DRAFTING AN INTERNATIONAL

CONTRACT

International Business Law

CH1 : NEGOCIATIONS

• Two steps in negociations

Section 1- Informal precontractual dealings

• I- Freedom to negotiate

• II- Good faith

• III- Breach of negotiations

Section 2- Pre-contracts

• I- Definition

• II- Différents types of pre-contracts– A- Steps in negotiation

– B- Limitation of liability, subject to contract terms

– C- Contract regarding certain aspects of negotiation

– D- Final contract with modalities

CH2 : CONTRACT TERMS

• Intro : The preamble– A- Length

– B- Content

– C- Aim

SECTION 1 : SPECIFIC TERMS

• Distinction between specific terms and general terms.

I- Parties

• A- Who are the parties to this contract ?

• B- Representant

• C- Naming the parties

II- Definitions

Specific duties of the parties

• See CISG for an example for the sale of goods

SECTION 2- GENERAL TERMS

I- Duty of best efforts

• A- What is a duty of best efforts ?

• B- Contracts containing duties of best efforts

• C- Differents types de best efforts terms

II- Penal term

• A- What is the aim of a penal clause ?

• B- Consequences

• C- Limits

III- Limitation liability

• A- Exclusion and limitation of liability

• B- Influence of national laws

• D- Impact on insurance

IV- Force majeure

• A- Criteria

• B- Regime

• C- Consequences

• D- Debtor’s duties

V- Hardship term

• A- Definition

• B- Change of circumstances

• C- Consequences

• D- Dangerousness of this term

VI- Change in market conditions

• A- Competing offer clause

• B- Client in a better prosition

• C- Consequences

VII- Option term

SECTION 4 : DUTIES SURVIVING THE

CONTRACT

I- Terms concerning past events

• A- Stock• B- Documents• C- Passed orders• D- Insurance• E- Work in progress

II- Terms concerning future events

• A- Non-competition term• B- Confidentiality• C- Warranty• D- Faithfulness