Fundamentals of Effective Drafting and Transactional Communication

Part A: Focus on Client and Objective ( The In-house Counsel’s Perspective)

• Discussion of the client’s perspective, expectations, and do’s and don’t’s
• The in-house corporate attorney’s role in transactional work, and specific writing challenges that arise from that role
• The living contract: What drafting techniques are most helpful

Part B: The Elements of Style

• Applying the common elements of all good writing to your drafting: Identify the audience and objective; structure and organization; clarity; consistency; “plain English” best practices
• Addressing the unique challenges that face transactional lawyers: Making words and numbers work; capturing all foreseeable future events; addressing unforeseeable future events
• Writing in the age of the tweet: preserving privilege; check your cc’s and bcc’s; the pros and cons of drafting via email committee; the power of editing and proofreading

Presentation Material

• Fundamentals of Effective Drafting and Transactional Communication
  L. Kevin Sheridan, Jr.