24/08/2026
In motorsport, it surprises me that a lot of business is still done ‘on a handshake’.
As a lawyer, I always advise clients to put everything in writing.
Why? Because I often only get to deal with things once they’ve gone wrong so see the problems this causes.
When there’s a dispute, memory can be unreliable and shaky and emotions run high. People love to rewrite history and, (sometimes unintentionally) put their version of events as very different to what may have actually happened.
You may be able to explain yourself perfectly and know that you are 100% correct but, if there isn’t an email, a text thread, notes, or, ideally a signed contract, everything can become very complicated and expensive to put right.
It’s much better to spend a bit of money initially and get a contract prepared correctly than have to deal with problems that occur if things go wrong and when you need to either enforce or protect your position.
At the very, very least, ALWAYS confirm any discussions in writing!
