Here’s a little secret about redlining not taught in law school: It’s not just about making edits. Like body language in our human interactions, redlines communicate things that words don’t. According to Nada Alnajafi, Founder of Contract Nerds and Author of Contract Redlining Etiquette, “Redlines tell us something that the original words don’t. When we read between the redlines, they tell us what the other party is thinking, wanting, feeling, reconsidering, ready to reject, or willing to accept.” Poor redline etiquette slows down contract negotiations. Sometimes, it colors (no pun intended) how others view your company. In some cases, it shifts internal customers (like sales, customer success, or marketing) to viewing legal as a roadblock instead of a partner.
Suggesting that there’s a “right” way to redline will ruffle some legal teams’ feathers. But consider the personal nature of the practice: Lawyers choose what to say and not to say with purpose. Excessive strikeouts, pages washed in red, messy markups – these speak volumes in a high-stakes document. While every lawyer is entitled to their style, remember that the end goal is a signed contract. So as you redline, consider your approach and how it exacerbates (or solves) common issues. In this eBook, we'll cover these 4 common issues, and tips for faster, friendlier redlining:
1. Not everyone interprets redlines the same
2. To internal teams, red means "problem"
3. You can't see the forest for the trees
4. Treating all contracts the same
Click here to download the ebook : How to Redline Contracts: Art & Etiquette for Better Back-and-Forth (linksquares.com)
