SEO & Civil Law:Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client

Disputes

Steve Morgan

@steviephil #brightonSEO

Disclaimers• I am an SEO professional, not a legal professional• Not legal advice: just my own experiences – if you take it on-board then I am not responsible for whatever happens• Applicable to England & Wales civil law (i.e. may be different for Scotland, NI, Ireland, Europe, etc.)

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Introduction bit.ly/1kHQCPA

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The story

2009-2013

2014

2015

My contract

Bad work (from previous SEO)

The dispute…

Start

Disavow Redesign End

ResultCourtStart Resubmitted

Notice

Set aside

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All that matters…“It’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove.”

– Alonzo Harris(Denzel Washington), Training Day

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Protecting yourself pre-dispute1) Go with your gut

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Protecting yourself pre-dispute

2) Lay strong foundations

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Protecting yourself pre-dispute

3) Get a good contract

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Protecting yourself pre-dispute

4) Get everything in writing

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Protecting yourself pre-dispute

5) Screenshot everything you can

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If a dispute happens…1) Show your hand

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If a dispute happens…

2) Compile all the evidence

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If a dispute happens…

3) Compile all the witness statementshttp://www.johnantell.co.uk/how-to-write-a-witness-statement

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If a dispute happens…

4) Consider an unbiased expert

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If a dispute happens…

5) Consider legal help (even just a one-off)

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If a dispute happens…

6) Stay organised

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The showdown day in court…1) Prepare for cross-examination

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The showdown day in court…

2) Use analogies

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The showdown day in court…

3) Get help from the Personal Support Unit (PSU)thepsu.org

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Final considerations…

• Consider: the size of the debt

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Final considerations…

• Consider: the risk of not fighting it

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Thanks for listening

Freelancemorganonlinemarketing.co.uk

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