国际商务沟通Chapter07-International-Business-Contract课件

Chapter7InternationalBusinessContract1Chapter7InternationalBusines1Objectives

KnowhowtomakebusinesscontractinEnglishlanguageMasterthetipsofbusinesscontractmaking213Getfamiliarwiththeform,terms,andcharacteristicsofbusinesscontractObjectivesKnowhowtomake

Chapter73123Chapter73123IntroductionofBusinessContractDefinitionofBusinessContractAbusinesscontractisalegallybindingagreementbetweentwopartiesforanexchangeofgoodsorservicesorintellectualpropertyrightsthatareofvalue.Foracontracttobevalid,anoffermustbemadeandaccepted.Usingacontractinbusinessdealingshelpsensureanagreementisactedon,insofarasabrokencontractcouldresultinalawsuitorout-of-courtsettlementandthepaymentofdamagescausedbythebreachofthecontract.Thebestwaytoavoidadisputeorpotentiallitigation,however,istodraftasolidagreementinwhichyouareconfidentyouhavenegotiatedthebesttermsforyourbusiness.Foralegallyvalidbusinesscontract,allyouneedisaclearagreementandmutualpromisestoexchangethingsofvalue.Mostcontractsonlyneedtocontaintwoelementstobelegallyvalid:Allpartiesmustbeinagreement(afteranofferhasbeenmadebyonepartyandacceptedbytheother).Somethingofvaluemustbeexchanged--suchascash,services,orgoods,orintellectualpropertyrights(orapromisetoexchangesuchanitem)--forsomethingelseofvalue.IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractWhentoUseBusinessContractsAbusinesscontractisoftenusedfor,butnotlimitedto,thefollowing:HiringorbeingemployedasanindependentcontractorBuyingorsellingservicesorgoodsLicenseagreementsLeasesagreementsSellingyourbusinessPartnershipsandjointventuresFranchisingConfidentialityagreementsNon-competeagreements……IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractOralBusinessContractsAnoralcontractisaspokenagreementthatisasvalidasawrittencontractinmostcountries,includingChina.Forexample,ifyouhaveapromisethatajobshallbecompleteformonetaryorothercompensation,youhavecreatedanoralcontract.Oralcontractsarelegallyenforceable,althoughtheyarefrequentlysubjecttomisinterpretationandtheycanbedifficulttoproveincourtbecausetheyoftencomedowntooneperson'swordagainsttheother.Moreover,sometypesofcontractsmustbeinwriting,forexample,contractsforthepurchaseorsaleofgoodsorservicesininternationalbusiness.IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractWrittenBusinessContractsInafewsituations,contractsmustbeinwritingtobevalid.UnitedStatelawsoftenrequirewrittencontractsforrealestatetransactionsoragreements.Youneedtochecktodetermineexactlywhichcontractsmustbeinwriting.Butevenifit'snotlegallyrequired,it'salwaysagoodideatoputbusinessagreementsinwriting,becauseoralcontractscanbedifficultorimpossibletoprove.Writtencontractsareproducedonpaperorelectronically.Legally,awrittenbusinesscontractiseasiertoupholdthananoralcontractbecausethereisareferencefortheagreement.Withawrittencontract,it'seasiertoprovethetermsbetweenthepartiesandeliminateargumentsoverwhosaidwhat.It'softeneasierforbusinessestorecognizepotentialpointsofcontentioninthelanguagebecausetheagreementisdetailedinwriting.Whetheryourbusinessisprovidingorofferingservices,youhadbetteruseawrittenbusinesscontractandincludespecificdetailsabouttheagreement.IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractOfferandAcceptanceThemostbasicruleofcontractlawisthatalegalcontractexistswhenonepartymakesanofferandtheotherpartyacceptsit.Formosttypesofcontracts,thiscanbedoneeitherorallyorinwriting.Let'ssay,forinstance,you'reshoppingaroundforaprintshoptoproducebrochuresforyourbusiness.Oneprintersays(orfaxes,oremails)thathe'llprint3,000ofyourtwo-colorflyersfor$300.Thisconstituteshisoffer.Ifyoutelltheprintertogoaheadwiththejob,you'veacceptedhisoffer.Intheeyesofthelaw,whenyoutelltheprintertogoaheadyoucreateacontract,whichmeansyou'reliableforyoursideofthebargain(inthiscase,thepaymentof$300).Butifyoutelltheprinteryou'renotsureandwanttocontinueshoppingaround(ordon'tevenrespond,forthatmatter),youhaven'tacceptedtheoffer,andnoagreementhasbeenreached.Butifyoutelltheprintertheoffersoundsgreatexceptthatyouwanttheprintertousethreecolorsinsteadoftwo,nocontracthasbeenmade.Thisisbecauseyouhavenotacceptedalloftheimportanttermsoftheoffer.Youhaveactuallychangedonetermoftheoffer.(Dependingonyourwording,youhaveprobablymadeacounteroffer,whichisdiscussedbelow.)IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractWhenAcceptanceOccursInday-to-daybusiness,theseeminglysimplestepsofofferandacceptancecanbecomequiteconvoluted.Forinstance,sometimesanofferisn'tquicklyandunequivocallyaccepted;theotherpartymaywanttothinkaboutitforawhile,ortrytogetabetterdeal.Andbeforetheotherpartyacceptsyouroffer,youmightchangeyourmindandwanttowithdraworamendit.Delayingacceptanceofanofferandrevokinganoffer,aswellasmakingacounteroffer,arecommonsituationsthatmayleadtoconfusionandconflict.Tominimizethepotentialforadispute,herearesomegeneralrulesyoushouldunderstandandfollow.IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractThevalidperiodofanOfferUnlessanofferincludesastatedexpirationdate,itremainsopenfora"reasonable"time.What'sreasonable,ofcourse,isopentointerpretationandwillvarydependingonthetypeofbusinessandtheparticularfactsituation.Toleavenoroomfordoubtastowhentheotherpartymustmakeadecision,thebestwaytomakeanofferistoincludeanexpirationdate.Ifyouwanttoacceptsomeoneelse'soffer,thebestapproachistodoitassoonaspossible,whilethere'snodoubtthattheofferisstillopen.Keepinmindthatuntilyouaccept,thepersonorcompanywhomadetheoffer--calledtheofferor--mayrevokeoramendtheoffer.IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractRevokinganOfferWhoevermakesanoffercanrevokeitaslongasithasn'tyetbeenaccepted.Thismeansthatifyoumakeanofferandtheotherpartywantssometimetothinkitthrough,ormakesacounterofferwithchangedterms,youcanrevokeyouroriginaloffer.Oncetheotherpartyaccepts,however,you'llhaveabindingagreement.Revocationmusthappenbeforeacceptance.Anexceptiontothisruleoccursifthepartiesagreethattheofferwillremainopenforastatedperiodoftime.IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractOfferswithExpirationDatesAnofferwithanexpirationdateiscalledanoption,anditusuallydoesn'tcomeforfree.Saysomeoneofferstosellyouaforkliftfor$10,000,andyouwanttothinktheofferoverwithoutworryingthatthesellerwillwithdrawtheofferorselltosomeoneelse.Youandthesellercouldagreethattheofferwillstayopenforacertainperiodoftime--say,30daysonlyforyoubutnotanyoneelse.Inthiscase,however,thesellerwillnormallyaskyoutopayforthis30-dayoption--whichisunderstandable,becauseduringthe30-dayoptionperiod,thesellercan'tselltoanyoneelse.Paymentornopayment,whenanoptionagreementexists,theofferorcannotrevoketheofferuntilthetimeperiodends.IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractCounteroffersOften,whenanofferismade,theresponsewillbetostartbargaining.Ofcourse,hagglingoverpriceisthemostcommontypeofnegotiatingthatoccursinbusinesssituations.Whenonepartyrespondstoanofferbyproposingsomethingdifferent,thisproposaliscalleda"counteroffer."Whenacounterofferismade,thelegalresponsibilitytoaccept,declineormakeanothercounteroffershiftstotheoriginalofferor.Eventhoughacontractisformedonlyiftheacceptingpartyagreestoallsubstantialtermsofanoffer,thisdoesn'tmeanyoucanrelyoninconsequentialdifferencestovoidacontractlater.IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractConsiderationDefinedThe"thingofvalue"beingexchangedismostoftenapromisetodosomethinginthefuture,suchasapromisetoperformacertainjob,orapromisetopayafeeforajob.Forinstance,let'sreturntotheexampleoftheprintjob.Onceyouandtheprinteragreeonterms,thereisanexchangeofthingsofvalue(consideration):Theprinterhaspromisedtoprintthe3,000brochures,andyouhavepromisedtopay$260forthem.IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractGiftsvs.ContractsThemainimportanceofrequiringthingsofvaluetobeexchangedistodifferentiateacontractfromagenerousstatementoraone-sidedpromise,neitherofwhichareenforceablebylaw.Ifafriendoffersyouagiftwithoutaskinganythinginreturn--forinstance,offeringtostopby

tohelpyoumoveapileofrocks--thearrangementwouldn'tcountasacontractbecauseyoudidn'tgiveorpromiseyourfriendanythingofvalue.Ifyourfriendneverfollowedthroughwithhergift,youwouldnotbeabletoenforceherpromise.However,ifyoupromiseyourfriendyou'llhelpherweedhervegetablegardenonSundayinexchangeforherhelpingyoumoverocksonSaturday,acontractexists.IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractPromisesvs.ActionAlthoughtheexchange-of-valuerequirementismetinmostbusinesstransactionsbyanexchangeofpromises("I'llpromisetopaymoneyifyoupromisetopaintmybuildingnextmonth"),actuallydoingtheworkcanalsosatisfytherule.If,forinstance,youleaveyourprinteravoicemailmessagethatyou'llpayanextra$100ifyourbrochuresarecutandstapledwhenyoupickthemup,theprintercancreateabindingcontractbyactuallydoingthecuttingandstapling.Andoncehedoesso,youcan'tweaseloutofthedealbyclaimingyouchangedyourmind.IntroductionofBusinessContrIntroductionofBusinessContractPromisesvs.ActionAlthoughtheexchange-of-valuerequirementismetinmostbusinesstransactionsbyanexchangeofpromises("I'llpromisetopaymoneyifyoupromisetopaintmybuildingnextmonth"),actuallydoingtheworkcanalsosatisfytherule.If,forinstance,youleaveyourprinteravoicemailmessagethatyou'llpayanextra$100ifyourbrochuresarecutandstapledwhenyoupickthemup,theprintercancreateabindingcontractbyactuallydoingthecuttingandstapling.Andoncehedoesso,youcan'tweaseloutofthedealbyclaimingyouchangedyourmind.IntroductionofBusinessContrNormalStepsofWritingaBusinessContractSummarizethebasictermsofyouragreementinwriting.Beforemakingabusinesscontract,you’llneedfinalagreementonalltheterms.Ifpossible,confirmthesetermswiththeotherpartybyemailorfax.Forcomplicatedbusinesscontractsuchaslicenseagreement,equipmentsalescontract,engineeringprojectcontract,relatedpartiesshouldmeettogethertonegotiatethecommercialcontractandalltechnicalappendices.Step1NormalStepsofWritingaBusiNormalStepsofWritingaBusinessContractFindsamplesoftherelevantbusinesscontractonline.Dependingonthetypeofbusinesscontract,theremaybeexistingtemplatesyoucanusethatareontheweb.Youcanfindover1000differenttypesofprofessionalbusinessagreementsorbusinesscontractinChinese,Englishandsomeotherlanguagesatthiswebsite/store/.Youshouldmodifythesebusinesscontracttemplatestosuityourneedsandspecificterms.Step1Step2NormalStepsofWritingaBusiNormalStepsofWritingaBusinessContractDraftabusinesscontractusingasampleagreementfromStep2orcreateyourownnewcontractusingclearlanguage.Ifyouhaveasimplebusinesscontract,youmaynotneedasampleagreement—itmaybeeasiertomakeyourownasaletteragreementthatissignedbyallparties.Step1Step2Step3NormalStepsofWritingaBusiNormalStepsofWritingaBusinessContractIncludealltermsandspecificagreementswithinyourbusinesscontract.Readthecontract.ConfirmthatyouhavewrittenabouttheWho,What,When,Where,WhyandHowregardingthetermsofthedeal.Step1Step2Step3Step4NormalStepsofWritingaBusiNormalStepsofWritingaBusinessContract22Consider“whatif”scenarios.Checkthatyouhaveaccountedfornon-performance,lateness,anddefault.Discussanychangesornewtermswiththeotherpartyifapplicable.Step1Step2Step3Step4Step5NormalStepsofWritingaBusiNormalStepsofWritingaBusinessContract23Sendthecontracttoyourattorneyforreviewforalargebusinessdeal.Forbiginvestmentssuchasahouseorinvestmentpurchase,equipmentpurchase,licenseagreementit’sbesttoworkwithanattorneytoensurethatyourcontractiscompliantwiththelaw.Step1Step2Step3Step4Step5Step6NormalStepsofWritingaBusiNormalStepsofWritingaBusinessContractIfyouarenotabletosittogethertosigntheagreement,sendtwo(2)originalstotheotherpartywithashortcoverletter.Allpartiesshouldinitialeachpageoftheagreement,andsignanddatethelastpage.Followuptogetthesignedcontractbackquickly.Aftertheotherpartyhasinitialedandsignedthecontracts,signthemandsendoneoriginalbacktothemfortheirrecords.Completeyoursideofthedealandenforcetheagreement.Step1Step2Step3Step4Step5Step6Step7NormalStepsofWritingaBusiRecitalsofabizcontractRecitalsarethe"whereas"clausesnormallyprecedethebodyofacontract.Theyprovideasimplewaytobringthecontract‘sreader(party,judgeorjury)uptospeedonwhatthecontractisabout,whothepartiesare,whytheyaresigningthecontract,etc.Thefirstparagraphinthebodyofthecontractcanincorporatetherecitalsbyreferenceandstatethattheyaretrueandcorrect.Thiswillavoidalaterargumentastowhetherornottherecitalsarealegallybindingpartofthecontract.RecitalsofabizcontractReciDefinitionsInordertoavoidmisunderstandingofdifferentinterpretationofcertaintermsandwordsusedinacontract,normallysuchtermsandwordsshallbedefinedclearlyinthecontract.Forexample.合同文本DefinitionsInordertoavoidmTermsofMainContractArticle1DefinitionsArticle2ScopeoftheContractArticle3PerformanceSecurityArticle4PricesArticle5PaymentArticle6DeliveryArticle7PackingandMarkingArticle8TechnicalDocumentationArticle9InspectionArticle10Erection,MechanicalTest,Commissioning,PerformanceTestandAcceptanceTestArticle11GuaranteeandMechanicalWarrantyArticle12ClaimArticle13ChangeOrdersArticle14SubcontractArticle15DelaysintheSeller’sPerformanceArticle16LiquidatedDamageArticle17TerminationArticle18ForceMajeureArticle19TaxesandDutiesArticle20ArbitrationArticle21ContractLanguageArticle22ApplicableLawArticle23NoticesArticle24EffectivenessoftheContractandMiscellaneous(seenote)TermsofMainContractArticleSomefeaturesofBizContractStrictness合同中,每一个词的意义都非常明确,决不含歧义。