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TDC x
Studio Legal

Access a collection of legal agreements and supporting documents specifically relevant to the way interior designers and creative studios work.

The Collection

Running a successful design business takes more than creativity and great client relationships. It also means having clear boundaries, clearly defined responsibilities and the right protections in place when things don’t go to plan.
 

At The Design Coach, we’re committed to helping designers build businesses that are more confident, organised and profitable, and strong contracts are an essential part of that foundation.
 

That’s why we’ve collaborated with Jennifer Tutty, Founder and Principal of Studio Legal. Jennifer has prepared a special collection of legal agreements and supporting documents for our members, specifically relevant to the way interior designers and creative studios work.
 

Jennifer and the Studio Legal team understand the creative industries and the commercial realities that come with running a design business. From managing scope, revisions and client approvals, to procurement, intellectual property, suppliers, contractors and employees, these documents are designed to help establish clearer working relationships and reduce uncertainty before problems arise.
 

The TDC x Studio Legal Contract Collection gives designers access to professionally prepared legal templates for different stages and relationships within their business, whether you’re establishing your foundations, strengthening your client agreements, growing your team or putting more robust systems around the way you work.

NOTE: All contracts have been written by Jennifer Tutty for Studio Legal. All copyright in the contracts is owned by Studio Legal.

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About Studio Legal

Studio Legal is a boutique Australian law firm designed especially for creative people and businesses, supporting clients across Australia.
 

Working at the intersection of creativity and commerce, Studio Legal understands the commercial pressures that come with running a creative business, pursuing new opportunities and taking risks.

Their clients range from start-ups through to established international businesses across industries including architecture, interior design, advertising, marketing, the arts, entertainment, hospitality, fashion, technology and more.
 

Studio Legal deliberately takes a different approach to traditional lawyering. Their team understands that creative businesses don’t always relate to conventional legal services, so they focus on providing advice that is relatable, personalised and tailored to the unique needs of each client and their business.
 

Rather than offering off-the-shelf solutions or quick answers, they take the time to understand their clients, develop close working relationships and provide high-quality legal solutions aligned with their commercial goals.
 

Their services span commercial law, intellectual property and other legal services for creative businesses, including business structures, contracts, legal compliance and the protection of valuable intellectual property.
 

At its heart, Studio Legal aims to give creative people and businesses greater confidence and peace of mind, knowing their legal interests are protected.

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Jennifer Tutty

Jennifer (Jen) Tutty is the Founder and Managing Principal of Studio Legal, a leading Australian boutique law firm established in 2011, to support the unique legal needs of creative people and businesses.


Jen is a highly regarded legal advisor to Australia's creative industries, with a particular focus on servicing clients in the marketing, design, music, entertainment, architecture, fashion and arts sectors, including interior design.
 

With over 22 years in practice, Jen has spent her career advising the people who make things beautiful, designers, architects, artists, musicians, brands and the studios behind them. She works across copyright, trademarks, media, tech and commercial law, but thinks like a business owner first, having built and run her own firm from the ground up. Her clients range from solo creatives just starting out to household names, all of whom come to her for the same thing, advice that is practical, sharp and genuinely on their side.
 

As both a business owner and a creative herself, Jen brings a designer's eye for detail to the legal, commercial and personal challenges faced by her clients. She is known for her ability to deliver practical, strategic and empathetic legal solutions that protect, empower and elevate creative businesses and the people behind them.
 

When she's not working, you'll likely find Jen walking on the beach, playing piano or painting, developing her latest legal AI enabled app idea, or catching up with friends and family over a G&T or a nice glass of wine. If you're really lucky, you might even spot her DJing at an event or party.

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Introducing The Collection

Interior Design Services Agreement Template

OVERVIEW

A project starts out clear, then the brief shifts, the client asks for one more round of changes, and by the final invoice nobody quite agrees on what was actually promised.

