Commercial Contract Attorneys: Drafting, Review & Negotiation for Business Agreements
Every business relationship runs on a contract. When the contract is vague, incomplete, or one-sided, the relationship runs on assumptions — and assumptions become disputes.
What Our Commercial Contract Practice Covers Your Business the Right Way
Whether you need a single contract drafted or an entire contract library rebuilt, our commercial contract attorney team handles the full lifecycle of business agreements:
- Contract Drafting — Creating new agreements from scratch based on your business terms, risk tolerance, and industry standards.
- Contract Review & Redlining — Analyzing counterparty contracts to identify unfavorable terms, hidden liabilities, and missing protections before you sign.
- Contract Negotiation — Negotiating directly with counterparties or advising your team through multi-round negotiations to improve terms and close deals.
- Master Service Agreements (MSAs) — Building framework agreements with statement-of-work structures for recurring client and vendor relationships.
- Supply & Vendor Agreements — Structuring procurement contracts, distribution agreements, and supply chain terms with appropriate warranty and indemnification provisions.
- Licensing & IP Agreements — Technology licenses, SaaS subscriptions, white-label agreements, and intellectual property licensing with usage restrictions and royalty structures.
- Non-Disclosure & Confidentiality Agreements — Mutual and unilateral NDAs tailored to the specific information being protected and the business context of the disclosure.
Every contract engagement starts with your commercial objective — because the best contract is one that advances your deal, not one that just manages your risk.
Our M&A Process: Built for Speed and Precision
1. Deal Strategy & Valuation
We start with your goals — exit, acquisition, or expansion — and align deal structure with your tax and long-term strategy.
2. Letter of Intent (LOI)
We draft or refine the LOI to lock in key deal terms before due diligence begins.
3. Due Diligence Review
We audit the target company’s contracts, liabilities, IP, and financials to expose hidden risks early.
4. Negotiation & Documentation
Our team drafts or redlines definitive agreements that secure your interests — from purchase agreements to transition plans.
5. Closing & Integration
We oversee closing logistics and ensure post-closing obligations are clear, enforceable, and advantageous
Our Howard East Law Firm Attorney's Recognition
Our founding attorney, Tom Howard, has been recognized by both Leading Lawyers & Super Lawyers, quoted in the Wall Street Journal & Top 200 Lawyer. He is a member of the NORML Legal Committee & a Certified Ganjier.
Why Business Owners Choose Howard East
Business Judgment, Not Just Legal Language
We negotiate contracts with the business deal in mind. Our attorneys understand that the goal is closing a deal that works for both sides — not winning a drafting contest that kills the relationship before it starts.
Industry-Specific Contract Experience
We draft contracts for healthcare, technology, professional services, real estate, and regulated industries. That means we know the standard terms, the negotiation pressure points, and the provisions that matter most in your industry.
Three-State Enforcement Perspective
A contract drafted without considering which state's law applies, where disputes get resolved, and how remedies are enforced is a contract that may not protect you when it matters. We draft with enforcement in mind across Illinois, Missouri, and New York.
Speed Without Shortcuts
Most business contracts need to move fast. We turn drafts and reviews in days, not weeks — without cutting corners on the analysis or skipping provisions that protect you.
Where We Draft Commercial Contracts
Illinois
Handle buy/sell transactions across corporations, LLCs, and partnerships Navigate Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issues in licensed industries Structure transactions for tax efficiency and post-closing protection Negotiate LOIs, purchase agreements, and non-competes tailored to Illinois law
Missouri:
Represent business owners in sales, mergers, and buyouts Manage multi-entity reorganizations and asset transfers Counsel clients on Missouri employment and non-solicitation laws Coordinate closings with lenders, accountants, and regulatory agencies
New York
Guide cross-border and multi-state transactions Draft and negotiate stock and asset purchase agreements Advise on securities compliance and due diligence for private offerings Manage regulatory and licensing transitions in highly regulated industries
Contact Experienced Lawyers Now
Let’s Talk About Your Deal
- Draft contracts that protect your business position and advance your deals
- Review counterparty agreements before you sign away rights or assume hidden risks
- Negotiate terms that preserve your leverage and close deals efficiently
- Build a contract library that scales with your business relationships
- Negotiate earn-outs and seller financing that protect their future
- Handle post-closing disputes discreetly and efficiently
FAQ: Mergers & Acquisitions Law
How much does it cost to have a commercial contract drafted?
Contract drafting costs depend on the complexity of the agreement, the number of parties, and the level of customization required. A standard service agreement or vendor contract is significantly less expensive than a multi-party joint venture agreement or a complex licensing deal. Howard East provides specific fee estimates after understanding the deal structure and your requirements — and we offer flat-fee arrangements for routine contract types so you know the cost upfront.
Should I have a lawyer review a contract before I sign it?
Yes, particularly for agreements involving significant financial commitments, long terms, exclusivity provisions, intellectual property rights, or indemnification obligations. A commercial contract attorney identifies unfavorable terms, missing protections, and hidden liabilities that business owners frequently miss when reviewing contracts themselves. The cost of a contract review is a fraction of the cost of litigating a contract dispute or living with unfavorable terms for years.
What is the difference between a contract review and contract negotiation?
A contract review involves analyzing the agreement and providing you with a summary of key terms, risk assessment, and recommended changes. Contract negotiation goes further — we communicate directly with the counterparty or their attorney to negotiate revised terms, exchange redlines, and work toward a final agreement. Many engagements start with a review and proceed to negotiation if the counterparty’s initial terms need significant revision.
Which state law should govern my commercial contract?
The governing law clause determines which state’s legal rules apply to interpreting and enforcing the contract. Generally, you want the contract governed by the law of a state where you are comfortable litigating and where the legal rules are favorable to your position. For most Howard East clients, Illinois, Missouri, or New York law provides strong commercial contract enforcement frameworks. We advise on choice-of-law strategy as part of every drafting and negotiation engagement.
Can Howard East handle a contract dispute if the other side breaches?
Absolutely. Our commercial litigation team handles breach of contract claims, injunctive relief, specific performance actions, and damages claims arising from commercial agreements. Because our transactional attorneys draft the contracts and our litigators enforce them, we bring continuity and efficiency to disputes — we already know what the contract says and what it was intended to accomplish.