Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” isn’t about the seals that live in the ocean. Although the song is about committing to a romantic relationship, it also sounds like something an attorney might write about a contracting party. Long before people routinely signed their names to legal documents, wealthy landowners, nobles, churches, and other institutions used seals to show that a document was authentic. Stating that a document is signed “under seal” might seem anachronistic, and often that language is ignored. But it shouldn't be. Read our blog to learn how signing under seal can dramatically affect a party's legal rights and obligations and why it usually isn't advisable.
Read MoreA 16-member team at Deutsche Oper Berlin isn't onstage, but they’re not entirely behind the scenes either. Concertgoers see them briefly, depend on them completely, and then usually stop thinking about them, as if they are invisible. Read our article to learn about the opera house's team and how it's similar to boilerplate provisions in contracts. People pay little attention to them -- until there's a problem.
Read MoreContracts exhibits, addendums, schedules or amendments serve different purposes. Read how and when each should be used.
Read MoreTerms such as "shall," "must," "will," "may," and "should” each convey different levels of obligation and discretion. Yet, legal documents or contracting parties often confuse or exchange these terms.
Read MoreNon-competition, Non-solicitation, and Non-circumvention provisions frequently appear in employment agreements, but they also can be useful in joint venture agreements or in a contract for the sale of real estate or a business. Understanding the difference between these provisions and how each should be used is essential to protecting the parties' needs.
Read MoreSigning a legal document “under seal” can have significant legal consequences. Parties should be sure they understand and intend what it means to sign "under seal" before agreeing to contracts with that language.
Read MoreThe pandemic changed how parties conduct business. Yet, many contracts include execution provisions developed in the 1990s. Read this article to learn how parties should modernized their contract execution provisions.
Read MoreMost businesses no longer regularly use fax or US mail. Yet, new contracts often allow notices to be delivered by those methods. Read our article to learn about notice provisions and for recommendations on how those important contract provisions can be modernized.
Read MoreBy viewing a contract from the other party's perspective, a party not only can ensure that the contract doesn't incentivize undesirable behavior but also can foster a stronger relationship through understanding the other party's needs.
Read MoreWhen entering into a contract, parties often focus on when the contract will start and how it will be performed. However, when and how the contract ends and what comes after termination also are important.
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