These terms shall apply to the supply of goods and services by Covestus Ltd to businesses. The Customer's attention is particularly drawn to the provisions of clause 13 (Limitation of liability).
1. Interpretation
The following definitions and rules of interpretation apply in these Conditions.
1.1 Definitions:
Business Day: a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in England, when banks in London are open for business.
Commencement Date: has the meaning given in clause 2.2.
Conditions: these terms and conditions as amended from time to time in accordance with clause 17.8.
Consents: all rights, approvals, authorizations, licenses, registration, declarations, waivers, filings, consents, and permits, including authorization and releases from the Customer’s test subjects with respect to informed consent for testing and consents from test subjects for the release of test results and any other data to the Customer, including where applicable, necessary consent from parents or guardians for those test subjects who are under the age of majority under applicable law.
Contract: the contract between the Supplier and the Customer for the supply of Goods and/or Services in accordance with these Conditions.
Customer: the person or firm who purchases the Goods and/or Services from the Supplier.
Deliverables: the deliverables set out in the Order, including any relevant certificates supplied to the Customer.
Delivery Location: has the meaning given in clause 4.2.
Force Majeure Event: has the meaning given to it in clause 16.
Goods: the goods (or any part of them) set out in the Order.
Goods Specification: any specifications and instructions for use relating to the Goods provided by the Supplier to the Customer, including as to the return of those Goods to the Supplier for analysis in connection with the Services.
Intellectual Property Rights: all right, title and interest in inventions, proprietary processes, software, data, technology, know-how and other intellectual property that have been independently developed or discovered by the Supplier, including those that relate to the Service, the testing process, the mobile testing facility and the testing procedures hereunder, techniques, skills, models, and any other materials, employed, developed or obtained by the Supplier outside the scope of this Agreement.
Order: the Customer’s order for the Goods, as agreed orally by telephone and set out in the Customer’s purchase order form, the Customer’s written acceptance of the Supplier’s quotation as the case may be.
Services: the services, including the Deliverables, supplied by the Supplier to the Customer as set out in the Service Specification.
Service Specification: the description or specification for the Services provided by the Supplier to the Customer.
Supplier: Covestus Ltd (trading as Covguard) registered in England and Wales with company number 11667150 with registered address at 1 Pulteney Road, Bath, BA2 4HD.
1.2 Interpretation:
(a) Any words following the terms including, include, in particular, for example or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words, description, definition, phrase or term preceding those terms.
(b) A reference to writing or written includes email but not fax.
2. Basis of Contract
2.1 The Order constitutes an offer by the Customer to purchase Goods or Services or Goods and Services in accordance with these Conditions.
2.2 The Order shall only be deemed to be accepted when the Supplier issues written acceptance of the Order at which point and on which date the Contract shall come into existence (Commencement Date).
2.3 Any descriptions or advertising materials issued by the Supplier are for the sole purpose of giving an approximate idea of the Services and/or Goods described in them. They shall not form part of the Contract nor have any contractual force.
2.4 These Conditions apply to the Contract to the exclusion of any other terms that the Customer seeks to impose or incorporate, or which are implied by law, trade custom, practice or course of dealing.
2.5 Any quotation given by the Supplier shall not constitute an offer, and is only valid for a period of 20 Business Days from its date of issue.
2.6 All of these Conditions shall apply to the supply of both Goods and Services except where application to one or the other is specified.
2.7 The Goods and Services provided by us are not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
3. Goods
3.1 The Goods are as described on the Supplier’s website or as set out in any relevant Order.
3.2 The Supplier reserves the right to amend the Goods Specification if required by any applicable statutory or regulatory requirement, and the Supplier shall notify the Customer in any such event.
4. Delivery of Goods
4.1 The Supplier shall ensure that:
(a) each delivery of the Goods is accompanied by a delivery note which shows the date of the Order, any reference number, the type and quantity of the Goods (including the code number of the Goods, where applicable), special storage instructions (if any) and, if the Order is being delivered by instalments, the outstanding balance of Goods remaining to be delivered; and
(b) it states clearly on the delivery note any requirement for the Customer to return any packaging material to the Supplier. The Customer shall make any such packaging materials available for collection at such times as the Supplier shall reasonably request. Returns of packaging materials shall be at the Supplier's expense.
