Apr. 1, 2003

U.K. and California Strengthen Hand of Sales Reps

Forum Column - Business Law - By John W. Brooks and Mark Webber - Manufacturers of goods often engage independent sales agents to solicit wholesale orders for their products. These agents, called "sales reps," are not employees of the manufacturer but are assigned a territory to cover and paid a commission on orders that they generate. The arrangements between a manufacturer and its sales reps are often oral, sometimes "back of the napkin" and, occasionally, written.