Contract Drafting I

Get the detail right!

Aims of the course

useful tips on contract drafting techniques and common pitfalls
useful materials that can be used as a basis for drafting contracts
guidance on differences between the common law and Finnish systems of contract law and the implications for negotiating and contract drafting.

Method

The course will be ”hands on”. Delegates will be invited to undertake practical exercises eg analysing and improving poor drafting, suggesting changes to clauses presented by ”the other side”.

Register for both Contract Drafting courses at once: Contract Drafting I-II

Course materials

The course materials include comprehensive notes, a bank of sample contract clauses, useful websites and addresses and a guide to English contract law terminology.

Lecturer David Fletcher

Fletcher David

The course will be given by David Fletcher, an English solicitor, who is a frequent lecturer in Scandinavia. He has given contract-drafting courses, both general and in-house, in a number of countries including Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. He has also lectured at Helsinki and Tallinn Universities.

Participant Profile

Lawyers in private practice or in-house counsel who deal regularly with agreements in English
Lawyers from firms or companies who are planning to move into international work
Procurement managers/officers who deal regularly with international procurement agreements
Government lawyers who work on cross border agreements
Senior company executives who wish to enhance their understanding of and ability to write legal documentation in English
Secretaries attached to in-house departments or government offices
Secretaries to senior company executives who handle a range of communications, including contracts written in English

Agenda on 11th of December

Tulosta

8.30	Registration and coffee at the seminar place
9.00	Start of course Introduction to drafting. How to draft a clause in modern English, expressing obligations, contingent obligations, exceptions, and using (or avoiding) special terminology used in contracts. How to structure a contract. Specific issues and clauses to be included Parties. Ensuring that the parties are clearly defined, especially in relation to a group of companies. What happens if the contract is assigned or transferred? Heads of agreement, letters of intent. To what extent are LOI’s and HOA’s legally binding? No contract, no problem? Amendment clauses. Side letters. Electronic signatures. Legal position in USA, EU and UK. Suggested clauses. Consideration. What is it? Payment clauses. Earn-outs in Company Sale and Purchase agreements. Completion accounts vs. locked box provisions. Price adjustment clauses vs. “anti-leakage” provisions. Retention of title clauses. Different types. Representations, warranties, guarantees, indemnities, covenants. What is the difference between them? How are they best drafted? “Reps and warranties” – do we need both? Sandbagging clauses. Measuring performance. Best and reasonable endeavours/efforts. Sales target clauses. Restrictive covenants. Drafting non-compete clauses, non-solicitation clauses and other restrictive covenants. Pre-completion covenants / covenants of conduct in M&A.
12.30	Lunch
13.30	Default and remedies. Termination clauses. What is a ”material breach”? Liquidated damages clauses v penalties. LD clauses in common law systems – how they differ from penalties in civil law countries. Limitation of liability, exclusions of liability and “caps”. Minimising the risks. MAC and MAE clauses in Company Sale and Purchase agreements. “Inclusion” clauses. Direct and indirect damages – the implications of recent case law for drafting. Dispute resolution. Jurisdiction, choice of law and arbitration after Brexit. Boiler plate provisions eg drafting notices clauses, force majeure clauses, whole agreement clauses, severance clauses
14.40	Afternoon coffee and break
15.00	The subject continues
16.30	Course round-up
17.00	End of course
	We reserve the right to make changes to the program.