TIL a lawyer told me my contract was 'too friendly' and it changed everything

I used to write contracts that felt more like a handshake deal, thinking it would keep clients happy. Then a lawyer flat out said 'your liability clause is weaker than a paper towel' and showed me three places I could get sued. What's the worst legal scare you've had from a handshake style contract?

3 comments

3 Comments

craig.parker9d ago

Depends on what kind of business you're running though. If you're just doing small stuff with people you trust, a handshake deal usually works fine for years. Most lawsuits never even happen, and lawyers are paid to scare you into buying their services.

brian_hart9d ago

Yeah, totally get what you're saying. It really depends on the situation and who you're dealing with. Sometimes a simple handshake deal is all you need.

the_mary8d ago

Craig's got a point about the small stuff. I've seen plenty of mom and pop shops run on handshakes for a decade without a single problem. The real issue is when you scale up or bring in new people who weren't part of the original circle of trust. That handshake that worked for ten years suddenly means nothing if a new partner decides to cash out and take half the customer list with them.