The Interior Design Services Agreement sets out the relationship from day one, what you are delivering, how changes and approvals work, who owns the final designs, and what happens with payment along the way. It comes with an editable project proposal, so you can tailor the agreed services, deliverables, timelines and fees to each engagement. So instead of chasing sign off or wondering whether you are still within scope, you have something in writing both you and your client can point back to. These terms cover the key areas of the relationship, including: - Scope of Services and Deliverables - Revisions and Approvals - Procurement of Suppliers and Furniture - Fees and Payment Terms - Intellectual Property Ownership - Client Obligations - Confidentiality - Restrictions on Use of Designs - Termination and Cancellation - Indemnities and Limitation of Liability

Interior Design Copyright & Liability Documentation Disclaimers

OVERVIEW

Drawings and specifications do not stop at your desk, they get passed to builders, joiners and trades, and if something is misread or misused down the line, it can end up landing back on you.

These disclaimers protect you on two fronts, asserting your ownership of the copyright (and other IP rights, where applicable) in your design documentation and other materials, and limiting your liability for how that documentation is used once it leaves your hands. A note that drawings are for design purposes only and not for construction, or that joiners must take their own measurements before fabrication, shifts that responsibility back onto the trade carrying out the work. They sit across your design documentation and other client facing materials, giving you an added layer of protection with minimal extra work. These terms cover the key areas of the relationship, including: - Copyright and IP Ownership - Permitted and Restricted Use of Materials - Liability Disclaimers

Contractor Agreement Template

OVERVIEW

A contractor comes on board to help deliver a project, and somewhere along the way it becomes unclear who actually owns the work they produced, or whether they were ever properly engaged as a contractor in the first place.

The Contractor Agreement Template sets clear terms from the outset, scope of work, fees, intellectual property, and what happens if things do not go to plan. It comes with a statement of work template you can complete for each project a contractor works on. We recommend pairing this with an Employee v Contractor Assessment, so you know your contractor arrangements are legally sound before you rely on this agreement. These terms cover the key areas of the relationship, including: - Scope of Services and Deliverables - Approvals and Revisions - Term and Fees - Intellectual Property and Moral Rights - Insurance Requirements - Indemnities and Liability - Termination for Default - Confidentiality

Employment Agreement Package (Permanent & Casual)

OVERVIEW

As your studio grows, your team is rarely just one type of employee, and juggling different arrangements without the right paperwork behind each one is where gaps start to appear.

This package covers your whole team in one go, with agreement templates for full time, part time, fixed term and casual employees, so everyone is set up correctly no matter how your team is structured. We recommend pairing this with an Award Assessment, to confirm which modern awards apply to your business before your agreements are drafted. These terms cover the key areas of the relationship, including: - Modern Award Application - Pay Rates and Duties - Term of Employment - Intellectual Property Ownership - Moral Rights Waivers - Confidentiality - Restraint of Trade - Notice Periods

Employee v Contractor Assessment

OVERVIEW

Hiring someone as a contractor because it is simpler than putting them on as an employee feels like the easy option, until you find out it was never your call to make, and sham contracting penalties are significant.

We will assess your proposed contractor arrangements against a detailed questionnaire and provide clear, written advice on whether the staff you intend to engage as contractors can legally be hired that way. So you can bring people on with confidence as contractors, knowing the arrangement will actually hold up. This includes: - Assessment Against a Detailed Questionnaire - Review of Proposed Contractor Arrangements - Written Advice on Correct Classification

Property Styling/Interior Decoration Services Agreement Template

OVERVIEW

A styling job comes together beautifully, then a hired piece goes missing or gets damaged, or the client wants another round of changes the day before the shoot.