4.2 The Supplier shall deliver the Goods to the location set out in the Order or such other location as the parties may agree (Delivery Location) at any time after the Supplier notifies the Customer that the Goods are ready.
4.3 Delivery of the Goods shall be completed on the completion of unloading of the Goods at the Delivery Location.
4.4 Any dates quoted for delivery of the Goods are approximate only, and the time of delivery is not of the essence unless stated otherwise in the Order. The Supplier shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of the Goods that is caused by a Force Majeure Event or the Customer's failure to provide the Supplier with adequate delivery instructions or any other instructions that are relevant to the supply of the Goods.
4.5 If the Supplier fails to deliver the Goods, its liability shall be limited to the costs and expenses incurred by the Customer in obtaining replacement goods of similar description and quality in the cheapest market available, less the price of the Goods. The Supplier shall have no liability for any failure to deliver the Goods to the extent that such failure is caused by a Force Majeure Event or the Customer's failure to provide the Supplier with adequate delivery instructions or any other instructions that are relevant to the supply of the Goods.
4.6 If the Customer fails to take or accept delivery of the Goods within three Business Days of the agreed date, then except where such failure or delay is caused by a Force Majeure Event or by the Supplier's failure to comply with its obligations under the Contract in respect of the Goods:
(a) delivery of the Goods shall be deemed to have been completed at 9.00 am on the agreed date; and
(b) the Supplier shall store the Goods until delivery takes place, and charge the Customer for all related costs and expenses (including insurance).
4.7 If ten Business Days after the day on which the Supplier notified the Customer that the Goods were ready for delivery the Customer has not taken actual delivery of them, the Supplier may resell or otherwise dispose of part or all of the Goods.
4.8 The Supplier may deliver the Goods by instalments, which shall be invoiced and paid for separately. Each instalment shall constitute a separate contract. Any delay in delivery or defect in an instalment shall not entitle the Customer to cancel any other instalment.
5. Quality of Goods
5.1 The Supplier warrants that on delivery, the Goods shall:
(a) conform in all material respects with their description;
(b) be free from material defects in design, material and workmanship; and
(c) be of satisfactory quality (within the meaning of the Sale of Goods Act 1979).
5.2 Subject to clause 5.3, if:
(a) the Customer gives notice in writing to the Supplier within a reasonable time of discovery that some or all of the Goods do not comply with the warranty set out in clause 5.1;
(b) the Supplier is given a reasonable opportunity of examining such Goods; and
(c) the Customer (if asked to do so by the Supplier) returns such Goods to the Supplier's place of business at the Customer's cost,
the Supplier shall, at its option, repair or replace the defective Goods, or refund the price of the defective Goods in full.
5.3 The Supplier shall not be liable for the Goods' failure to comply with the warranty set out in clause 5.1 if:
(a) the Customer makes any further use of such Goods after giving a notice in accordance with clause 5.2;
(b) the defect arises because the Customer failed to follow the Supplier's oral or written instructions as to the storage, installation, commissioning, use or maintenance of the Goods or (if there are none) good trade practice regarding the same;
(c) the defect arises as a result of the Supplier following any drawing, design or Goods Specification supplied by the Customer;
(d) the Customer alters or repairs such Goods without the written consent of the Supplier;
(e) the defect arises as a result of fair wear and tear, wilful damage, negligence, or abnormal working conditions; or
(f) the Goods differ from their description as a result of changes made to ensure they comply with applicable statutory or regulatory standards.
5.4 Except as provided in this clause 5, the Supplier shall have no liability to the Customer in respect of the Goods' failure to comply with the warranty set out in clause 5.1.
5.5 These Conditions shall apply to any repaired or replacement Goods supplied by the Supplier.
6. Title and Risk
6.1 The risk in the Goods shall pass to the Customer on completion of delivery.
6.2 Title to the Goods shall not pass to the Customer until the Supplier receives payment in full (in cash or cleared funds) for the Goods.
