50+ items delivery leaders wish they'd checked before signing. Built from real contract failures in consulting, professional services, and systems integration engagements.
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Organized around the failure modes we see repeatedly in consulting and PS engagements. Not theoretical — pulled from actual contract disputes and delivery blowups.
Boundary language, definition of "done," what's explicitly excluded, and who decides when something is out of scope.
9 itemsAcceptance criteria specificity, deemed-acceptance clauses, dispute escalation paths, and partial acceptance traps.
7 itemsInvoice triggers, payment hold rights, disputed invoice provisions, and the link between acceptance and payment.
8 itemsNamed-resource clauses, client approval rights over staffing changes, and availability guarantees you've inadvertently made.
6 itemsWhat triggers a change order, turnaround SLAs, who has authority to approve, and whether verbal direction is binding.
6 itemsWork product ownership, background IP carve-outs, data handling obligations, and security certifications you've committed to hold.
7 itemsCap structure, carve-outs that eliminate your cap, mutual vs. one-sided indemnification, and uncapped IP infringement exposure.
8 itemsTermination for convenience payout, work product handoff obligations, wind-down costs, and post-termination IP reversion.
5 itemsCurrency risk, billing audit rights, tax allocation, cost-plus rate cards, retainer refund obligations, and objective bonus/penalty criteria.
6 items