Business
Contract review: what we look for
Updated May 5, 2026
A contract review finds the terms that could cost your business money, limit your options, or create obligations you didn't expect, and explains them in plain language before you sign. We review the everyday agreements small businesses sign: vendor and supplier agreements, customer terms, services agreements, independent contractor agreements, nondisclosure agreements, software subscriptions, and referral or distribution agreements. We don't review commercial real-estate leases.
What we look for
The deal itself
- The parties are named correctly, with your company rather than you personally as the party when that's the intent.
- The scope of work or products is clear, including how and when work is accepted.
- Price, payment timing, late fees, and any right to raise prices.
Term, renewal, and termination
- How long the contract lasts, and whether it renews automatically with only a short window to cancel.
- Whether either side can end it for convenience or only for cause, and whether there's a chance to fix a problem first.
- What happens at the end, such as final payments and the return of your data or property.
Risk and liability
- Indemnification: who must cover whose losses, including claims brought by third parties, and whether the obligation is mutual.
- Limitation of liability: caps on damages, exclusions of lost profits and other indirect damages, and exceptions to those limits.
- Warranties and disclaimers: what each side promises about its products or services.
- Insurance requirements: the coverage types and amounts you must carry.
Intellectual property and confidentiality
- Who owns work product, and what licenses each side receives.
- What confidentiality obligations cover and how long they last.
- Data security and privacy obligations.
Restrictive covenants
Noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and exclusivity clauses can limit your business long after the contract ends. Texas law enforces noncompetition agreements only when they meet specific requirements, including reasonable limits on time, geographic area, and scope of activity.
Disputes and governing law
- Which state's law governs, and where disputes must be brought
- Arbitration clauses, jury waivers, and attorney's fees provisions
- How formal notices must be delivered
Our attorneys advise on Texas law. If a contract is governed by another state's law, we'll point that out.
Assignment and authority
- Whether the other side can transfer the contract to someone else, and whether selling your business requires their consent.
- Whether the person signing has authority, and whether you're signing in your company's name with your title.
What you receive
| Tier | Scope | What you receive | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1: Quick review | Up to 10 pages | Written issues memo, ranked by importance | $450 | 3 business days |
| Tier 2: Standard review | Up to 30 pages | Issues memo, suggested redline, 30-minute call | $950 | 5 business days |
| Tier 3: Negotiation support | Any length | Redlines and negotiation with the other side | Hourly, $2,000 retainer | Varies |
Contracts over 30 pages are quoted individually. We can suggest changes and explain why they matter, but we can't guarantee the other side will accept them.
How to send us a contract
- Contact our intake coordinator and give the other party's full name for the conflict check.
- Wait for the conflict check to clear, sign the engagement letter, and make your payment.
- Upload the complete contract through our secure client portal, including every exhibit, schedule, and document it refers to, such as online terms.
- Tell us your signing deadline and your main concerns.
Please don't paste or upload a contract into our website assistant, and don't email one to us before you're engaged. The assistant can't review contracts, and neither channel is the right place for confidential documents.
Before you sign anything
- Ask for more time if you're being rushed.
- Read any online terms or policies the contract incorporates by reference.
- Make sure agreed changes appear in the contract itself, not only in emails.
- Keep a fully signed copy.
This is general information, not legal advice.