International Contracting: Best Practices in Structure and Legal Review

October 2007

Abstract

Globalisation creates mixed emotions for the in-house counsel. While voyages of discovery - real or metaphorical - can be exciting, international business brings with it greater complexity and risk. This often translates into frustrating delays and long lead times while the lawyers and affected business units build internal consensus and undertake reviews and approvals of contract terms. Few businesses today are immune to the forces of global trade. In-house counsel are expected to structure and review a wide array of international relationships, spanning remote jurisdictions and raising complicated legal and commercial issues. Get it wrong, and the exposures could be horrendous. But getting it right often involves cycle times and delays that are simply unacceptable to the business.

Author

Sally Hughes

Chief Executive Officer, IACCM - International Association for Contract and Commercial Management, UK

Sally is Chief Executive Officer for the IACCM, supporting the IACCM global team in the pursuit of both the recognition of and excellence in Commercial and Contract Management. Sally is an experienced and accomplished commercial and contracts management professional, holding senior commercial positions at a range of corporate and multi-national organizations. After gaining an Honors degree in Law, Sally spent her time in house in the corporate sector, where she worked globally in the Telecoms and IT industries, before establishing her own legal and commercial consultancy in 2007. Sally is passionate about enabling business efficiency and growth through contracting and commercial excellence; she understands the need for robust business operations to drive these efficiencies, together with the requirement for effective communication and collaboration at all times. Whether in contract development, negotiation, training or general communications, Sally has built a reputation for service excellence and responsiveness. Her focus is on the creation of positive and successful business relationships, constantly striving to ensure that businesses realize their true potential and value.

Company

IACCM - International Association for Contract and Commercial Management

IACCM is a global non-profit association that brings together lawyers, procurement specialists and contract managers to research and develop ‘best practices’ in contracting, negotiation and relationship management. It has more than 22,000 members representing over 6,000 corporations and government agencies from 130 countries. IACCM has recently published the world’s first authoritative guide to business contracting - "Contract & Commercial Management: The Operational Guide", available through IACCM or Van Haren Publishing.

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