Transactional Skills

The task of transactional attorneys is to place commercial litigators on the endangered species list. Transactional Skills is a mighty step toward that destination.

The book introduces the student to the most important aspects of contract preparation and commercial practice: (1) the skills, disciplines, and methods required to produce a fair and proper contract, (2) basic contracts, basic contract terms, and related documents such as term sheets and letters of intent; and (3) fundamental negotiating principles and how to use them. These teachings have been culled from more than 50 years of practice by the author.

This second edition adds, among other material, new material on drafting techniques, AI, minority interests in privately-held companies, negotiating, and the Rule recently adopted by the Federal Trade Commission banning non-compete clauses in employment contracts.

The book is designed to work either as a stand-alone text or interactively with the second edition of Exercises in Commercial Transactions. For students and faculty of law schools with a Westlaw subscription, the text offers additional support by referencing appropriate models and other materials in the author's Commercial Agreements—A Lawyer's Guide to Drafting and Negotiating, published by Thomson Reuters.

In addition to being an excellent text for various courses, Transactional Skills will also serve as a valuable reference tool for students in their practice following law school.