6.3 Until title to the Goods has passed to the Customer, the Customer shall:
(a) store the Goods separately from all other goods held by the Customer so that they remain readily identifiable as the Supplier's property;
(b) not remove, deface or obscure any identifying mark or packaging on or relating to the Goods;
(c) maintain the Goods in satisfactory condition and keep them insured against all risks for their full price on the Supplier's behalf from the date of delivery;
(d) notify the Supplier immediately if it becomes subject to any of the events listed in clause 14.2(b) to clause 14.2(d); and
(e) give the Supplier such information as the Supplier may reasonably require from time to time relating to:
(a) the Goods; and
(b) the ongoing financial position of the Customer.
6.4 At any time before title to the Goods passes to the Customer, the Supplier may require the Customer to deliver up all Goods in its possession that have not been resold, or irrevocably incorporated into another product and if the Customer fails to do so promptly, enter any premises of the Customer or of any third party where the Goods are stored in order to recover them.
7. Supply of Services
7.1 The Supplier shall supply the Services to the Customer in accordance with the Service Specification in all material respects.
7.2 The Supplier shall use all reasonable endeavours to meet any performance dates for the Services specified in the Order, but any such dates shall be estimates only and time shall not be of the essence for the performance of the Services unless agreed otherwise.
7.3 The Supplier reserves the right to amend the Service Specification if necessary to comply with any applicable law or regulatory requirement, or if the amendment will not materially affect the nature or quality of the Services, and the Supplier shall notify the Customer in any such event.
7.4 The Supplier warrants to the Customer that the Services will be provided using reasonable care and skill.
7.5 The Supplier will perform the Service in accordance with any and all applicable medical standards, rulings, and regulations and any other governmental agency responsible for administering, regulating, or accrediting healthcare facilities or professionals.
7.6 The Supplier shall be entitled to use agents and sub contractors in the provision of the Services provided that the Supplier will be responsible for the acts and omissions of such agents and sub contractors as if the Services were performed by the Supplier.
7.7 In connection with the Services, the Supplier shall, provide copies of the Deliverables as agreed in the Order, including, where relevant and upon request:
(a) applicable laboratory licenses, test certifications and medical qualifications to perform the Service;
(b) an electronic copy of the original laboratory report to the Customer, which shall include the test subject’s name, date of birth, date of test, telephone number and test result.
8. Customer's Obligations
8.1 The Customer shall:
(a) ensure that the Order and any information provided in any Service Specification and/or Goods Specification are complete and accurate;
(b) co-operate with the Supplier in all matters relating to the Services, including following any written instructions provided to the Customer;
(c) provide the Supplier, its employees, agents, consultants and subcontractors, with access to the Customer's premises, office accommodation and other facilities as reasonably required by the Supplier to provide the Services;
(d) provide the Supplier with such information and materials as the Supplier may reasonably require in order to supply the Services, and ensure that such information is complete and accurate in all material respects;
(e) prepare the Customer's premises for the supply of the Services;
(f) comply with all applicable laws, including health and safety laws; and
(g) comply with any additional obligations as set out in the Service Specification and the Goods Specification.
8.2 If the Supplier's performance of any of its obligations under the Contract is prevented or delayed by any act or omission by the Customer or failure by the Customer to perform any relevant obligation (Customer Default):
(a) without limiting or affecting any other right or remedy available to it, the Supplier shall have the right to suspend performance of the Services until the Customer remedies the Customer Default, and to rely on the Customer Default to relieve it from the performance of any of its obligations in each case to the extent the Customer Default prevents or delays the Supplier's performance of any of its obligations;
(b) the Supplier shall not be liable for any costs or losses sustained or incurred by the Customer arising directly or indirectly from the Supplier's failure or delay to perform any of its obligations as set out in this clause 8.2; and
(c) the Customer shall reimburse the Supplier on written demand for any costs or losses sustained or incurred by the Supplier arising directly or indirectly from the Customer Default.
8.3 The Customer hereby represents and warrants to the Supplier that, prior to the Supplier’s performance of Services, the Customer has or will have obtained all necessary Consents for such testing, as well as all necessary Consents to release any and all test results to the Customer, and the Customer further acknowledges and agrees that the Supplier may rely upon such representation and warranty.
8.4 Where the supply relates to the of Goods only, and no Services are to be provided by the Supplier, the Customer accepts that the Supplier shall have no responsibility for the Customer’s use or misuse of those Goods following Delivery, including as to the accuracy of any test data obtained from those Goods and any conclusion drawn from them, save as otherwise specified in these Conditions.
