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Drafting Contracts in Legal English: Cross-Border Agreements Governed by U.S. Law

Drafting Contracts in Legal English: Cross-Border Agreements Governed by U.S. Law

Author: Cynthia M. Adams; Peter K. Cramer
Publisher: Aspen Legal Education
ISBN: 9781454805465
Published In: March 2013
Format: Paperback , 384 pages
Jurisdiction: U.S. ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

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Description
Contents
Author

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Written in a deliberate and concise manner, devoid of United States colloquialisms, Drafting Contracts in Legal English: Cross-border Agreements Governed by U.S. Law is designed for classroom use as well as self-study. Teaching a strategic approach and sequential steps to drafting contracts, the text includes examples and exercises based on cross-border agreements such as distribution agreements, licensing, franchises and equipment leases. Special drafting issues in cross-border agreements are also considered: choice of language clauses, choice of forum clauses, indemnification provisions, force majeure clauses, counterpart clauses, international alternative dispute resolution clauses, and the choice to opt in or out of the CISG. By providing appropriate explanations of United States law, the text increases student comprehension as suggested drafting approaches are placed in legal context. This unique guide discusses the purpose of and provides drafting tips for contract parts, contract organization and formatting, basic contract provisions, letters of intent, and the craft of reviewing and revising contracts. End-of-chapter exercises test overall comprehension and apply drafting concepts presented in the chapter. To increase the non-native speakers’ lexical range, vocabulary is derived from a statistical analysis of thousands of authentic contracts. To help with contract sentence structures that are challenging for non-native speakers, syntax structures are based on comparison to databases with authentic contracts. A glossary of contract terms is based on frequency counts from thousands of authentic contracts and usage in text, contextualized and cross-referenced with most common collocations. The online Teacher’s Manual gives suggestions for in-class discussion and exercises, sample drafting assignments designed to simulate real-world drafting experiences, and sample syllabi.

Features:

Written in a deliberate and concise manner, devoid of United States colloquialisms
Designed for classroom use as well as self-study
Teaches strategic approach and sequential steps to drafting contracts
- includes examples and exercises based on cross-border agreements
  - distribution agreements
  - licensing
  - franchises
  - equipment leases
- considers special drafting issues in cross-border agreements
  - choice of language clauses
  - choice of forum clauses
  - indemnification provisions
  - force majeure clauses
  - counterpart clauses
  - international alternative dispute resolution clauses
  - opting in or out of the CISG
- provides appropriate explanations of United States law
  - increases comprehension
  - places suggested drafting approaches in legal context
- discusses the purpose of and provides drafting tips for
  - contract parts
  - contract organization and formatting
  - basic contract provisions
  - letters of intent
  - reviewing and revising contracts
End-of-chapter exercises
- test overall comprehension
- apply drafting concepts presented in the chapter
- build vocabulary
  - derived from a statistical analysis of thousands of authentic contracts
  - increase non-native speakers’ lexical range
- clarify syntax
  - based on comparison to database with authentic contracts
  - teach contract sentence structures that are challenging for non-native speakers
Glossary of contract terms
- based on frequency counts from thousands of authentic contracts and usage in text
- Contextualized and cross-referenced with most common collocations
Online Teacher’s Manual
- suggestions for in-class discussion and exercises
- sample drafting assignments designed to simulate real-world drafting experiences
- sample syllabi

Chapter One: Introduction

Chapter Two: Preliminary Drafting Concerns

Chapter Three: Contract Structure

Chapter Four: Defined Terms

Chapter Five: The Beginning of the Contract

Chapter Six: The Importance of Clear and Concise Writing

Chapter Seven: Basic Categories of Contract Provisions

Chapter Eight: Word Choice

Chapter Nine: Sentence Structure

Chapter Ten: Core Provisions

Chapter Eleven: Exit Provisions

Chapter Twelve: Alternative Dispute Resolution Provisions

Chapter Thirteen: Miscellaneous Provisions

Chapter Fourteen: The End of the Contract

Appendices

Cynthia M. Adams is Clinical Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Latin American Law Program at Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, where she has taught advanced contract drafting; contract drafting for international law students, legal analysis and communication for both J.D. and international law students; contracts for international law students; civil procedure, trusts and estates and legal process. Adams is an active member of the Indiana Bar Association and the Indianapolis Bar Association. She serves as the Chair-Elect for the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Section on Graduate Programs for Foreign Lawyers and serves on the Executive Committee of the AALS Section on International Exchange Programs. Adams founded and manages a listserv devoted to teaching international law students and lawyers. She is a member of the Legal Writing Institute (a U.S. organization devoted to teaching excellence in legal writing) and serves as the Chairperson of the Legal Writing Institute’s Committee on Global Legal Writing Skills, which supports and promotes cross-border teaching of law students. ; Adams was one of the first faculty members to receive Indiana University's Trustee's Teaching Award in recognition of teaching excellence and is a three-time recipient of the law school’s Teaching Excellence Recognition Award. Adams has made many presentations at regional, national, and international conferences. Previously, Adams practiced law with an Indianapolis law firm, focusing on general business, acquisitions and mergers, commercial loans, and trusts and estates. She also served as an adjunct professor of English at Indiana University/Purdue University-Indianapolis and as an adjunct professor of English at Butler University.