Federal Contract Law Firm Helps Clients Assess Risk
Washington, D.C. Government Contract Lawyers Focus on Risk Assessments
Learn More About Government Contracts and Awards
Contracts are an everyday part of business. Although the obligations under most contracts are diligently performed, serious disputes sometimes occur, and what is written in your contract will determine your rights and obligations.
Unfortunately, all too often contracts are signed that do not embody the full agreement of the parties or adequately address critical issues. The shortcomings of a contract usually come to light at the worst possible time – when a dispute arises. When something goes wrong, the first thing people reach for is the contract to understand their obligations and rights.
Avoid Ambiguity
Contracts should be drafted so that an independent third party can clearly understand the intent of the parties without having to look at any other documents or listen to the testimony of any party. If the contract is ambiguous or has conflicting terms, the court will have to resort to information outside the contract to determine the intent of the parties. This will result in greater unpredictability and may lead to the application of contract rules unintended by the parties.
Risk Assessment and Government Contracts
To reduce the risk of unintended consequences from poorly drafted contracts, the following basic concepts should be kept in mind:
- Confirm that all parties to the contract understand their obligations and rights, and that those are clearly set forth in the contract.
- Ensure the language is unambiguous. It is helpful to consider whether a term, sentence or clause could be interpreted in multiple ways.
- Carefully review terms that you normally include in your contracts, and determine if you should make them unilaterally in your favor or remove them completely.
Contact Our Federal Contract Risk Assessment Lawyers Today
If you need guidance regarding government contracts and risk assessment, contact the Whay Law Firm online or call (202) 448-9677 to schedule your initial consultation today.
