Sutton Sachs Meyer

Call To Schedule A Free Consultation: 212-884-9727

  • Home
  • About
    • Daniel Churgin
    • Laura Cowan – Of Counsel
    • Ali Jaffery – Of Counsel
    • Zachary Meyer
    • Andrew Sachs
  • Practice Areas
    • Business Law
    • Employment Law
    • Real Estate
    • Civil Litigation
    • Estate Planning
    • Sexual Harassment
  • Blog
  • Contact
Sutton Sachs Meyer
212-884-9727
  • Home
  • About
    • Daniel Churgin
    • Laura Cowan – Of Counsel
    • Ali Jaffery – Of Counsel
    • Zachary Meyer
    • Andrew Sachs
  • Practice Areas
    • Business Law
    • Employment Law
    • Real Estate
    • Civil Litigation
    • Estate Planning
    • Sexual Harassment
  • Blog
  • Contact

Skilled Attorneys. Trusted Advisers.

  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Firm News
  4.  » 
  5. Why You Want an Attorney to Review Contracts Before Signing Them

Why You Want an Attorney to Review Contracts Before Signing Them

On Behalf of Sutton Sachs Meyer PLLC | May 5, 2015 | Firm News

Most business owners– no matter what type of business they manage, are prone to committing legal mistakes. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s something one can’t try to avoid. They key is to be familiar with these pitfalls, especially when dealing with agreements. Here are some of the most common issues an attorney will help you pay attention to:

Failure to Put the Basics on Paper

Everything should be written. No exception. Likewise, all terms should be stated in the agreement, as detailed as possible.

For this, it can be important that everything is written in an easy-to-understand language, not something that is too technical. This is important because if someone is not familiar with the terms or the provisions mentioned in the agreement, then there’s a chance that conflict may arise. Litigation routinely occurs when parties disagree over the most basic things like the definition of a single word.

Likewise, the agreement needs to be thoroughly reviewed by you and your attorney to see if it’s consistent and complete. Always think of the worse case scenario and try to determine if that written agreement could be helpful in case something like that happens. You may be drafting a contract with your best friend now but your greatest adversary a few years down the road.

Excluding a Governing Law Close

It’s important to agree on a law to govern the agreement in advance. This clause will enable you to know what stateFor instance, “This agreement shall be governed and constructed in accordance with the laws of the state of Arizona.”

Agreeing to Arbitration

It’s usually not recommended to agree to arbitration. Arbitration can be impractical, limit your rights, and be prohibitively expensive to bring a claim if the agreement is breached. For example, if you’ll bring a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court, your filing fee will be only $210, no matter how much your claim is but that same claim in arbitration can cost as much as $10,000 plus the fees of the arbitrator.

Have a Fully Executed Copy of the Agreement

If you can’t produce a fully signed copy of the agreement, it’s harder to claim that an agreement like that really exists to bind the other party. An attorney will make sure that the agreement is properly executed by both parties to be enforceable.

Notice Last Minute Changes

Slipping changes to an agreement isn’t tricky at all. This could be by accident or intentional. Thus, it’s always advisable to fully read the agreement before signing it.

Having the Right People Execute the Agreement

It’s important to ensure that the names of the party involved are properly identified. If a business is involved, an attorney can confirm if it is the correct business being bound by the agreement. An attorney will also make sure that it is the business being bound and not the signor personally if that is pertinent to the situation.

Seek Advice from a Lawyer

Last, but definitely not least, agreements are complex even if they don’t appear so on it’s face. Sometimes what is in the contract is just as important as what is not in it. It’s always advisable to consult a lawyer that will guide you through the process before you sign any agreement.

Recent Posts

  • How employees can document workplace harassment
  • What to know before reporting sexual harassment to HR
  • Navigating the trademark application process: 5 tips for success
  • Exploring common reasons for trademark application denials
  • Elements of a strong sexual harassment case in New York

Categories

  • Business Law
  • Employment Disputes
  • Firm News
  • Freelancing
  • Trademarks

Archives

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed

Schedule a free consultation and learn how our team at Sutton Sachs Meyer PLLC can help you or your business.

Send Us A Message

Visit Us

14 Penn Plaza
Ste 1315
New York, NY 10122
New York Law Office
Sutton Sachs Meyer
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
Review Us

Contact Us

Phone:
212-884-9727

Fax:
212-480-4351

Client Portal
MAKE A PAYMENT
Law Pay | An Affinipay Solution

“ATTORNEY ADVERTISING”

© 2025 Sutton Sachs Meyer PLLC • All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw