Most contract disputes trace back to a clause the signing party never actually read closely. This is what to check before signing, not after a dispute begins.
Core commercial terms
- Scope of work or goods, defined precisely rather than by reference to a conversation
- Price, payment schedule and consequences of late payment
- Delivery or performance timeline and what counts as delay
- Quality or performance standards the other side is actually bound to meet
Risk allocation clauses
- Termination — for convenience and for breach, and the notice each requires
- Liability caps and any exclusions of liability
- Indemnity provisions and what they actually cover
- Force majeure and what events it includes
Dispute and governance terms
- Governing law and jurisdiction or arbitration clause
- Confidentiality scope and duration
- Any non-compete or restrictive covenant, and whether it is reasonably scoped
What to do next
Work through this list against the actual draft before signing, and treat any clause you do not understand as a reason to ask, not a reason to skip past it.