Start with the whole agreement
Collect the latest draft, every schedule, annex and order form, and any policy or document incorporated by reference. Keep an unchanged copy of anything already signed. A missing attachment can contain the detail that changes the meaning of the main document.
- Mark which version is current and whether it has been signed.
- Keep earlier drafts and important negotiation messages separately.
- Flag missing pages, unreadable scans and references to documents you do not have.
Explain your position in plain language
Write down who you are in the agreement, what you expect to receive, what you must provide and what would be difficult to accept. Include the countries connected to the transaction and any governing-law clause. An Arabic or English document does not, by itself, identify the law that applies.
For a Lebanon-related agreement with a party elsewhere in MENA, explain where the work, payment and delivery will take place. These facts help identify the questions that need more detailed legal review.
Follow the money and the work
Read the payment clause beside the scope of work. Ask whether the promised deliverables, acceptance process and payment triggers fit together. Check the stated currency, expenses, price changes and responsibility for additional work.
- What exactly must happen before an invoice is due?
- Who can approve changes, and must the price be agreed first?
- What happens if delivery is delayed or the work is disputed?
Find the exit before you need it
Locate the start and end dates, automatic renewal wording, termination provisions and notice method. Write down any dates expressly stated in the contract, without treating them as a complete list of legal deadlines. Ask what remains payable or continues after the agreement ends.
A right to end an agreement may be difficult to use if its notice process is unclear. Highlight the wording for discussion instead of assuming an email or a conversation will be enough.
Look beyond the headline price
Review liability, indemnities, ownership of work, confidentiality, restrictions on future activity and the ability to transfer obligations. Read the dispute clause alongside the governing-law clause. Identify any stated court, arbitration process, place or language.
The question is how these provisions affect your situation. An unusually broad obligation, conflicting language versions or an unclear cross-border arrangement deserves focused advice. A familiar-looking clause is not automatically suitable.
Turn concerns into a short discussion list
Separate the points you need changed from questions that simply need an explanation. Link each concern to a clause or page and describe the practical problem. This makes a review and subsequent negotiation more focused.
Legal Way Group can review the wording, discuss proposed changes and help identify questions that depend on the applicable law. Bring the complete agreement and your priorities so the scope of that work can be agreed.
Questions before you begin
Can I send only the clauses that worry me?
Start the conversation with your main concerns, but a complete review needs the whole agreement and its referenced documents. Definitions, exceptions and schedules can change how an individual clause works.
What if the contract is already signed?
Say that it is signed, keep the signed copy unchanged, and explain what has happened since. The discussion can then focus on interpretation, performance, a proposed amendment or a dispute, as appropriate.
Does this checklist tell me whether to sign?
It helps you prepare questions. It does not determine enforceability, confirm compliance or replace advice about your particular agreement and jurisdiction.
Public references
The reference below provides examples of dispute-resolution clauses. Choosing a clause requires advice about your agreement and the relevant jurisdictions.
A practical preparation resource. Advice about your circumstances depends on the full facts and the relevant law.