I noticed this post on ContractsProf Blog. It involves a fight over what “the fee” meant in a contract. Did it mean this fee or that fee? Ah, says I, that’s an instance of antecedent ambiguity. That’s where you allude to something mentioned elsewhere in a contract, but it’s arguably unclear what you’re actually referring to. See this post and … Read More
It’s been years since I’ve been a member of the American Bar Association. On a sudden impulse, I rectified that over the weekend: One reason for my doing so is that the Section of Business Law is the publisher of A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting. And next year I expect to publish with them a shorter book entitled … Read More
I’ve written previously (here) about my 7 November panel discussion in London with UCL Faculty of Laws. But earlier the same day I’m also doing a breakfast meeting for the group Clarity on the subject of “Overcoming resistance to change in contract drafting”; for more information, go here. Obviously there’s overlap in terms of the topics covered. But the Clarity … Read More
If you want to buy the fourth edition of A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting from the ABA Web Store, you’ll be told you have to pay a $70 fee for shipping. For prospective buyers located in Canada, that seems steep. But if you buy just one copy of the book and want it sent to Canada, there’s a … Read More
Go here for the last teaser for the fourth edition of A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting, the index. You can tell a lot about a reference work from its index. You can’t make a good index from a mediocre reference work. But you can make a mediocre index from a good reference work. I’m happy with the fourth … Read More
Go here for the introduction to the fourth edition of A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting. The introduction serves as a manifesto. It’s a reflection of what was on my mind at the time; if I were to write it now, I might emphasize some parts more or less. But I think it sets the scene appropriately. Bear with … Read More
Go here for the preface to the fourth edition of A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting. It will give you a sense of what has changed from the third edition. Once the print version is available, I’ll put online more detailed information about changes.
My first-ever public seminar was in Toronto with Osgoode Professional Development, back in 2006, I think. And way more people have attended my seminars in Toronto than in any other city. So I always enjoy going back. I’ll be back on 23 October for my regular “Drafting Clearer Contracts” seminar. It will be my first seminar in Toronto at which … Read More
Go here for the table of contents to the fourth edition of A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting. If you’re not familiar with the book, it will give you a good idea of what it covers. Before the ABA receives copies of the print edition from the printer—in other words, before 10 October—I’ll put online a version of the … Read More
In the past ten years I’ve done seminars in many countries. I haven’t counted them, and it would be juvenile to list them, although I’ve sporadically done “Notes from the Road” posts about my travels (here). I’ve also visited many cities in the United States and Canada that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. So what do I get out of … Read More
