I’ve previously announced that 4 October 2018 I’ll be giving a “Drafting Clearer Contracts” seminar in Mumbai with Asian Legal Business. (For more information, go here.)
I’ve had very little contact with India over the years. In 2017 I played a tiny part in a contract-drafting competition run by an Indian law school. Also in 2017, I wrote this post in response to an inquiry from a young Indian lawyer about how to review the other side’s draft contract. And in this 2012 post I wasn’t particularly complimentary about standards of Indian drafting.
Given that my Mumbai seminar is only a couple of months away, I’d be interested to hear from readers based in India. Do contracts matter in India? Will my approach to contract language be welcome in India? What should I bear in mind when preparing for my seminar? Is my seminar being appropriately marketed? Do you think it’s competitively priced? Heck, do I even have any readers in India!
Let me know what you think.
Dear Ken,
Always been a huge fan of your writing, and I hope I’ve learned enough over the years for my drafting to be less embarrassing.
Contracts do absolutely matter in India, and we could really use more influence that steers us away from constant throat clearing and ambiguous language. A seminar that focuses on the efficacy of a clause that can be understood by both parties to mean the same thing and convinces people to move away from traditional grandiose drafting could be incredibly helpful. Like any change, however, it will be met with a lot of resistance, even if not stated outright. The easiest answer, after all, is that this is what our clients are used to, and this is what they will demand.
I hope your seminar achieves everything you hope for it. That said, this is the first I’m hearing of it, so I’m not sure if there is any marketing at all. Further, 400 USD for a day’s seminar is out of the reach of a lot of younger professionals who have the chance to grow good habits and change drafting practices.
All the best!
Thanks Samrat. Yes, I’m used to resistance! I do my stuff for those who are willing to consider a more sensible approach.
I’ll discuss with Thomson Reuters how best to get the word out.
Dear Ken,
I’m a lawyer based in India. I’ve been doing corporate/ project financing work for a few years now, and I’ve been following your blog since law school! :)
Yes, contracts and contract drafting matters a lot in India – especially in my field. However, guidance to better drafting is limited – and as pointed out by Samrat, change is met with resistance, more often by clients than counter parties.
While I’d love to attend the seminar, and indeed, am planning to, the price tag is quite steep, and would definitely deter a fair number of the younger crowd from attending.
I don’t think the seminar is being marketed very widely – there are a number of platforms, such as Bar and Bench, LegallyIndia, LinkedIn, Manupatra, and Indian Kanoon, that you could collaborate with.
Hope the event is a success – and looking forward to meeting you in October!
Dear Ken,
I am a young lawyer based in India. I work in the technology space and have been following your blog for a couple of years now.
India is a common law jurisdiction; crisp, clear contracts are therefore, very essential in forestalling disputes. The technology space is not well-regulated – a comprehensive data protection regime is only now being put in place. So yes, contract drafting matters quite a lot in India.
Your drafting/language is refreshing and effective, since so much of Indian contractual language is still Victorian in its approach. There is a lot of resistance to contracts in plain English, and most often such resistance is led by clients and their in-house counsel. It would help, if you could address this category of the legal market in your seminar.
I’m afraid, your seminar has not received a lot of press. Maybe you should look at the marketing aspects. The pricing is also rather steep, at least for young lawyers who are most receptive to your ideas/drafting.
Lastly, I work for a large technology company with operations across the globe. In informal discussions, your name has cropped up often. Could you please give me your contact details? I would like to discuss certain opportunities with you.
Hope your seminar is a great success and that you keep coming back to India!
Thanks Arnab. Because this my first time in India, I’m not surprised that word is getting out slowly. And I’ll be discussing with Thomson Reuters whether we can offer any kind of deal to younger lawyers.
You can reach me at kadams@adamsdrafting.com.