Essentials of Contract Drafting

Online Class material is 100% online, accessible by all standard web browsers. Use your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone--your progress will by synced across all devices.

On-Demand The class is fully asynchronous. Do the work at your own pace, turn in your assignment when you're ready, and get instant feedback via model answers and video review sessions.

Interactive Learn with dynamic, interactive modules that keep you engaged in active learning using a variety of learning modes.

Experiential Includes practical assessments throughout the class, plus a capstone assignment where you apply your skills in the context of a real-world matter.

Overview

Every lawyer needs to be an effective contract negotiator -- now you can learn the essentials from top attorneys. Using a commercial contract, you'll learn essential concepts such as contract structure, interplay of key provisions, "boilerplate" language, and practice tips from real-world negotiations.

This class addresses the basics of corporate drafting, using a commercial contract as an example. The instructor will focus on technical skills and concepts such as the basic structure of a contract, the interplay of representations and warranties, covenants, and conditions, and drafting and negotiating boilerplate language. Practical skills concepts will be discussed at length, including how to:

write in a clear and concise way,
blackline documents,
interpret editing comments,
coordinate signature pages and
avoid common pitfalls in corporate drafting.

Level: Basic-Foundational

This class is suitable for attorneys who have a general interest in, or are exposed to, corporate transactions but have not had extensive practical experience in drafting or negotiating contracts.

Objectives

Upon completion of this Master Class, participants are able to:

Demonstrate a broad understanding of the various standard contract provisions and how they interrelate
Draft basic contract terms
Recognize and negotiate one-sided and neutral provisions
Write in a clear and concise way
Blackline documents
Interpret editing comments
Coordinate signature pages
Avoid common pitfalls in corporate drafting

Simulation Exercise

Participants will be asked to review and propose revisions to a contract based on a set of facts relating to our hypothetical client’s goals and concerns. During the live review session of the course, participants will review the model answer and receive feedback on the substance of the drafting as well as practical tips for clear and concise drafting.

Instructors Who Practice What They Teach

Adriel Sanders

x-Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

David Case

x-White & Case; x-Orrick

Doug Young

x-Baker McKenzie; x-White & Case

Aaron Melville

Global Head of Tech Transactions, Uber; x-Disney; x-O’Melveny; x-Weil Gotshal

Chris Drews

x-Disney

Julie Ryan

Head of Experiential Learning, AltaClaro; x-Akin Gump; x-Clifford Chance

Mick Galvin

x-Sidley; x-Allen & Overy

Stephen Kaplitt

x-Weil Gotshal; x-Cadwalader

Clara Duffield

x-Baker McKenzie

Mike Shea

x-Baker McKenzie, x-Morrison & Foerster

John Babcock

Partner, Waldrep Wall

Success Stories

"I think this is a gamechanger for training. Associates can benefit from the guidance of real practitioners and learn in a low stakes environment."

Anjie Vichayanonda Associate, Haynes & Boone LLP

"As an experienced practitioner who has worked in both AmLaw 100 and public company, in-house environments, the training AltaClaro provided helped supplement my knowledge of corporate law."

Ryan Nayar Legal Counsel, Centrica

Interested in this Class?

Our master classes are delivered in an experiential "bootcamp" framework. Students participate in small cohorts that go through the learning materials, assignments, and live review sessions together with experienced practitioner-instructors.

We serve law firms of all sizes, universities, individual professionals, and groups of professionals (in-house departments, networks, and associations). Find out more about how we can help you.