New York City Business Contracts Attorneys

Lawyers Helping Businesses Draft, Negotiate, and Review Commercial Contracts in New York

Business contracts form the foundation of commercial relationships. They will establish rights, obligations, and expectations between parties that engage in transactions, enter into partnerships, or participate in other business arrangements. Well-drafted contracts can protect the interests of a business, allocate risks appropriately, and help to minimize disputes. On the other hand, poorly drafted contracts can expose businesses to significant financial losses or legal liabilities, and they may lead to protracted disputes that can consume time and resources.

Health Counsel Group works with businesses in New York City and throughout the United States to address issues related to commercial contracts. We work closely with our clients to understand their business objectives and develop contracts that will help them achieve their goals while providing legal protections. Whether drafting new agreements, negotiating the terms of contracts, or reviewing existing contracts, our team can provide the legal help needed to ensure that our clients can protect their interests.

The Importance of Well-Drafted Business Contracts

Business contracts serve multiple critical functions. They will establish clear expectations by defining what each party will provide, when performance is due, and what standards will apply. Well-drafted contracts can help to avoid misunderstandings or other issues that could lead to disputes or damage business relationships.

Risk allocation is a key concern when negotiating contracts. Thoughtfully drafted contracts can allocate risks between parties in ways that reflect their abilities to manage different types of issues. Indemnification provisions, limitation of liability clauses, insurance requirements, and warranty disclaimers can ensure that risks will be addressed correctly.

Contracts may provide enforcement mechanisms and dispute resolution procedures. When disagreements arise, a well-drafted contract can establish procedures for addressing these concerns through methods such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or litigation. Provisions related to forum selection and choice of law can determine which jurisdiction's laws will apply and where disputes will be resolved.

Service Agreements and Vendor Contracts

Contracts may be established in situations where one party provides services to another. These contracts may address a variety of business operations, from professional services like accounting and consulting to operational services such as maintenance, cleaning, security, and information technology. Service agreements should clearly define the scope of services, performance standards, timelines, compensation structures, and termination provisions.

Scope of services provisions can help the parties avoid disputes about what services will be performed. Detailed descriptions of deliverables, specifications, and exclusions can help ensure that both parties understand the extent of the services that will be provided. Quality benchmarks may also be included, and a contract may include remedies in situations where a provider fails to meet specified targets.

Vendor contracts involving the purchase of goods or equipment may include similar considerations, but they may also need to address issues such as product specifications, quality standards, inspection procedures, warranties, and delivery terms. At Health Counsel Group, we can help clients draft and negotiate service agreements and vendor contracts, making sure their interests are protected.

Employment Contracts and Independent Contractor Agreements

Contracts may be used to establish the terms of relationships between employers and workers. Employment contracts can address compensation, benefits, duties, performance expectations, confidentiality obligations, non-competition restrictions, and termination procedures for employees. Independent contractor agreements may be used when businesses work with non-employee service providers. These agreements may address similar issues while defining the scope of the work that will be performed and the level of control that a business will have over an independent contractor.

Non-competition and non-solicitation provisions in employment contracts and independent contractor agreements will require careful drafting to ensure that they will be enforceable. These restrictive covenants must be reasonable in scope, geography, and duration, and they must be necessary to protect an employer's legitimate business interests.

The attorneys at Health Counsel Group can help draft and review employment and independent contractor agreements, ensuring that they comply with the applicable laws while protecting a business's interests.

Partnership and Shareholder Agreements

Partnership agreements can be used to formalize relationships among business partners. They may address capital contributions, profit and loss allocation, management authority, decision-making procedures, and exit mechanisms.

Capital contribution provisions may address initial and ongoing investments, and they may be structured to address taxes or other considerations. Management provisions will detail who has authority to make decisions, what matters will require unanimous consent or majority approval, and whether partners have equal management rights. Contracts may also address the admission of new partners, the withdrawal of partners, and buyout provisions. Buy-sell provisions can establish procedures for purchasing departing partners' interests.

Shareholder agreements may serve a similar function for closely held corporations. They can address board composition, voting procedures, dividend policies, and buyout procedures. The lawyers at Health Counsel Group can help clients draft partnership agreements, shareholder agreements, and LLC operating agreements that will help ensure that businesses can operate successfully while protecting the rights of all parties.

Intellectual Property Licenses

Licensing agreements can be used to grant permission to use intellectual property such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, or trade secrets. These agreements can detail the rights and restrictions that apply to licensees, including territorial limitations, exclusivity provisions, and sublicensing rights. Royalty structures and other terms may also be included.

Health Counsel Group can help clients establish intellectual property licensing agreements that will meet their needs and protect their interests. We work with licensors who are seeking to monetize intellectual property or licensees who will be using intellectual property owned by other parties.

Non-Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreements

Non-disclosure agreements can be used to protect confidential business information. These agreements will define what is considered confidential information, specify the permitted uses of information, and address issues such as the return or destruction of information after the termination of a business relationship.

Mutual non-disclosure agreements may be used when both parties will share confidential information, while unilateral agreements may impose obligations on one party. The appropriate structure of an agreement will depend on the parties' business relationship.

The attorneys at Health Counsel Group can help clients draft non-disclosure agreements that will meet their needs. We can also review proposed agreements to ensure that they provide adequate protection for all parties and will not include unreasonable restrictions.

Contract Review and Negotiation Services

Before entering into contracts, businesses will need to review their terms and identify any potential concerns. Our attorneys can examine contractual agreements to identify provisions that may be problematic or unclear. We will explain the terms of contracts in plain language, highlight concerns that may need to be addressed, and recommend negotiation strategies that may be successful.

Contract negotiations will require an understanding of the applicable laws and legal principles and a knowledge of specific industries. We work collaboratively with clients to gain a full understanding of their priorities, determine which terms are essential, and develop approaches for achieving our clients' goals while maintaining successful business relationships.

Our lawyers can also review existing contracts to ensure that they are providing our clients with the proper protections and meeting their needs. We can identify provisions that may need to be modified due to new circumstances or legal developments, and we can draft amendments and negotiate terms. We work to ensure that our clients' contracts will continue to protect their interests.

Contact Our New York Commercial Contract Lawyers

When businesses enter into contractual relationships, they will need to make sure their interests will be protected. At Health Counsel Group, we provide comprehensive contract services, helping our clients draft new agreements, negotiate favorable terms, and resolve disputes. Contact our New York City commercial contract attorneys at 123-456-7890 to set up a consultation and discuss how we can help your business establish strong agreements that will protect your interests and support your success.