The Property Styling/Interior Decoration Services Agreement sets clear terms with your client, including how furniture and props are handled and who wears the cost if something goes wrong. It comes with an editable statement of work, so you can tailor the agreed services, deliverables and fees to each project. So a damaged rug or a last minute request does not turn into an argument about who is responsible. These terms cover the key areas of the relationship, including: - Scope of Styling Services and Deliverables - Engagement of Suppliers - Hiring of Furniture and Props - Liability for Damage to Furniture and Props - Intellectual Property Licensing - Client Obligations - Confidentiality - Fees and Payment Terms - Termination and Cancellation - Indemnities and Limitation of Liability

Short Form Project Photography Licence Deed Template (Commissioning Photography)

OVERVIEW

You engage a photographer to shoot a finished project, the images come back looking incredible, and then it is not clear what you are actually allowed to do with them, whether socials count, whether a magazine feature is included, or whether you need to ask again every time.

This licence deed sets clear terms with your photographer from the outset, what you can use the images for, where, and for how long, so the photography you have paid for actually works for your business. It also covers moral rights consents and credits, so your photographer is properly acknowledged and nobody is left guessing about attribution. So the images you commissioned are yours to use with confidence, without a follow up email every time you want to post. These terms cover the key areas of the relationship, including: - Copyright Materials Licensed - Permitted Uses of the Images - Territory and Conditions of Licence - Payment or Consideration for Licence - Moral Rights Consents - Credits Required

Permanent Employment Agreement Template

OVERVIEW

Bringing on your first permanent hire is exciting, but without the right agreement in place, entitlements, ownership of design work, and what happens if they leave to join a competitor are all left to chance.

The Permanent Employment Agreement Template sets clear terms for your full time and part time employees, from pay and duties through to confidentiality and notice periods. We recommend pairing this with an Award Assessment, to confirm which modern awards apply to your business before your agreements are drafted. These terms cover the key areas of the relationship, including: - Modern Award Application - Pay Rates and Duties - Term of Employment - Intellectual Property Ownership - Moral Rights Waivers - Confidentiality - Restraint of Trade - Notice Periods

Supplier Agreement Template, Short Form

OVERVIEW

An order goes out to a new supplier for a one off project, and when it arrives late, wrong, or not to spec, there is nothing in writing to fall back on.

The Short Form Supplier Agreement Template sets clear terms with your suppliers, suited to a single, one off supply arrangement, and comes with a statement of work form to record the specifics of each order. So you know exactly where you stand if an order does not go the way it should. These terms cover the key areas of the relationship, including: - Goods and/or Services to be Supplied - Order and Delivery Process - Acceptance of Goods/Services - Fees and Payment of Expenses - Intellectual Property Rights - Insurance Requirements - Australian Consumer Law Provisions - Indemnities and Liability - Cancellation and Termination - Confidentiality

Award Assessment (per employee)

OVERVIEW

It is easy to assume your team is paid correctly, until an underpayment claim shows the award you thought applied was not the right one.

We will assess your employees against the relevant modern awards and provide clear advice on classification and minimum entitlements. So you know your obligations are met before it becomes a much bigger problem to fix. This includes (per employee): - Correct Modern Award - Correct Employee Classification - Minimum Entitlements

Initial Consultation T&Cs

OVERVIEW

A prospective client books a first consultation, walks away with a head full of ideas, and either disappears without paying or expects those ideas to carry them through the whole project for free.

The Initial Consultation T&Cs set clear terms for that very first meeting, what is included, what it costs, and confirm there is no obligation on either side to proceed further. So your time and ideas are respected from the very first conversation, before any formal engagement even begins. These terms cover the key areas of the relationship, including: - Scope of the Initial Consultation - Fees and Payment Terms - Cancellation and Rescheduling - No Obligation to Proceed - Ownership of Preliminary Ideas Discussed - Confidentiality - Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

Short Form Project Photography Licence Deed Template (Licensing to Third Parties)

OVERVIEW

A client wants the project photos for their own website, a supplier asks to feature them in a catalogue, a stylist posts them with no credit in sight, and suddenly your images are out there on someone else's terms.

