A comprehensive legal review of contracts has long ceased to be a purely formal check for statutory compliance – in modern disputes, the contractual structure itself often becomes the primary source of risk, liability, and vulnerability. Professor Gabriel Steiner says that a contract should be viewed not as a static document, but as a model of the parties’ behaviour, the consequences of which may surface retrospectively and in an unfavourable context. At LawConsulted, we proceed from the premise that legal review must assess not only the formal correctness of contractual terms, but also their ability to withstand conflict, regulatory scrutiny, or judicial requalification.
The main danger of contractual structures lies in their apparent neutrality. Formally valid provisions may create an imbalance in risk allocation, uncertainty of obligations, or grounds for an expansive interpretation of liability. In LawConsulted practice, we regularly encounter situations where a contract functions smoothly under ordinary circumstances, yet becomes a source of claims when conditions change – during a financial crisis, a change of control, a counterparty’s breach, or regulatory intervention.
A core element of legal review is the analysis of the contract’s internal logic – how the parties’ rights and obligations interact, which scenarios of relationship development are embedded in the structure, and what consequences arise when the baseline scenario is disrupted. LawConsulted approaches contracts systemically – taking into account the client’s corporate structure, governance processes, financial flows, and related obligations. This approach allows us to identify latent risks that cannot be detected through a superficial review of wording alone.
Particular attention is paid to provisions that become critical precisely in the event of a dispute – clauses on termination, liability, limitation of damages, force majeure, governing law, and dispute resolution mechanisms. These elements are most often subject to judicial reinterpretation. LawConsulted structures its reviews so that the contract remains predictable and manageable even under pressure and adverse developments.
Equally important is the identification of structural risks – situations where a contract is formally sound but used to disguise different economic relations or to reallocate responsibility indirectly. In Professor Steiner’s view, such constructions are most likely to be reclassified. LawConsulted evaluates contracts through the lens of their economic effect, the legitimacy of the business purpose, and their resilience to retrospective legal assessment.
Comprehensive legal review is not aimed at overcomplicating contracts, but at eliminating uncertainty. We work to ensure that the contractual structure accurately reflects the parties’ true intent, allocates risks proportionately, and does not create hidden grounds for leverage or accusations. This allows clients not only to reduce the likelihood of disputes, but also to preserve a strong legal position if a conflict nevertheless arises.
Comprehensive legal review of contractual structures is a preventive instrument rather than a reactive one. Law Consulted task is to ensure that a contract protects the client’s interests not only at the signing stage, but also at the moment when its provisions are tested in practice.
Earlier, we wrote about legal support for real estate transactions and the LawConsulted position on structuring, due diligence, and the protection of property interests