9. Charges and Payment
9.1 The price for Goods:
(a) shall be the price set out in the Order or, if no price is quoted, the price set out on the Supplier's website at the date of the Order; and
(b) unless otherwise agreed, shall be exclusive of all costs and charges of packaging, insurance, transport of the Goods, which shall be invoiced to the Customer.
9.2 The charges for Services shall be calculated in accordance with the Supplier's fee rates, as set out in the Order.
9.3 The Supplier reserves the right to increase the price of the Goods, by giving notice to the Customer at any time before delivery, to reflect any increase in the cost of the Goods to the Supplier that is due to:
(a) any factor beyond the control of the Supplier (including foreign exchange fluctuations, increases in taxes and duties, and increases in labour, materials and other manufacturing costs);
(b) any request by the Customer to change the delivery date(s), quantities or types of Goods ordered, or the Goods Specification; or
(c) any delay caused by any instructions of the Customer in respect of the Goods or failure of the Customer to give the Supplier adequate or accurate information or instructions in respect of the Goods.
9.4 In respect of Goods, the Supplier shall invoice the Customer on or at any time after completion of delivery. In respect of Services, the Supplier shall invoice the Customer on completion of the Services or, where the Services are provided over the course of more than one month, monthly in arrears.
9.5 The Customer shall pay each invoice submitted by the Supplier:
(a) within 14 days of the date of the invoice or in accordance with any credit terms agreed by the Supplier and confirmed in writing to the Customer; and
(b) in full and in cleared funds to a bank account nominated in writing by the Supplier, and
time for payment shall be of the essence of the Contract.
9.6 All amounts payable by the Customer under the Contract are exclusive of amounts in respect of value added tax chargeable from time to time (VAT). Where any taxable supply for VAT purposes is made under the Contract by the Supplier to the Customer, the Customer shall, on receipt of a valid VAT invoice from the Supplier, pay to the Supplier such additional amounts in respect of VAT as are chargeable on the supply of the Services or Goods at the same time as payment is due for the supply of the Services or Goods.
9.7 If the Customer fails to make a payment due to the Supplier under the Contract by the due date, then, without limiting the Supplier's remedies under clause 14, the Customer shall pay interest on the overdue sum from the due date until payment of the overdue sum, whether before or after judgment. Interest under this clause 9.7 will accrue each day at 4% a year above the Bank of England's base rate from time to time, but at 4% a year for any period when that base rate is below 0%.
9.8 All amounts due under the Contract shall be paid in full without any set-off, counterclaim, deduction or withholding (other than any deduction or withholding of tax as required by law).
10. Intellectual Property Rights
10.1 All Intellectual Property Rights in or arising out of or in connection with the Services (other than Intellectual Property Rights in any materials provided by the Customer) shall be owned by the Supplier.
10.2 The Supplier grants to the Customer, or shall procure the direct grant to the Customer of, a fully paid-up, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence during the term of the Contract to copy any Deliverables for the purpose of receiving and using the Services and the Deliverables in its business.
10.3 The Customer grants the Supplier a fully paid-up, non-exclusive, royalty-free non-transferable licence to copy and modify any materials provided by the Customer to the Supplier for the term of the Contract for the purpose of providing the Services to the Customer.
11. Data Protection
11.1 The Supplier understands that as part of this Agreement any Confidential Information disclosed may constitute personal information for the purposes of the UK Data Protection Legislation and any other European Union legislation relating to personal data and all other legislation and regulatory requirements in force from time to time which apply to a party relating to the use of personal data (including, without limitation, the privacy of electronic communications) (Data Protection Regulations).
11.2 The Customer will ensure that it has all necessary appropriate consents and notices in place to enable lawful transfer of the personal data to the Supplier for the duration and purposes of this agreement so that the Supplier may lawfully use, process and transfer the personal data in accordance with this agreement on the Customer's behalf and indemnifies the Supplier against any loss or damage arising from a claim received by the Supplier for failure to comply with Data Protection Regulations in connection with this Agreement.
12. Confidentiality
12.1 Each party undertakes that it shall not at any time disclose to any person any confidential information concerning the business, affairs, customers, clients or suppliers of the other party, except as permitted by clause 12.2.
