Contracts: When You Need an Architect

Negotiating contracts, particularly M&A contracts, is like building a house.

There are two key roles: the architect and the builder.

The architect is the key role to make sure you get the house you want.

Contracts work in much the same way. The architect designs the main themes and key points, and the builder fleshes them out in the contract.

However, unlike house building, the two roles in contracts are usually combined in one person: the lawyer.

The greatest value is added if you get a competent lawyer involved at the architecture stage.

Getting the lawyer involved at the architecture stage (aka heads of terms) means that you will not only get a better deal but also reduce the time to closure, because the important issues will already have been agreed.

13th October 2026