Contract Drafting Lawyers
We draft clear, enforceable contracts that reflect what was actually agreed.
Overview
A good contract is not judged on the day it is signed but on the day of the dispute. When parties fall out, nobody returns to intentions or to what was said in the meeting; the text is read literally. So we draft on the assumption that the relationship will one day sour — which is precisely why it usually does not.
We draft from scratch in our client's favour: supply and services agreements, partnership and joint venture agreements, distribution and agency, consultancy, commercial leases, and bespoke project contracts. In Arabic and English together, with a stated prevailing version on conflict.
Whoever writes the text sets the frame of the negotiation. That is why we always advise that the first draft come from you rather than the other side: amending someone else's draft starts from a defensive position, while drafting starts from yours.
The legal framework
Drafting rests on the general law of transactions and on regimes specific to the subject matter:
- The Civil Transactions Law on obligations, interpretation and rescission
- The Commercial Courts Law on jurisdiction over disputes
- The Arbitration Law where arbitration is chosen
- The agency and franchise regimes in distribution contracts
- The data protection regime in contracts involving data processing
- Competition rules on restrictions with market effect
Situations we handle
A recurring supply or services contract
Scope, performance standards, pricing and termination — without a measurable standard, every assessment becomes a dispute.
A partnership agreement
Contributions, governance, IP and the separation mechanism are written before success, not after.
A bespoke project contract
Programme, payments, acceptance and variations — details that determine the project's profitability entirely.
A bilingual contract
A one-line prevailing language clause prevents an entire interpretation dispute.
A contract involving data processing
Privacy obligations and liability on breach are set out expressly, not by general reference.
Costly mistakes we see
- 1
Leaving the first draft to the other side
Whoever drafts sets the frame. Amending another's text always starts from a weaker position.
- 2
A vague dispute resolution clause
Referring to "the competent authority" produces an argument about the forum before the dispute itself.
- 3
Neglecting termination provisions
The clause most used in a contract's life is termination, and it is the one most often left to the last minute.
- 4
Copying clauses from earlier contracts unreviewed
A clause that suits one deal can be disastrous in another. Copying without adaptation is a recurring source of error.
How the procedure runs, step by step
We draft from your business model, not from a template. A template covers the general case; the dispute always arises in the detail the template does not know about.
- 1
Scoping session
We sit with you to understand the transaction: the parties, what is delivered, in return for what, and what you are afraid will happen. That session is what separates a drafted contract from an edited template.
- 2
Research the applicable legal framework
We identify what applies: the Civil Transactions Law, the Labour Law, the Agencies Law, or sector regulations. A clause contrary to a mandatory provision is void even if both parties agreed it.
- 3
Draft the first version
We write in operative language: defined obligations, deadlines, acceptance criteria, and a breach mechanism. We avoid general phrasing because that is what turns a dispute into a long expert referral.
- 4
Review with you and adjust the risk
We walk through the liability, termination and indemnity clauses one by one and explain the practical effect of each choice. The commercial decision is yours; our job is to make it an informed one.
- 5
Final version and annexes
We produce Arabic and English versions where needed, specifying the governing version in case of conflict, and prepare the annexes and operative forms. Two versions with no governing language is a deferred dispute.
Documents we will ask you for
- A description of the transaction and the parties
- The commercial proposal or scope of work and pricing
- Commercial registration for the parties
- Any draft or template currently in use
- Correspondence showing what was agreed
- Comparable earlier contracts, if any
Fees and timelines
We price drafting per contract according to type and complexity, including a defined number of amendment rounds. Contracts negotiated with multiple parties are priced against the expected rounds, agreed in writing before we start.
On timing: a standard contract takes two to four working days. A negotiated contract takes one to two weeks for the first draft, after which the timeline depends on the other side's responsiveness rather than on drafting speed.
Common questions
What makes a contract good?
Clear obligations, a measurable performance standard, and defined mechanisms for variation, termination and dispute resolution. A good contract prevents the dispute rather than merely winning it, because it leaves no room for conflicting interpretation.
How long does it take to prepare a contract?
A standard contract takes two to four days; a negotiated one takes one to two weeks for the first draft. After that, the real timeline is set by the other side rather than by drafting.
Should the contract be in Arabic or English?
Both can be used. Proceedings before Saudi bodies are conducted in Arabic and a certified translation will be required, so we prepare matching versions with a stated prevailing language on conflict.
Should we choose courts or arbitration?
It depends on the value, the nature of the contract and how much confidentiality matters. Arbitration suits high-value, technical and cross-border contracts; the commercial courts are the sensible economic choice for smaller ones.
Can we rely on an off-the-shelf template?
Circulating templates are written for another legal environment and sometimes refer to laws and courts with no connection to the Kingdom. Using one means accepting terms that were never read or adapted to your deal.
How should liquidated damages be drafted?
Tied to real loss, with a reasonable cap and a clear calculation method. An arbitrary, excessive figure is open to adjustment and undermines the credibility of the rest of the contract in a dispute.
Will you negotiate on our behalf?
Yes, either attending directly or giving you written positions clause by clause: what to accept, what needs amendment, and what to refuse with a prepared alternative.
What if the other side rejects our terms?
We identify in advance which clauses are fundamental and which are negotiable. Structured negotiation on that basis is far faster than debating every clause with equal weight.
Related services
Contract Review Lawyers
We review contracts put in front of you and flag the risks and the clauses worth negotiating.
Commercial Contract Lawyers
We draft and review commercial agreements that protect your negotiating position and reduce the chance of a dispute arising at all.
Legal Opinion Lawyers
We prepare written legal opinions you can rely on for a decision or submit to a counterparty.