Contracts

Contracts and agreements, both written and verbal, are necessary elements for most organizations reliant on partners or outside contractors to extend their capabilities and serve their customers. While there are certainly many legal considerations that need to be made when drafting or reviewing contracts and agreements, there are likely even more business considerations that should be represented. You need to strike a sound balance between a clear delineation of responsibilities and accountability, but still provide enough room for flexibility and the dynamic nature of your overall business operations. Just as you might want the assistance of an attorney experienced in your industry and geography, you should also consider someone with broad business and partnership experience to be sure you've got proper business safeguards in place.

While I am not an attorney, I have spent more than three decades reviewing written agreements from a business, customer, and product perspective. A good contract should make it clear what the obligations are for each party, as well as the deadlines and deliverables associated with those obligations. In many cases, a clear summary can take a complex contract and boil the obligations to a page or two of key bullet-points. In reviewing a contract, it's equally important to look at what is detailed, as well as what is NOT discussed at all. That may help you to determine, in advance, whether the ommission was intended or a possible oversight that may become problematic in the future.

If you are already obligated by a business contract or are considering entering into a new contract or agreement, perhaps another set of experienced eyes can help. Please contact me at your convenience.