California-specific contracts, drafted from scratch.

What contract drafting actually means

Most California small businesses are running on contracts that came from one of three sources: a template downloaded years ago, a counterparty's contract that was signed without redlines, or a 50-state form from a software service. Those contracts work — until they don't, and then the document that nobody read carefully becomes the document that decides what happens.

Custom drafting is different. We start with a discovery call to understand the actual business relationship, identify the specific risks the contract needs to address, and write provisions that fit California law and your specific situation. The result is a contract that reads like an attorney drafted it — because one did.

How contract drafting paired with our litigation practice

Most California contract disputes we litigate trace back to the contract itself. A clause that wasn't there. A definition that wasn't precise enough. A remedy that didn't fit. A fee-shifting provision that was missing. We bring those lessons back to the drafting work — clauses that pre-empt the disputes we've handled.

On the litigation side, we charge to fix what better drafting would have prevented. On the drafting side, you spend a fraction of that to get drafting that prevents it.

What we draft most often

Client service agreements (CSAs)

Master service agreements for service businesses. Scope of services, deliverables, payment terms, IP ownership, termination triggers, limitation of liability, governing law. The terms that decide what happens when a client engagement goes sideways.

Vendor agreements

Procurement contracts — software licenses, supplier agreements, fulfillment contracts. Indemnification, liability caps, performance guarantees, change-order mechanics. The terms that decide what happens when a vendor doesn't perform.

Independent contractor agreements

California's AB 5 / ABC test makes contractor classification harder than most jurisdictions. The contractor agreement is one piece of the classification analysis — necessary but not sufficient. We draft contractor agreements that survive scrutiny when paired with the right operational reality.

Partnership and joint venture agreements

When two businesses are working together as partners (revenue share, joint product, joint marketing) but not forming a single entity, the partnership or JV agreement governs the relationship. Often the underdrafted document in California small-business contracting.

Licensing agreements

Software licenses, content licenses, brand and trademark licenses. Scope of grant, payment terms, sublicensing rights, termination triggers, audit rights. Often paired with our IP assignment work.

Custom contracts you don't see often

Settlement agreements, mutual termination agreements, side letters, MoUs, equipment leases, manufacturing agreements. If California small businesses sign it, we draft it.

The drafting process

Discovery call (15–30 min). What's the contract for, who's the counterparty, what's the relationship, what's the risk profile, what are the deal-breakers and the must-haves? We tell you on this call whether the work is one we can take and quote the flat fee.

Engagement letter and intake. Written engagement letter with scope and fee. Then a structured intake covering the substantive provisions — payment, deliverables, IP, liability, termination.

First draft. We send a complete draft with explanatory notes on the substantive provisions. Typical turnaround: 7–14 business days from intake.

One round of revisions. You review, send comments, we incorporate. Revisions beyond the first round are quoted separately.

Final document. Clean version delivered, ready to send to the counterparty.