A practical checklist for organising a contract, identifying commercial priorities, and preparing useful questions before legal review.
Start with the commercial goal
Explain what the agreement is meant to achieve, who the parties are, and what a successful outcome looks like. This helps legal review focus on the terms that matter most to the transaction.
Collect every related document
Keep the latest draft, earlier versions, schedules, emails, proposals, and referenced policies together. Missing attachments often contain obligations that affect the main agreement.
Mark the terms that affect risk
Pay particular attention to payment, delivery, warranties, liability, termination, confidentiality, intellectual property, dispute resolution, and governing law.
List the points you can and cannot negotiate
A clear distinction between essential terms and flexible terms makes negotiation more efficient and reduces unnecessary back-and-forth.