12.2 Each party may disclose the other party's confidential information:
(a) to its employees, officers, representatives, contractors or subcontractors or advisers who need to know such information for the purposes of exercising the party's rights or carrying out its obligations under or in connection with the Contract. Each party shall ensure that its employees, officers, representatives or advisers to whom it discloses the other party's confidential information comply with this clause 12; and
(b) as may be required by law, a court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental or regulatory authority.
12.3 No party shall use any other party's confidential information for any purpose other than to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under or in connection with the Contract.
13. Limitation of Liability
13.1 This clause 13 sets out the entire financial liability of the Supplier (including any liability for the acts or omissions of its employees, agents and sub-contractors) to the Customer in respect of:
(a) any breach of this Agreement;
(b) any breach of Data Protection Legislation;
(c) any use made by the Customer of the Service; and
(d) any representation, misrepresentation (whether innocent or negligent), statement or tortious act or omission (including negligence) arising under or in connection with this agreement.
13.2 Except as expressly provided in this agreement:
(a) the Customer assumes sole responsibility for results obtained from the use of the Service, and for conclusions drawn from such use;
(b) the Supplier shall have no liability for any damage caused by errors or omissions in any information, instructions or scripts provided in connection with the Services, or any actions taken by the Supplier at the Customer's direction; and
(c) all warranties, conditions and other terms implied by statute, common law or otherwise are, to the fullest extent permitted by law, excluded from this agreement.
13.3 Nothing in this agreement excludes or limits the liability of the Supplier for:
(a) death or personal injury caused by the Supplier's negligence;
(b) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or
(c) any other liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
13.4 Subject to Clause 13.3:
(a) the Supplier shall not be liable whether in contract, tort (including for negligence or breach of statutory duty), misrepresentation (whether innocent or negligent), restitution or otherwise for any loss of profits, loss of business, depletion of goodwill or similar losses, or for any indirect or consequential loss, costs, damages, charges or expenses however arising; and
(b) the Supplier's total aggregate liability in contract, tort (including negligence or breach of statutory duty), misrepresentation (whether innocent or negligent), restitution or otherwise, arising in connection with the performance or contemplated performance of this agreement shall be limited to the price paid for the Service during the 12 months preceding the date on which the claim arose.
13.5 This clause 13 shall survive termination of the Contract.
14. Termination
14.1 Without affecting any other right or remedy available to it, either party may terminate the Contract by giving the other party not less than 20 days' written notice.
14.2 Without affecting any other right or remedy available to it, either party may terminate the Contract with immediate effect by giving written notice to the other party if:
(a) the other party commits a material breach of its obligations under the Contract and (if such breach is remediable) fails to remedy that breach within 10 days after receipt of notice in writing to do so;
(b) the other party takes any step or action in connection with its entering administration, provisional liquidation or any composition or arrangement with its creditors (other than in relation to a solvent restructuring), obtaining a moratorium, being wound up (whether voluntarily or by order of the court, unless for the purpose of a solvent restructuring), having a receiver appointed to any of its assets or ceasing to carry on business or, if the step or action is taken in another jurisdiction, in connection with any analogous procedure in the relevant jurisdiction;
(c) the other party suspends, or threatens to suspend, or ceases or threatens to cease to carry on all or a substantial part of its business; or
(d) the other party's financial position deteriorates so far as to reasonably justify the opinion that its ability to give effect to the terms of the Contract is in jeopardy.
14.3 Without affecting any other right or remedy available to it, the Supplier may terminate the Contract with immediate effect by giving written notice to the Customer if the Customer fails to pay any amount due under the Contract on the due date for payment.
14.4 Without affecting any other right or remedy available to it, the Supplier may suspend the supply of Services or all further deliveries of Goods under the Contract or any other contract between the Customer and the Supplier if the Customer fails to pay any amount due under the Contract on the due date for payment, the Customer becomes subject to any of the events listed in clause 14.2(b) to clause 14.2(d), or the Supplier reasonably believes that the Customer is about to become subject to any of them.
