Dubai-based solicitors launch contracts on-line.

Two English solicitors based in Dubai this week launched a business-to-business Internet site providing practical commercial contracts on-line.

The service claims to be the first to offer a wide range of commercial contracts for use by other professionals and in-house lawyers in the smaller and more medium-sized businesses.

Examples of the 26 commercial contracts on the site, which are charged on a single or multiple-use basis, include: agency agreements costing 40 for a single use or 100 for multiple use; confidentiality agreements charged at 15 or 70; shareholder agreements costing 45 or 105; and employment contracts for 30 or 90.

A variety of construction and engineering contracts, costing between 20 to 35 for single use and 85 to 95 for multiple use, include those for the appointment of architects, surveyors and structural engineers, novation agreements, and arbitration agreements.

The service was launched by Christopher Dixon and Jeremy Key of Dubai-based four-partner firm Key Dixon - both former managing partners of the Dubai office of London firm Fox Gibbons which was taken over by Denton Hall (now Denton Wilde Sapte).

The new site is wholly independent from the duo's law practice.

Mr Dixon said the company's target market was other non-professionals who 'don't want to get slapped with a large bill when visiting their lawyers'.

Although the contracts provide users with the basic information needed, clients are advised to seek legal advice to ensure that 'final adjustments meet with their particular needs and comply with any local jurisdictional requirements', Mr Dixon added.

LINKS www.contractstore.comSue Allen