Business Contract Law

• Contract and commercial managers
• Business development and marketing managers
• Financial Managers
• Managing directors
• Project and procurement managers

As a result of attending this training course you will be able to:

• Understand legal terminology and its commercial implications
• Dramatically reduce the chances of contract pitfalls
• Spot potential commercial red flags
• Conduct a thorough risk analysis of your contracts
• Understand the legal consequences of your own actions
• Negotiate effectively and ensure a successful outcome for all parties

The course provides a full introduction and update on business contract law and how it impacts you and your organisation.

You will develop the skills to ensure that you avoid contract pitfalls and do not enter into contracts without realising. It also teaches you how to secure clauses within your contracts which protect you and your organisation.

The course takes you through all the major areas of contract law from formation through to termination. It covers payments, warranties, indemnities, limitation of liability, and lots more. The full course programme can be found below.

By carefully guiding you through every element of contract law you need, this course will ensure that you are able to minimise the risks contractually and maximise the benefits available. You will gain a better understanding of the impact of certain clauses on the value of the contract to each party.

You will learn the importance of risk analysis, the legal consequences of both your words and actions and gain a thorough understanding of the rules that regulate commercial contracts.

The course is delivered using an interactive approach with exercises and case studies with plenty of opportunities for discussion and questions.

• Contract and commercial managers
• Business development and marketing managers
• Financial Managers
• Managing directors
• Project and procurement managers

As a result of attending this training course you will be able to:

• Understand legal terminology and its commercial implications
• Dramatically reduce the chances of contract pitfalls
• Spot potential commercial red flags
• Conduct a thorough risk analysis of your contracts
• Understand the legal consequences of your own actions
• Negotiate effectively and ensure a successful outcome for all parties

This course will cover the following topics:

1. Setting the scene

• Introduction & course objectives
• Terminology exercise
• Jargon Busting exercise – what do lawyers mean when they say…?

2. Contract formation

• What is a contract?
• Key elements needed to form a contract in English law – the importance of words and actions in forming a contract
• Authority to sign contracts and e signatures
• When is a contract not a contract? Usage of Heads of terms etc.
• Battle of the forms – what does this mean? What are the risks? How do we win the battle?
• Practical exercise on the battle of the forms
• Express and implied terms
• Breach of contract and appropriate remedies
• Non-disclosure agreements and confidentiality undertaking

3. Key contract terms (part one)

• Payment clauses – key issues to be included
• Endeavours clauses – meaning of ‘best endeavours’, ‘all reasonable endeavours’ and reasonable endeavours’
• Case study on commercial red flags

4. Key contract terms (part two)

• Warranties – what should be included and how can they be amended?
• Indemnities – how do they operate and what are the key risks?
• Term and termination – key scenarios when termination takes place
• Case study on potential contract pitfalls

5. Excluding and limiting liability

• Direct and indirect loss
• Impact of unfair contract terms law
• What is best practice in terms of exclusion and liability clauses?
• Liquidated damages
• Limitation of liability clauses

6. Boilerplate clauses

• Notices – including discussion on electronic communications and signatures
• Force majeure – defining what this means and its potential commercial impact
• Entire agreement clauses
• Variation – written, oral, or by conduct
• Waiver clause – what to look out for
• Assignment and novation
• Third party rights – how to exclude these effectively
• Jurisdiction and applicable law

7. Conclusion and summary

• Summary of best practice in business contract law
• Applying the learning from the day
• Questions and answers
• Course close

We run the Business Contract Law course regularly throughout the year.

You can attend the Business Contract Law course in a virtual classroom or face-to-face in London. The content and training consultant for the course are the same in either format so choose whichever option suits you best.

Click on any of the dropdown items below to find out more information about our Business Contract Law open course.

You can view full booking terms and conditions here.

If you would prefer to, or if your question is not answered below, you can just pick up the phone and call 020 3582 7225 or email [email protected].

Are you interested in running this course for your team or organisation?

Our business contract law courses can be delivered on an in-company basis for up to 15 people.

All in-company courses are tailored to meet the unique circumstances of the client organisation and delegates. We will take as much time as necessary upfront to understand your contract challenges and the scenarios which will be most relevant to your delegates.

We can put the focus on any area of contract law and make reference to your contracts throughout the course.

On an in-company basis, delegates get the opportunity to spend time consulting with one of the UK’s leading business contract law practitioners on what contract law means to them and their organisation.

From the outset, we will provide you with expert advice and you will be assigned your own personal training adviser who will stay with you throughout the process.  Every team is different so we will provide you with a tailored training programme, designed around your team’s needs and focused on your desired outcomes.

All courses are followed up by a full training evaluation report and certificates of learning for each delegate.  For groups of up to 15 delegates per course, our in-company training is a very cost-effective way to develop your people and improve team performance.

Get in touch today for a full quotation to suit your budget.  To discuss your requirements in more detail with one of our friendly advisers please call us on 020 3582 7225 or email one of the team at [email protected].   Alternatively you can complete the short contact form below.