合同撰写者往往选择词义范围较小,语义较为明确的词。在其他文体中常见到的表示程度或频率的词如“often”,“always”,“very”在合同英语中几乎不用,因为这些词表示的程度或频率不确切。甚至连定冠词“the”也常常被限定范围较小的“such”所代替。SomefeaturesofBizContractSSomefeaturesofBizContractShallbutnotwill根据LongmanDictionaryofContemporaryEnglish的解释,shall应解释为(formalorold-fashioned)usedinofficialdocumentstoshowalaw,command,obligation,compulsion。可见shall的这一用法是较古老或者较正式的,体现了合同条款内含的法律的威严性和约束性。凡是表示强制(compulsion)、权利（rights）、责任（liability）或义务(obligation)时,均不能用will或should取代shall。这一用法的shall的主语一般以第三人称居多,且此时shall必须重读。shall这一用法的否定形式shallnot表示“禁止”或“不得”。例如:(seenote)SomefeaturesofBizContractSSomefeaturesofBizContractWhereas等古体词

为体现合同文本行为正式、庄重的文体特征,英文合同常使用一些古体词。这些词主要来源于古英语和中古英语,主要是由here,there和where与一个或几个介词组成的复合副词,如hereafter(此后,今后),hereby(特此,兹),herein(此中,于此,本合同中),hereinafter(以下,此后,在下文),hereof(于此,在本合同中),hereto(于此),hereunder(在下文,据此,根据本合同),hereunto(于此),herewith(与此一道),thereafter(此后,后来)thereby(因此,由此,在那方面),therefrom(由此、从此),therein(其中,在其中),thereinafter(在下文),thereof(关于、由此,其中),thereto(此外,附随),thereunder(在其下,据此、依据),whereas(鉴于),whereby(因此,由是,据此),wherefore(为此,因此),wherein(在那方面),whereof(关于那事/人)等。在这些复合副词中,here表示this,there表示that,where表示what或which。英文合同中使用这些词能使语言精练、直观，使合同语言显得更为规范、严肃,显示合同语言的权威性和严密性。例如:

（seenote)SomefeaturesofBizContractWSomefeaturesofBizContract近义词和成对词byandbetween(由),forandinconsiderationof(考虑到,鉴于),forandonbehalfof(为了,代表),infullforceandeffect(生效),furnishandprovide(提供),makeandenterinto(达成),releaseanddischarge(弃权,让渡),fulfillorperform(履行),procureandensure(保证和确保),forceandeffect(效力),rightandinterest(权益),powerandauthority(权利),covenantsandagreements(契约),termsandconditions(条款),customsfeesandduties(关税),lossesanddamages(丢失及损毁),complaintsandclaims(投诉及索赔),nullandvoid(失效,无效),soleandexclusive(唯一且排他的),finalandconclusive(最终及具决定性的),transferableorassignable(可转让的)等。(seenote)

SomefeaturesofBizContract近SomefeaturesofBizContract长句子合同的作用在于明确陈述和规定不同当事人在有关活动中的权利和义务,因此从句式的使用上来看,合同一般采用陈述句,而不使用疑问句、祈使句和感叹句。完整的长句的使用可以准确界定这种权利和义务关系,排除被曲解或误解的可能性。合同文件具有条理性、周密性。从语用的角度来看,每一种情况或条件、或要求、或断定都要顾及到种种可能发生的情况,种种设定,种种意外,种种解决办法。“一个句子常常要照顾到千变万化的情况,自然就长。长句排列组织不好,就容易引起混乱、误解、歧义”。商务合同具有句式讲究、用词严谨、条理清晰、长而不乱、逻辑性强的特点。例如：Seenote

SomefeaturesofBizContract长UsefulTipsforMakingBusinessContractsGeneraltipsformakingbusinesscontractMakesureallpartynamesareaccurate.Statethecorrectlegalnamesofthepartiesinthefirstparagraph.Asobviousasthisis,itisoneofthemostcommonproblemsincontracts.Forindividuals,includefullfirstandlastname,andmiddleinitialsifavailable,andotheridentifyinginformation,ifappropriate,suchasJr.,M.D.,etc.Forcorporations,checkwiththelocalauthoritywhereincorporated.Identifythepartiesbynicknames.Givingordefiningeachpartyanicknameinthefirstparagraphwillmakethecontracteasiertoread.Forexample,ShanghaiBaoShanIron&SteelCorporationLimitedwouldbenicknamedas“Baosteel”;BankofChinawouldbenicknamed“BOC”Becarefulwhenusinglegaltermsfornicknames.Donotuse"Contractor"asanicknameunlessthatpartyislegallyacontractor.Donotuse"Agent"unlessyouintendforthatpartytobeanagent,andifyoudo,thenyouhadbetterspecifythescopeofauthorityandotheragencyissuestoavoidfuturedisagreements.UsefulTipsforMakingBusinesUsefulTipsforMakingBusinessContractsGeneraltipsformakingbusinesscontractIncludeablankforthedateinthefirstparagraph.Puttingthedateinthefirstparagraphmakesiteasytofindafterthecontractissigned.Italsomakesiteasytodescribethecontractinotherdocumentsinapreciseway,suchasthe"October8,2012,ContractforSaleofSteelRollingMill."Includebackground.Recitalsarethe"whereas"clausesthatprecedethebodyofacontract.Theyprovideasimplewaytobringthecontract‘sreader(party,judgeorjury)uptospeedonwhatthecontractisabout,whothepartiesare,whytheyaresigningthecontract,etc.Thefirstparagraphinthebodyofthecontractcanincorporatetherecitalsbyreferenceandstatethattheyaretrueandcorrect.Thiswillavoidalaterargumentastowhetherornottherecitalsarealegallybindingpartofthecontract.Outlinethecontractbywritingoutandunderliningparagraphheadingsintheirlogicalorder.Theparagraphsshouldflowinlogical,organizedfashion.Itisnotnecessarytowritethemallatonce;youcanwritethemasyouthinkofthem.Trytogrouprelatedconceptsinthesameparagraphsorinadjacentparagraphs.UsefulTipsforMakingBusinesUsefulTipsforMakingBusinessContractsGeneraltipsformakingbusinesscontractCompleteeachparagraphbywritingthecontracttermsthatapplytothatparagraph.Thisissimple.Youlearnedthisinelementaryschool.Justexplaininwordswhatthepartiesagreetodoornottodoparagraphbyparagraph.Keepapadathandtorememberclausestoadd.Itisnormaltothinkofadditionalclauses,wordingandissueswhilewritingacontract.Jotthesedownonapadasyouwrite;theyareeasilyforgotten.Alsokeepyouroutlineandotherformsinfrontofyouasyouwrite,andcheckoffitemsasyouwritethem.Repeatyourselfonlywhenrepetitionisnecessarytoimproveclarity.Ambiguityiscreatedbysayingthesamethingmorethanonce;itisalmostimpossibletosayittwicewithoutcreatingambiguity.Onlyiftheconceptisadifficultoneshouldyouwriteitinmorethanoneway.Inaddition,ifyouuseanexampletoclarifyadifficultconceptorformula,besurethatallpossiblemeaningsareconsideredandthattheexampleisaccurateandconsistentwiththeconceptasworded.……UsefulTipsforMakingBusinesUsefulTipsforMakingBusinessContractsTipsforDraftingBusinessContractWriteClearly.Ambiguouslanguageinacontractcanleadtomisunderstandings,delays,frustrationandevenlitigation.Makesurethatbothparties'responsibilities,rightsandobligationsareclearlyoutlined.DraftCompleteContracts.Manycontractsfailorcreateconfusionbecausetheyareincomplete.Theomissionofimportanttermsorexpectationscanleadpartiestoassume—incorrectly—thatthetermsareunderstoodorimplied.Makesurethatallkeystatementsorrepresentations—frombothparties—arespelledoutclearly.LookatSampleContractsandForms.Thebestwaytobegindraftingacontractistolookatseveralsampleformsthataresimilartothedocumentthatyouwanttocreate.Sampleformscanalertyoutoissuesyoumightnothaveconsidered,andtheycanprovidestrong,standardlanguageforyourcontract.Fromwebsiteyoucanfindoutmanysamplecontractsfordifferentbusinesses.UsefulTipsforMakingBusinesUsefulTipsforMakingBusinessContractsTipsforDraftingBusinessContractDon'trelyonaStandardFormorSampleContract.Standardformsmayormaynotbeapplicabletoyourbusinesssituation—andtheymighthavebeendraftedforthebenefitofthewrongside.Mostformsaresimplyastartingpointandmustbecustomizedforyourparticularbusiness.Thewriterofacontractalwayshastheadvantage.Youalmostalwayswanttodraftthefirstdraft.Creatingthecontractlanguagegivesyouatremendousadvantageinshapingthenegotiations,asyoucanincludeclausesthatyouwantandstructurethedealinafavorablewayforyourbusiness.Makeyourcontractlooklikeastandardform.Sometimesithelpstomakeyourcontractlooklikeapreprintedstandardform,eventhoughyoumayhavecarefullydrafteditforyourbenefit.Withtheuseofwordprocessingthisisn'thardtodo,andtheothersidemaybelessinclinedtonegotiateiftheythinkyouragreementis"standard."UsefulTipsforMakingBusinesUsefulTipsforMakingBusinessContractsTipsforDraftingBusinessContractBeawareoflegalrequirements.Certaintypesofcontractprovisionsmaybelegallyquestionable,andotherprovisionsmayneedtobebold-facedorinallcapitalletterstobeeffective.Also,certainkindsofcontractshaverequiredterms,languageorclauses.Agoodbusinesslawyercanpointtheseoutforyou.Attachexhibits.Sometimesit'sagoodideatoappendattachmentsorexhibitstoacontract.Inadditiontoprovidingspecificexamplesincertaincases,itenablesyoutouseyourbasecontractformanydifferenttransactions,whileplacingallspecificdocumentsthatareparticulartothetransactioninanaddendumorexhibit.Butremembertorefertotheaddendumorexhibitinthemaincontract.Describeallobligationsyouexpecttheotherpartyorpartiestofulfillandlimityourown.Clearlyestablishalloftherisksandresponsibilitiesoftheparties.UsefulTipsforMakingBusinesUsefulTipsforMakingBusinessContractsTipsforDraftingBusinessContractInclude"miscellaneous"clausesattheendofyourcontract.Thisstandardlanguagemayseemtrivialbutcanendupbeingtremendouslyimportantintheeventofadispute.Forexample,Attorney'sFeesProvisionsisboilerplatethatsaysthelegalfeesandcostsoftheprevailingpartywillbepaidbythenon-prevailingparty.Thiscanamounttoalotofmoneyinsomelawsuits.UsefulTipsforMakingBusinesUsefulTipsforMakingBusinessContractsTipsforReviewingBusinessContractReadthecontractovercarefullyandhighlightanythingthatisambiguousorvaguelywordedforfurtherclarificationand/orpossibledeletion;Listanyadditionsyoufeelarenecessarytoincludeinthecontract;Discussallchangestothecontractwiththeotherpartyorparties;Makesureanyrequestedandorallyagreedchangeshavebeenaddedtothecontractpriortosigningasoralagreementscanbeverytrickyandarenotalwaysbinding;Consultanattorney,especiallyiftheagreementiscomplicated.UsefulTipsforMakingBusinesUsefulTipsforMakingBusinessContractsTipsforNegotiatingBusinessContractAlwayshaveclearobjectives.Ithelpstomakealistofgoalsbeforemeetingtheotherparty.Itisimportanttogotoanegotiationhavingdoneyourresearch.Knowrelevantlaw,facts,andfigures.Considerwhatyoureallyneedtogetfromtheotherparty,andalsodecideinwhatareasyouarewillingtocompromise.Buildtrustwiththeotherparty.Trustwillaidcommunication.Youmaywanttohaveafirstdraftofanagreementwrittenbeforemeetingwiththeotherparty.Trytokeepthediscussionorderedwhenmeetingwiththeotherparty.Makeachecklistoftopicsthatshouldbereachedduringthenegotiation.Listentotheotherpartyandtheirconcerns.UsefulTipsforMakingBusinesUsefulTipsforMakingBusinessContractsTipsforSigningBusinessContractProofreadordoublecheckthecontractagainmanually,priortosigning.Allpartiesshouldsignthecontract,includingbusinesstitlesifapplicable.Inadditiontotheformalsignaturesofallpartiesatthesignaturepage