Deals with mere criminal penned by representatives (10)
I believe the answer is:
agreements
'deals' is the definition.
'mere criminal penned by representatives' is the wordplay.
'criminal' is an anagram indicator.
'penned by' indicates putting letters inside.
'representatives' becomes 'agents' (agent is a kind of representative).
'mere' is an anagram of 'reem'.
'reem' placed inside 'agents' is 'AGREEMENTS'.
'with' is the link.
(Other definitions for agreements that I've seen before include "Concerts" , "pledges" , "Compromises in" , "contracts" .)