One of the functions of any contract in the common law legal system is to apportion risks between the parties to the contract. This necessarily requires that clients be well informed as to:
- contractual clauses that they ought to propose to best serve their interests;
- the interpretation of the effects of contractual clauses proposed by the other party to serve that party’s interests; and
- interpretation of contractual clauses that the client seeks to rely upon in a dispute or another party seeks to rely upon against the client.
Rowe Bristol Lawyers has extensive experience in negotiating and if necessary litigating contracts relating to various industries. This extensive experience enables Rowe Bristol Lawyers to advise clients with respect to the management of contractual risk, including matters such as:
- standard contractual clauses in contracts, such as terms of trade, credit terms, sale of business contracts, shareholder agreements, leases, building and construction contracts and employment contracts;
- contractual clauses that ought to be proposed by the client to protect its interests;
- interpretation of clauses proposed by the other parties and the potential effects on the client’s interests;
- alternative clauses that may be acceptable to all parties to a contract when disputes arise; and
- interpretation of contractual clauses that one party seeks to rely upon against another in the event of a dispute.
We encourage our clients to seek such advice early on in the negotiation phase of contracts to ensure that the negotiations can be conducted in a timely and effective manner. In particular, clients may benefit from advice in relation to the negotiation of contractual terms that are non-standard contractual clauses or with respect to circumstances that are out of the ordinary.
If you require legal advice in relation to contracts negotiations and interpretation, please contact us to arrange a meeting so that we may consider your specific circumstances.
The above information is provided as general information only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. The accuracy of this information may have changed from the date when it was published.