Contracts under Common Law
Objectifs
Modifier son raisonnement face à un droit qui n'a pas de Code civil
Rédiger en anglais les clauses les plus sensibles
Pour qui ?
Code dokélio : 34955
Prérequis
Compétences acquises:
Mettre en œuvre les techniques rédactionnelles et de négociation propres aux contrats anglo-saxons
Programme
Contracts under Common Law
Developing a mutual understanding despite legal terminology
Civil Law vs Common Law: differences between the Common Law approach to contract law from that employed by the Civil Law
• Uniform Commercial Code/ Statute law/ case law
Drafting effective definition and boiler-plates clauses
• Legal terminologie
• The language of contracts
• The role of definitions
• The significance of « whereas » clauses
Exercise: drafting clauses – the devil is in the detail, managing legalese
Opening, conducting and closing negotiations: the role of the lawyer in contract negotiations
Preliminary stages of a transaction
• Handling initial contacts: writing a NDA that works for you
• Drafting tips to compete while maintaining room for negotiation
• Negotiation with Anglo-Saxon partners : know the cultural differences
• Drafting preliminary documents: MOU, LOI …; staying on the “safe” non-binding side of a transaction
• Breaking off negotiations without liability
Exercise: drafting and negotiation sessions, drafting an LOI
Drafting sensitive clauses
• Conditions precedent and subsequent
• Representations and warranties
• Consequences of breach
• Dealing with force majeure events and hardship
The term of the contract
• Determining the term of the contract
• Expiration of the contract
• Auto-renewal of the contract
• Discharge of the contract
• Post-termination obligations: confidentiality and non-competition
Style workshop and contract drafting
• Less is more, commas, dates and numbers
• Drafting representations and warranties
• Non-compete clauses
Contractual risk management and limitations of liability
Contractual risks commonly encountered
• Liquidated damages
• Underlying premises of the Common Law
• Differences with French Law
Contractual limitations of liability
• Exclusion/limitation of liability
• Legal and public policy constraints
Damages
Exercise: drafting and negotiation sessions, dealing with liability, hardship manage your "frustration", taking liability into your own hands
