In this post and this post I explain why my approach to contract language doesn’t favor clarity over avoiding risk. There’s no plausible reason for anyone to spurn A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting. Nevertheless, inertia remains. Someone who attended one of my seminars made the following point in a LinkedIn message to me: I would love to be able … Read More
A site called LawInsider.com has launched what it describes as a searchable database consisting of every contract on the SEC’s EDGAR system—over 250,000 contracts. And it’s free. You can search for contracts by categories, including contract type, law firm, state jurisdiction, and company name. The guy behind LawInsider.com is one Preston Clark, “an attorney turned businessman based in the San Francisco Bay … Read More
Three LinkedIn groups feature discussions related to contract drafting. “Contract & Commercial Management” caters primarily to contract-management professionals; you have to ask to join. I think anyone can join “Contract Drafters,” but the members I know are lawyers. “Drafting Contracts” is the newest of the three; it caters to lawyers, and you have to ask to join. (For anyone who’s … Read More
In this post on China Law Blog, Dan Harris expresses his opinion about the third edition of MSCD. An enthusiastic thumbs-up from someone like Dan? That gets my attention.
In this 2009 post I wrote about the respective roles of lawyers and contract-management personnel in the contract process. That’s what led a reader to send me the following: I am an attorney licensed to practice since 2009 and, since graduating law school have been working in a small, general practice law office as an associate attorney. My current position focuses … Read More
I received the following question from a reader: When working with a contract that (1) comes from the other side, (2) is not game for complete redrafting, and (3) is in legalese, not English, do you suggest trying to adopt the conventions you find there (if there are any), or do you think it’s clearer to write the changes in … Read More
In case it’s of interest, below is my response to feedback I received from someone who attended one of my recent international seminars. The first issue discussed is one I also addressed in this recent post. I’m pleased that you found the seminar worthwhile, but of course what particularly caught my eye was your final comment: Appreciate your crusade for … Read More
Via this post by Ray Ward I learned of the recent opinion of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in AIG v. Bank of America (PDF copy here). In the opinion, the court states that whether a modifying phrase following a list of nouns or phrases modifies each item on the entire list, or only the last item, depends on whether … Read More
The other day @bradykrissesq posed the following question on Twitter: What is the legal significance of a contract requirement to “do all things”? — Brady Kriss (@bradykrissesq) April 30, 2013 Although it’s not the most crucial drafting issue, Brady, this one’s for you … Here are three instances of use of thing or things in contracts on EDGAR: … each … Read More
Brian Rogers, also known as @theContractsGuy, has reviewed the third edition of A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting. Go here to read it. I’m delighted that Brian thought it worthwhile to go through the old-fashioned work involved in writing a book review. No reviewer want to write a puff piece, and Brian is no exception. Although his review is … Read More
