Contracts that hold up, and help when they do not

Drafting and review

We draft and negotiate the agreements Ohio businesses sign most often:

• customer terms and conditions, master services agreements and statements of work;
• vendor and supply agreements;
• commercial leases, from the tenant’s side;
• independent contractor and consulting agreements;
• confidentiality agreements;
• asset purchase agreements for small acquisitions.

For a single contract review we usually quote a flat fee after reading the document. Most reviews come back within three business days with a marked-up draft and a short memo explaining the changes that matter most.

When a deal goes wrong

Most contract disputes are settled long before trial, and the earlier a lawyer is involved, the cheaper the settlement tends to be. We start by reading the contract and the correspondence and telling you honestly how strong your position is. From there we might:

• write a demand letter;
• negotiate a payment plan for an unpaid invoice;
• mediate a dispute between business partners;
• file suit in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas or the Southern District of Ohio when there is no other way.

We also defend businesses that have been sued, including claims for breach of contract, unpaid commissions, and business torts such as interference with contracts.

Who handles this work

Tom Kessler has tried commercial cases in central Ohio for almost thirty years and leads our dispute work. Michael Brandt handles contract drafting and negotiation.