15. Consequences of Termination
15.1 On termination of the Contract:
(a) the Customer shall immediately pay to the Supplier all of the Supplier's outstanding unpaid invoices and interest and, in respect of Services and Goods supplied but for which no invoice has been submitted, the Supplier shall submit an invoice, which shall be payable by the Customer immediately on receipt;
(b) the Customer shall return all of the Supplier Materials and any Deliverables or Goods which have not been fully paid for. If the Customer fails to do so, then the Supplier may enter the Customer's premises and take possession of them. Until they have been returned, the Customer shall be solely responsible for their safe keeping and will not use them for any purpose not connected with this Contract.
15.2 Termination or expiry of the Contract shall not affect any rights, remedies, obligations and liabilities of the parties that have accrued up to the date of termination or expiry, including the right to claim damages in respect of any breach of the Contract which existed at or before the date of termination or expiry.
15.3 Any provision of the Contract that expressly or by implication is intended to have effect after termination or expiry shall continue in full force and effect.
16. Force Majeure
16.1 Neither party shall have any liability to the other under this Agreement if it is prevented from, or delayed in, performing its obligations under this Agreement, or from carrying on its business, by acts, events, omissions or accidents beyond its reasonable control, including any government order, changes in legal requirements applicable to the Service, strikes, lock-outs or other industrial disputes (including any industrial disputes involving the workforce of the Supplier), act of God, war, riot, civil commotion, compliance with any law or regulation, fire, flood or storm or inability due to any of the aforementioned causes to obtain necessary labor, materials or facilities (each a Force Majeure Event), provided that: (i) the other party is notified of such an event and its expected duration; and (ii) it uses all reasonable endeavours to mitigate, overcome or minimise the effects of the Force Majeure Event concerned.
17. General
17.1 Assignment and other dealings, The Contract and any rights and interests hereunder may be transferred or assigned only with the prior written consent of the other party.
17.2 Notices.
(a) Any notice or other communication given to a party under or in connection with the Contract shall be in writing and shall be:
(a) delivered by hand or by pre-paid first-class post or other next working day delivery service at its registered office (if a company) or its principal place of business (in any other case); or
(b) sent by email to such email address as may be specified by the respective party from time to time.
(b) Any notice or communication shall be deemed to have been received:
(a) if delivered by hand, at the time the notice is left at the proper address;
(b) if sent by pre-paid first-class post or other next working day delivery service, at 9.00 am on the second Business Day after posting; or
(c) if sent by email, at the time of transmission, or, if this time falls outside business hours in the place of receipt, when business hours resume. In this clause 17.2(b)(c), business hours means 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday on a day that is not a public holiday in the place of receipt.
(c) This clause does not apply to the service of any proceedings or other documents in any legal action or, where applicable, any arbitration or other method of dispute resolution.
17.3 Severance. If any provision or part-provision of the Contract is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable, it shall be deemed deleted, but that shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of the Contract. If any provision or part provision of the Contract is deemed deleted under this clause 17.3 the parties shall negotiate in good faith to agree a replacement provision that, to the greatest extent possible, achieves the commercial result of the original provision.
17.4 Waiver. No failure or delay by a party to exercise any right or remedy provided under the Contract or by law shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor shall it prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No single or partial exercise of such right or remedy shall prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.
17.5 No partnership or agency. Nothing in the Contract is intended to, or shall be deemed to, establish any partnership or joint venture between the parties, constitute either party the agent of the other, or authorise either party to make or enter into any commitments for or on behalf of the other party.
17.6 Entire agreement.
(a) The Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes and extinguishes all previous agreements, promises, assurances, warranties, representations and understandings between them, whether written or oral, relating to its subject matter.
(b) Each party acknowledges that in entering into the Contract it does not rely on, and shall have no remedies in respect of any statement, representation, assurance or warranty (whether made innocently or negligently) that is not set out in the Contract. Each party agrees that it shall have no claim for innocent or negligent misrepresentation based on any statement in the Contract.
17.7 Third party rights. Unless it expressly states otherwise, the Contract does not give rise to any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of the Contract.
17.8 Variation. Except as set out in these Conditions, no variation of the Contract shall be effective unless it is agreed in writing and signed by the parties (or their authorised representatives).
17.9 Governing Law and Jurisdiction. shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales. Each party irrevocably agrees that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims).