About the Course
Introduction
This CLE course will provide a refreshing and entertaining approach to contract drafting by exploring what not to do and why not to do it, as well as what to do instead. In addition, the program will review the evolution of contract drafting and why strategies that worked in the past may be less suitable now.
Description
Many lawyers draft contracts a certain way because that is what they were taught or have seen other lawyers do. However, the advent of the Information Age, combined with significant substantive and procedural law developments, suggest it's time to take a fresh look at how lawyers draft contracts.
This engaging webinar explains how we have reached a stage where many contracts are longer than necessary, structured in an archaic way, and filled with ambiguities, jargon, massive paragraphs, redundancies, undefined terms, and imprecise boilerplate.
Using real-world examples, our expert will discuss many ways to draft a lousy contract, ways to do it better, and the many benefits of changing your approach.
Listen as our authoritative panel provides practical tips to help attendees learn how to draft contracts to avoid disputes and maximize the odds of prevailing if a conflict is unavoidable. This webinar will benefit lawyers who draft contracts by giving them a better understanding of preventing disputes and putting their clients in the best possible position if a conflict is unavoidable.
Presented By
Mr. Smith concentrates his practice in commercial law, debt financings, structured financings, workouts, bankruptcies, and international transactions. He is particularly knowledgeable on commercial law and insolvency matters, both domestic and cross-border. His representations have included those in major bankruptcies including Lehman and the City of Detroit. Mr. Smith often advises financial institutions on documentation and risk management issues.
Mr. Trevarthen retired in 2015 from The Toro Company as Director, Division Counsel after over 25 years of service. At Toro, he had extensive experience with negotiating, drafting, and enforcing contracts across a wide range of subject matters and business units. Prior to Toro, Prof. Trevarthen worked from 1979-1987 as a Project Engineer for General Motors Corporation in Saginaw, MI and for Tennant Company in Golden Valley, MN.
Mr. Weise practices in all areas of commercial law and has extensive experience in financing, especially in those secured by personal property, including structured financing. He is regarded as one of the foremost authorities on Article 9 of the UCC. He is a member of the Permanent Editorial Board for the UCC and a member of the American Law Institute’s UCC Article 9 Drafting Committee. Mr. Weise is also the past chair of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section Legal Opinions Committee.
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This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
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Date + Time
- event
Friday, September 25, 2026
- schedule
1:00 PM ET/ 10:00 AM PT
I. How we got here (the old contract drafting model)
II. What has changed and why our drafting must change
III. The many problems ambiguity causes and how to avoid ambiguity
IV. Contract structure
V. Definitions
VI. Representations
VII. Material terms
VIII. "Boilerplate" and the reasons for the "boilerplate" provisions some lawyers take for granted
A. Merger clauses
B. Dispute resolution
C. Non-assignment
D. Severability
E. Modification
F. Governing law
G. Waiver
H. Indemnity
I. Force majeure
J. And many other standard boilerplate provisions
IX. The benefits of plain English
This webinar will review these and other critical matters:
- Learn the types of ambiguities and how and why to avoid ambiguity
- Make contracts easier to understand and reduce the likelihood of disputes
- Gain practical tips from an experienced litigator on how drafting can prevent litigation and maximize the odds of success if litigation cannot be avoided
- The materials include many functional sample boilerplate clauses in plain English
- A comprehensive drafting checklist
Related Courses
Avoiding Bad Contract Drafting: Looking at the Big Picture, Structure, Language, Definitions, Terms, Consistency, and Boilerplate
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