information with each other, like in a business sale, an investment, or a joint venture. Here, each side’s details stay protected.

Whether it's one-way or mutual, the right NDA keeps your information secure so you can do business with confidence.

Confidentiality agreement process overview

Setting up a confidentiality agreement involves more than just signing a document. Your confidentiality agreement solicitor can guide you through each step of the way. Typically, the most common steps involved in creating an agreement are:

1. Initial consultation

The confidentiality agreement process begins with a consultation with your solicitor. You'll work out your exact legal needs like drafting new agreements or reviewing and modifying existing ones.

2. Drafting and customisation

After you or your solicitor have decided on the type of NDA that fits your business, the next step would be to draft the contract. While drafting it, your solicitor will include all kinds of clauses, including but not limited to confidentiality obligations, duration of confidentiality, permitted disclosures, consequences of the breach and many more.

3. Review and finalisation

After all the necessary clauses have been included, the next step is to review the agreement before finalising it. Typically, when reviewing a newly drafted agreement, you need to crosscheck the following:

• The contact information (which also includes the legal names) of the parties involved in the agreement

• The terms or duration of the NDA

• The specificity of the NDA to the business and whether the clauses are reasonable

• Copy and paste errors

• Ambiguous statement and unclear terms.

• Monitoring and enforcing compliance

After the agreement has been reviewed and signed by the two parties, the next step is to monitor and enforce compliance with its terms. Solicitors can assist you in monitoring compliance and enforcing conditions in the event of a breach. Their proactive approach ensures that any misuse of confidential information is promptly addressed, protecting your business from potential harm.

Confidentiality agreement vs. NDA: What’s the difference?

People often use “confidentiality agreement” and “non-disclosure agreement (NDA)” as if they’re the same thing, but there are some key differences in how they’re usually applied:

Confidentiality agreements

These agreements generally have a broader scope and are often used in employment settings to protect sensitive company information. They’re typically standalone agreements that set clear expectations for employees around confidentiality.

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)

NDAs are more specific, focusing on protecting certain types of confidential information, like trade secrets, intellectual property, or proprietary business details. They’re commonly used in business transactions - such as mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, or licensing deals - where confidentiality isn’t automatically assumed between parties, making an NDA essential for safeguarding sensitive information.

Understanding the differences can help ensure you’re using the right document for the right situation.

Get legal help today

If you're a business owner in the UK and want to safeguard your personal or business information from leaking to an unauthorised third party, confidentiality agreements can give you the protection you need.

Whether you need a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), a mutual confidentiality agreement, a unilateral confidentiality agreement, or any other form of confidentiality agreement, our team of experienced solicitors at Lawhive can assist you in creating one specific for your business.

References

• Non-disclosure agreements from Gov.uk