Course overview
Commercial contracts are complex, high-risk documents that directly affect revenue, liability and long-term business relationships. This practical contract review training 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, the course strips away unnecessary jargon and focuses on the issues that matter most in real-world contract review and negotiation. The expert trainer will equip participants with a structured method for identifying risk, protecting commercial interests and strengthening negotiation outcomes.
The training 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 training 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 will 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 training 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 training course enables professionals to review clauses and identify risks more quickly, negotiate more effectively and protect their commercial interests. By the end of the course, 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.
CPD Hours: 6
Course Content
- Day 1
- Step 1: Starting the review
- Step 2: Governing law and dispute resolution
- Step 3: Core contractual obligations
- Step 4: Protection within the contract
- Step 5: Payment clauses
- Step 6: Risk diversification
- Step 7: Liability
- Step 8: Termination
- Step 9: Reviewing & analysing the contract and 10 most negotiated clauses
Speakers
Arun Singh OBE
Arun Singh (Prof) OBE, FRSA is an international lawyer and consultant to an international law firm. He was formerly a partner and head of commercial law at KPMG Legal and partner at Masons (now Pinsent Masons).
Arun has advised on disputes and collaborations in a wide range of jurisdictions including Europe, countries in West and East Africa, India, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Libya, Jordan, Syria, the US, Caribbean, Russia, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, Thailand and Singapore. Arun is cited and ranked in the Chambers Guide to the world’s leading lawyers. He concentrates on international investment, joint ventures, licensing of technology, research and development, M&A, energy, outsourcing and corporate governance in developed and emerging markets; he also handles international legal risk management matters. Arun advises a range of international organisations and is a visiting professor in International Business, Leadership and Negotiations at Salford University Business School, senior associate at Oxford University’s Institute of Legal Practice and teaches international leadership and negotiations at the University of Cambridge. He has facilitated programmes in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the US.
He is a recognised corporate educator and a non-executive director of two international investment companies - one of which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, chairing the Audit Committee and Investment Committee.
He was appointed an OBE by HM the Queen in January 1999 for services to international trade, investment and intercultural management. Arun is an editor and contributor to a number of publications including Business and Contract Law (a Thorogood Special Report) and How to Lead Smart People - Leadership for Professionals (Profile Books) (recommended reading in the big four corporate advisory firms and basis for the popular international Coursera MOOC, University of London course 'Stepping Up: Leading Others').He is also a facilitator for company programmes and an experienced speaker at international corporate conferences.
