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Practical guides to organising records and preparing for legal discussions. Browse a topic or search a question.
Offer, acceptance and the final contract version
Identify which proposal was accepted, by whom and on what terms. A series of quotations and messages can leave uncertainty about the final agreement.
DocumentsDefining scope of work and acceptance
State what will be delivered and how completion will be assessed. A broad promise to provide satisfactory services may leave key commercial expectations unresolved.
DocumentsPayment milestones and disputed invoices
Link payment stages to clear obligations and keep evidence of performance. An invoice date alone may not establish when every contractual payment becomes due.
DocumentsChanging contract scope or price
Record the authorised change and its effect on price, time and obligations before relying on it. A request for extra work is different from agreement on every…
DocumentsTerminating a contract — checking the legal basis
Read the termination clause and alleged breach before sending a final notice or stopping performance. Commercial frustration alone is not a universal termination…
DocumentsLimitation for a contract claim
Identify the cause of action, payment terms and relevant dates before calculating time. Different contractual claims can have different starting points and rules.
DocumentsDamages for breach of contract
Explain the breach, resulting loss and evidence linking them. A large demand is not a substitute for proving a legally recoverable loss.
DocumentsLiquidated damages and penalty clauses
A sum named in the contract is not automatically payable in full whenever breach is alleged. The clause and statutory framework require assessment.
DocumentsIndemnity clauses — defining the covered risk
Identify the events, losses and claim process the indemnity is intended to cover. A broad label can conceal important limits or uncontrolled exposure.
DocumentsGuarantee clauses — what is being promised?
Identify the principal debt, creditor, surety and scope of the promise. A guarantee is different from an indemnity, and its wording can create significant personal…
DocumentsConfidentiality agreements and practical information controls
Define the information, permitted purpose and recipients clearly. An NDA should work with actual access and handling arrangements rather than replace them.
DocumentsNon-compete and restraint-of-trade clauses
Do not assume every non-compete is valid because both parties signed it. Timing, scope, statutory exceptions and the actual relationship matter.