Introduction to Commercial Contract Review and Negotiation: A Practical 9-Step Framework Training Course

Course overview

Commercial contracts are complex, high-risk documents that directly affect revenue, liability and long-term business relationships. This practical contract review course provides a clear, jargon-free 9-step framework to help professionals confidently review, understand and manage commercial contracts.

Using plain language, checklists and sample contract clauses, it strips away unnecessary jargon and focuses on the issues that matter most in real-world contract review and negotiation. The course equips participants with a structured method for identifying risk, protecting commercial interests and strengthening negotiation outcomes.

The course guides participants through the entire lifecycle of a contract, starting before review even begins by identifying the key questions to ask at the outset. It addresses contract formation issues such as:

• offer and acceptance,
• battle of the forms, and
• documents marked ‘subject to contract’,

ensuring participants understand when contracts become legally binding and how obligations can be created unintentionally.

The course explains the difference between express terms and implied terms, how to interpret schedules and policy documents, and how to identify which law governs a contract - particularly in cross-border commercial agreements.

Delegates learn how to spot attempts to introduce onerous or hidden terms, understand what parties can and cannot do under contract law, and assess enforceability with confidence.

A structured checklist approach is used throughout, enabling participants to review contracts systematically and efficiently.

The course also considers key commercial protections, exploring how contracts can be drafted to reduce the risk of disputes and avoid litigation or arbitration wherever possible. Key topics include:

• Payment clauses and common payment structures
• Indemnities and risk allocation
• Liability, limitation and exclusion clauses
• Termination rights and consequences

Participants will learn how to identify red flags, assess exposure and negotiate stronger protections.

The course concludes with a focused review of the 10 most negotiated contract clauses, supported by 20 practical tips for contract review and sample wording for commonly contested provisions.

By breaking contracts down into nine core areas, this course enables professionals to review clauses and identify risks more quickly, negotiate more effectively and protect their commercial interests. By the end of the programme, delegates will be able to review, negotiate and manage contracts with greater confidence, clarity and commercial awareness.

Delivered in a highly interactive format, the expert trainer combines real-life insights with practical exercises, discussion and case studies. Participants will leave with a toolkit of practical techniques they can apply immediately to ensure contracts align with their commercial objectives - and clear strategies they can use when they do not.

This training course is part of our Commercial Contracts Training Course collection which has been designed for the in-house lawyer.

Benefits of attending

By attending this highly practical one-day event you will:

• Develop a structured approach to reviewing any commercial contract, enabling faster, more confident decision-making
• Understand how contracts are formed, including offer and acceptance, and the impact of ‘subject to contract’ communications
• Clearly distinguish between express and implied terms and assess their commercial and legal impact
• Learn how risk and ambiguity can be hidden in drafting style, structure and apply techniques to manage grey areas
• Assess the role of schedules and policy documents and how they can materially affect contractual obligations
• Identify which law governs the contract, particularly in cross-border agreements, and understand the implications for your interests
• Clarify what parties can and cannot do within the legal boundaries of a contract
• Learn how to build effective contractual protections to reduce risk and manage disputes
• Understand the differences between warranties, representations, guarantees and indemnities, and when to use each
• Analyse payment clauses, including timing, triggers and risk points
• Evaluate liability provisions, including exclusions, limitations and caps
• Learn how to terminate contracts effectively and manage post-termination consequences
• Apply 20 practical contract review tips and review the 10 most negotiated commercial contract clauses, supported by a detailed checklist

Who should attend?

Ideal for professionals responsible for commercial contracts, this course equips delegates with a clear, step-by-step framework to review contracts effectively, manage risks and strengthen commercial outcomes, including:

• In-house counsel
• Private practice lawyers
• Commercial managers
• Contract managers and administrators
• Business development managers
• Procurement managers
• Supply chain professionals
• Project managers
• Compliance officers and managers
• Risk managers
• Finance directors and managers 

All those responsible for reviewing, interpreting or negotiating contract terms in a business or legal context, including those new to the role and those more experienced who wish to have a refresher.

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