Business contract drafting and review in New York

Drafting and review, explained

Drafting means writing an agreement that fits how your business actually operates: what you deliver, when you get paid, what happens when something goes wrong, and how the relationship ends. Many owners start from a template that was written for someone else's business; the gaps usually surface during a dispute.

Review means reading the other side's paper before you sign it. Auxo Law flags the terms that shift risk to you—uncapped indemnities, automatic renewals, one-sided termination rights, unfavorable venue clauses—explains them in plain language, and proposes changes you can send back.

Typical scope

• Customer, services, and master services agreements
• Vendor and supplier agreements
• Freelancer and independent contractor agreements
• Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements
• Commercial lease review
• Employment offer letters and agreements

New York contract rules worth knowing

New York contract law is well developed and widely chosen by businesses in other states. A few rules matter for everyday agreements:

• Choosing New York law and courts. Parties to a contract worth $250,000 or more can choose New York law even without other connections to the state, and contracts of $1 million or more can also choose New York courts. Smaller contracts need a reasonable relationship to New York for the choice to hold. Source: N.Y. General Obligations Law §§ 5-1401, 5-1402.
• Some agreements must be in writing. New York's statute of frauds requires a signed writing for certain agreements, including those that cannot be performed within one year. A handshake deal may be unenforceable when it matters most. Source: N.Y. General Obligations Law § 5-701.
• Written contracts for freelancers. New York's statewide Freelance Isn't Free Act requires a written contract with specific terms when a business hires a freelancer for $800 or more, alone or in combination over 120 days, and requires timely payment. New York City has its own similar law. Source: N.Y. General Business Law Article 44-A.
• Six years to sue on a contract. Breach of contract claims in New York generally must be brought within six years, which is longer than in many states—and a reason to keep signed agreements and correspondence well past the end of a deal. Source: N.Y. CPLR § 213.

Restrictive covenants such as non-competes are still governed mainly by New York case law, which enforces them only when they are reasonable. Proposed statutory limits have been debated, so these clauses should be reviewed against current law when drafted.

This summary is general information, not legal advice for your situation, and the law changes. Ask about how these rules apply to your business.

How contract work runs remotely

Send the agreement or a short description of the deal by email. Chris reviews it, then walks you through the issues on a call and returns a marked-up draft or a clean new agreement. Most contract work never requires an in-person meeting.

Ongoing clients often keep a standard set of templates—customer terms, a contractor agreement, an NDA—so routine deals do not need a lawyer each time.

See the New York business attorney overview or read how virtual counsel works step by step.