In this article, I focus on the idea of looking beyond the contents of your contract or brief to see not what mistakes you’ve made within the document, but what you’ve overlooked completely. Too often, during the editing process, lawyers (and other people) only focus on what’s in front of them. But, in many cases the problem is not what is there; rather, the problem is what’s missing. The article starts with an example in the transactional context and then gives some practical suggestions before turning to litigation.
Providing Sound Advice Requires a Broader Perspective
As a transactional lawyer, you spend a good portion of your day writing and reviewing contracts. Whether you’re working on an eight- or nine-figure deal, preparing an NDA, or addressing a consumer relationship, providing sound advice is as much about spotting missing terms as it is about clarifying or negotiating the existing language in the agreement.