This licence deed lets you license your project photography to third parties on terms you set, what they can use, where they can use it, for how long, and how you and your photographer must be credited. It also puts limits on editing, cropping and passing the images on to someone else. So you can say yes when a request comes in, without losing control of where your work ends up or who gets the credit for it. These terms cover the key areas of the relationship, including: - Copyright Materials Licensed - Permitted Use by the Third Party - Territory and Conditions of Licence - Payment or Consideration for Licence - Restrictions on Alteration and Sub-licensing - Moral Rights Consents - Credits Required

Casual Employment Agreement Template

OVERVIEW

Casual staff come with their own rules around loading and entitlements, and getting it wrong can be an expensive mistake to unwind later.

The Casual Employment Agreement Template sets clear terms for your casual team, including award application and casual loading, alongside the same protections around confidentiality and intellectual property that matter for your business. We recommend pairing this with an Award Assessment, to confirm which modern awards apply to your business before your agreements are drafted. These terms cover the key areas of the relationship, including: - Modern Award Application - Casual Leave and Loading - Pay Rates and Duties - Intellectual Property Ownership - Moral Rights Waivers - Confidentiality - Restraint of Trade

Supplier Agreement Template, Long Form (Ongoing)

OVERVIEW

The same suppliers come up project after project, but fresh terms, or no terms at all, get negotiated every single time an order goes out.

The Long Form Supplier Agreement Template sets clear, recurring terms with suppliers who provide goods and/or services to you on an ongoing basis, and comes with an order form template you can use each time you place an order. So the terms of the working relationship is agreed in writing once, properly, rather than re-negotiated every time you need to order something new. These terms cover the key areas of the relationship, including: - Goods and/or Services to be Supplied - Order and Delivery Process - Acceptance of Goods/Services - Fees and Payment of Expenses - Exclusivity Terms - Intellectual Property Rights - Insurance Requirements - Australian Consumer Law Provisions - Indemnities and Liability - Cancellation and Termination - Confidentiality

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Packages

A

Package A:
Starter

For designers who want their essential legal foundations sorted from the start.
 

Package A brings together your client agreement, consultation terms, copyright and liability disclaimers, and a photography licence, everything you need to take on new clients and protect your work with confidence.
 

Includes:

  • Interior Design Services Agreement Template

  • Initial Consultation T&Cs

  • Interior Design Copyright and Liability Documentation Disclaimers

  • Short Form Project Photography Licence Deed Template (Commissioning Photographers)

B

Package B:
Advanced

For designers whose work spans both design and styling projects, and who deal with suppliers directly on a regular basis.
 

Package B builds on the essentials with agreements for both types of project, consultation terms, copyright and liability disclaimers, a photography licence, and a supplier agreement, so your client work and your supplier relationships are covered side by side.
 

Includes:

  • Interior Design Services Agreement Template

  • Property Styling/Interior Decoration Services Agreement Template

  • Initial Consultation T&Cs

  • Interior Design Copyright and Liability Documentation Disclaimers

  • Short Form Project Photography Licence Deed Template

  • Supplier Agreement Template, Short Form

C

Package C:
Premium

For designers running a bigger operation, with contractors and suppliers as part of how the business runs day to day.
 

Package C is our most comprehensive package. Alongside your client agreements, consultation terms, disclaimers and photography licence, it adds a contractor agreement, an Employee v Contractor Assessment, and a supplier agreement, so your whole business is covered, not just your client relationships.
 

Includes:

  • Interior Design Services Agreement Template

  • Property Styling/Interior Decoration Services Agreement Template

  • Initial Consultation T&Cs

  • Interior Design Copyright and Liability Documentation Disclaimers

  • Short Form Project Photography Licence Deed Templates (Commissioning Photographers + Licensing to Third Parties)

  • Contractor Agreement Template

  • Employee v Contractor Assessment

  • Supplier Agreement Template, Short Form

Custom Quote

Request a Custom Quote

Get a quote built around your studio. Tell us what you need and we'll put together pricing that fits your business. Please allow 4-5 business days to receive your custom quote.

How do you prefer to be contacted?
Contracts Required
Package Required
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