Commercial Contract Lawyers in Johannesburg
A commercial contract should explain what each party must do and what happens if the arrangement changes or fails. Hugh Raichlin Attorneys assists Johannesburg businesses with drafting, review, negotiation and disputes about business agreements.
Brief initial telephone discussion at no charge. A paid consultation is arranged where appropriate. Attorney follow-up is ordinarily within one working day.
This page is for you if…
- You need an agreement for a new commercial arrangement.
- A counterparty has sent terms that require independent review.
- Existing templates no longer fit the business.
- A breach or termination issue has arisen under a contract.
How Hugh Raichlin Attorneys can help
Draft for the transaction
We identify the commercial objective, parties, performance obligations and material risks. Supply, service, distribution, partnership, shareholder and sale arrangements may require different terms.
Review and negotiate
We can explain difficult provisions, identify missing protections and negotiate workable changes. Liability, indemnities, security, confidentiality and dispute clauses should be considered together.
Address breach and exit
We assess notices, remedies, variations and termination provisions. Clear drafting can reduce disputes, but no contract can guarantee that a counterparty will perform or pay.
What to consider before deciding
Templates need context
A generic agreement may use the wrong legal structure, leave important schedules incomplete or conflict with the actual operating model. The cheapest document is not necessarily the simplest agreement to manage.
Confirm authority and implementation
Check the identity of the contracting party, who may sign and which documents are incorporated. The business should be able to comply with the obligations it accepts.
Prioritise the provisions that matter
Payment triggers, acceptance, scope changes, ownership, termination and dispute handling often deserve close attention. Not every clause should be negotiated with equal intensity.
What a thorough agreement review considers
Scope
Deliverables, obligations and the parties bound.
Price & payment
Payment triggers, timing and security.
Performance
Acceptance, milestones and standards.
Risk
Liability, indemnities and caps.
Change & exit
Variation, termination and transition.
Disputes
Resolution mechanism, forum and costs.
These provisions should be considered together. Labels are a review guide, not a substitute for tailored drafting.
The next steps
- 1Provide the proposed arrangement or existing draft.
- 2Identify commercial objectives, non-negotiables and legal risks.
- 3Prepare, review or negotiate the agreement.
- 4Confirm signing, implementation and future variation arrangements.
Information to prepare
Draft and prior versions; term sheet; schedules; party and authority details; commercial scope; payment model; prior correspondence; existing related contracts.
Common mistakes to avoid
Avoid signing incomplete schedules, confusing a trading name with a legal entity, accepting obligations the business cannot meet or relying on informal variations without checking the contract.
Relevant experience for your matter
Hugh and Jessica's commercial and litigation experience supports practical drafting informed by how disputes arise. Kelly Girnun also forms part of HRA's commercial-law offering; enquiries are routed by the firm.
Hugh Raichlin
Principal Attorney & Accredited Mediator
BA, LLB · University of the Witwatersrand
Commercial drafting and litigation experience that informs how agreements operate and where they fail.
View Hugh's profile
Jessica El-Hage
Attorney
LLB · University of Johannesburg
Commercial and civil litigation experience relevant to contract review and enforcement.
View Jessica's profileFrequently asked questions
Can you review an agreement drafted by the other party?
Yes. We can explain the obligations, risks and proposed changes before signature.
Do you offer a standard contract price online?
No universal price is published. Complexity, length, negotiation and urgency affect the scope and fee.
Can a signed agreement be changed?
Potentially, but the contract and applicable law must be considered. Obtain advice before assuming an informal change is effective.
Can you help when the other party breaches?
Yes. We assess the agreement, facts, notices and appropriate remedies or resolution process.
Related services
Legal Insights
Useful sources
Get an agreement that works for the transaction.
Tell us the arrangement, the parties and the risks you are concerned about. We will identify the drafting or review work needed.
What happens next?
Start with a brief telephone discussion so the firm can understand your matter and decide whether it may assist. That initial discussion is free. Where appropriate, a paid consultation is arranged, usually in person; remote arrangements may be considered.
You can begin through our AI-assisted WhatsApp enquiry service at any time. It gathers initial information and does not provide legal advice. Suitable prospective clients ordinarily receive an attorney call within one working day. A message does not confirm an appointment, acceptance of a matter or action on a deadline.
Speak to Hugh Raichlin Attorneys
Visit us by arrangement at 1 The Avenue, Norwood, Johannesburg 2192. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 08:30–17:00. New enquiries and WhatsApp: 011 010 8336. Email: reception@raichlin.co.za. Existing clients should use 011 483 1527.
Website information is general and is not legal advice. Every matter depends on its facts. Please send sensitive documents only when requested through an appropriate channel.
This website provides general information, not legal advice. Sending an enquiry does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship. Each matter is assessed on its own facts.