I’ve been working on my preferred wording for recurring components of M&A contracts, such as the conditions to closing. This task has forced me to decide what terminology I wish to use in connection with obligations. “Obligation” Versus “Covenant” Let’s start with the word obligation itself. Why not use covenant instead? Black’s Law Dictionary defines obligation as follows: “A formal, … Read More
Earlier this week, during a marathon session of grading law-school assignments, my thoughts turned to words that, as a general matter, have no place in a contract. I have in mind humble words that are commonplace in narrative writing but strike a discordant note in contracts. Here are a few: Also; In Addition The relationship between any two items in … Read More
[Updated January 12, 2015, to integrate what had previously been bracketed updates.] In A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting 12.21, I recommend that you use only one space, rather than two, after punctuation, whether it separates two sentences (periods, question marks, exclamation marks) or parts of a sentence (colons). I’m hardly alone in this. The Chicago Manual of Style … Read More
In August I posted this item about the dispute between Rogers Communications Inc. and Aliant Inc. (now Bell Aliant Regional Communications) regarding the role of a comma in a contract provision. I know that this dispute has received a lot of attention, but I was nevertheless surprised to see an article about it in today’s New York Times. (Click here … Read More
In my recent post on hold harmless I quoted the Black’s Law Dictionary definition of indemnify: “1. To reimburse (another) for a loss suffered because of a third party’s or one’s own act or default. 2. To promise to reimburse (another) for such a loss. 3. To give (another) security against such a loss.”) This definition reminded me of an … Read More
Osgoode Hall Law School’s Professional Development Program told me yesterday that they’re no longer accepting registrations for my November 6–7 drafting workshop in Toronto—it’s sold out! They are, however, starting to accept registrations for the next one, which will be on April 30–May 1, 2007. There are still openings for my seminars in Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva is, to say the … Read More
[Update: For my more recent take on this issue, see this 2012 post.] At a seminar I gave last week, I suggested that hold harmless and indemnify are essentially synonyms. Some participants were skeptical, so I thought I’d better research the issue. Black’s Law Dictionary supports my view. It defines hold harmless as follows: “To absolve (another party) from any … Read More
Last week I received an analysis of the 2006 amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law. That reminded me of my one manuscript that never came close to becoming a published article—my critique of drafting usages in the DGCL. I wrote this manuscript about three years ago, when I was flailing around, seeking some way—any way—to turn my interest in … Read More
MSCD is a reference work rather than a textbook, so it doesn’t contain any teaching materials. That has probably prevented some teachers of contract drafting from using it as a course book. I’ve contemplated making available online a complete set of teaching materials, but that will have to wait. In the meantime, though, I can make available some items. Templates … Read More
Today I encountered another form of rhetorical emphasis to add to those noted in MSCD 13.37–38 and in my previous post on the subject. This is from a software license agreement: Licensor shall NOT indemnify, defend or hold Licensee harmless from and against any loss, cost, damage, liability, or expense (including reasonable legal fees) suffered or incurred by Licensee in … Read More
