英文合同的结构和主要条款Contract structure and key clauses

文章摘要:

英文合同的结构和主要条款,必备条款,Contract structure and key clauses in common law jurisdiction, 拟定英文合同的律师, Chinese English lawyer

法律顾问

标准英文合同通常可以分为前言(Preamble)、正文(Habendum)、证明部分(Attestation)、附录(Schedule)四大部分组成。

1. 前言(Preamble)部分

前言部分主要有如下内容:

(1) 指明签约双(各)方

例1:

This JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT") is made as of June 3, 1998, by and between E*TRADE GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation ("E*TRADE"), and SOFTBANK CORP., a Japanese corporation ("SOFTBANK"). E*TRADE and SOFTBANK are hereunder also referred to collectively as the "PARTIES" and individually as a "PARTY."

例2:

THIS DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPLY AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into and is effective as of June 30, 1995 (the "Effective Date"), by and between JetFax, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware, U.S.A. with its principal place of business at 1376 Willow Road, Menlo Park, California 94025 ("JetFax"), and Samsung Electronics Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Korea, having its principal place of business at 20th Floor, Severance Building, 84-11, 5-Ka, Namdaemoon-Ro, Chung-Ku, Seoul, Korea ("Samsung").

(2) “鉴于(Whereas)”、“叙述(Recital)”或“背景(Background)”部分

该部分主要是介绍合同的相关情况,具体有如下内容:

a) 合同双(各)方的背景情况介绍,如各方所从事的行业:

例1:

WHEREAS the undersigned wish to enter into this Agreement to define certain parameters of the future legal obligations, are bound by a duty of Confidentiality with respect to their sources and contacts.  This duty is in accordance with the International Chamber of Commerce.

b) 合同目的

例1:

Party A intends to share commercially valuable information ("Confidential Information") with Party B, for the purpose of evaluating a potential business relationship and, if applicable, undertaking such business relationship with Party B. In consideration of the privilege of obtaining access to Party A's Confidential Information, Party B hereby agrees as follows:

例2:

The parties intend to share revenues generated by the Health Category, as well as revenues generated by similar activities conducted by McKesson using the AvantGo software on behalf of McKesson's customers, but do not intend to share revenues arising from the operations of their respective core businesses.

c) 合同的背景情况

例1:

This Agreement is being executed and delivered simultaneously with the execution and delivery of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 13, 1999 (the "Merger Agreement") among Union Oil, the Company, Sub and Titan.

例2:

Pursuant to a Stockholders Agreement entered into simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Union Oil will have the right to nominate certain persons ("Designees") to serve on the board of directors of the Company following the Merger. Certain of the Designees may be directors of or employed by Union Oil or companies in which Union Oil has an interest, other than the Company and its subsidiaries.

(3) 明确指明合同双(各)方愿意签订本合同

例1:

NOW THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF the mutual promises and covenants set forth in this Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:

例2:

NOW THEREFORE, for valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

2. “正文(Habendum)”部分主要包含以下条款

(1) “定义(Definition)”条款

该条款是对合同中的某些词语的进行定义,确保各词语在合同中的含义统一,以免发生歧义。这些词语可分成两大类。第一类是英文合同中的常用词语,如附属机构(Affiliate)、财务报表(Financial Statements)等;第二类是本合同中使用的具有特定含义的词语。 #p#分页标题#e#

(2) “陈述与保证(Representations and Warranties)”条款

该条款是合同双(各)方对某些基本事实的陈述并保证其陈述的真实性,其构成合同签订与生效的前提。主要内容有:

a) 合法注册、经营状况现状、相关资质(Organization, Standing and Qualification)

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要说明其注册地、注册所依据的法律,声明合法拥有其财产、经营状况良好、有权签订并履行本合同。

b) 注册资本(Capitalization)

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要说明其各自的注册资本金额、股权数量等情况。

c) 适当授权(Due Authorization)

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要声明其有权签订并履行本合同,本合同的签订对其具有约束力。

d) 重大债务(Liabilities)

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要声明除了其已经披露的之外,没有其他重大债务。

e) 财产状况(Status of Proprietary Assets)

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要说明其在本合同签订时的主要财产状况。

f) 财产权属状况(Title to Properties and Assets)

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要声明其财产所有权是完整的无瑕疵的。

g) 重大合同及其义务(Material Contracts and Obligations)

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要说明,在本合同签订时其尚未完全履行的重大合同及其项下的义务。

h) 诉讼与仲裁(Litigation and Arbitration)

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要说明在本合同签订时尚未审结的诉讼与仲裁案件。

i) 遵守法律与政府审批(Compliance with Laws; Governmental Consents)

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要声明其完全遵守各项适用法律并已得到政府的有关审批。 #p#分页标题#e#

j) 履行其他约定义务(Compliance with Other Instruments and Agreements)

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要声明其完全履行其他各项约定义务。

k) 披露义务(Disclosure)

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要声明其已披露了所有与本合同相关或本合同要求披露的信息。

(3) “先决条件(Conditions precedent)”条款

该条款是有关合同双(各)方履行各自义务的前提条件的约定。

(4) “责任限制(Limited Liability or Limitation of Liability)”条款

该条款是合同双(各)方对其在本合同项下的责任上限进行的约定。

(5) “保密(Non-disclosure or No Publicity)”条款

根据该条款,合同双(各)方对本合同内容以及在本合同协商、签订、履行过程中所得知的其他各方的信息要承担保密义务。

(6) “合同终止(Termination)”条款

该条款是合同双(各)方对本合同在何种情况下可以提前终止进行约定。

(7) “标题”(headings)条款

在该条款中,合同双(各)方约定合同中的各个小标题(一般以黑体字显示)是为了在合同中提及的方便,不构成对合同内容的解释、修改、补充。

(8) “合同有效期(Term)”条款

该条款是有关合同生效日期、方式以及有效期的条款。

(9) “权利放弃(Waiver)”条款

在该条款中,合同双(各)方声明任何一方如果没有行使其权利,并不意味着其放弃该权利。

(10) “合同变更(Amendment or Modification)”条款

在该条款中,合同双(各)方可以约定合同不得修改或者合同修改的方式。

(11) “转让(Assignment or Successors and Assignment)”条款 #p#分页标题#e#

在该条款中,合同双(各)方可约定合同不可转让或者合同转让的程序,同时,还可以约定,如果合同转让,则合同对受让方有完全约束力。

(12) “通知(Notice)”条款

该条款是对合同双(各)方在履行合同过程中相互送达信息的方式以及视为送达的条件进行约定。一般来讲,要写明合同双(双)方的通信地址、传真号、联系电话、联络人以及送达成功的具体条件。

(13) “适用法律(Governing Law or Applicable Law)”条款Submission to Jurisdiction

该条款是有关合同解释、争议解决所适用法律的约定。

(14) “争议解决(Dispute Resolution)”条款

该条款是有关合同相关或与合同有关的争议解决方式的约定,可以选择诉讼,也可以选择仲裁。

(15) “条款效力独立(Severability or Survival of terms)”条款

根据该条款的约定,合同的任一条款如果无效,也不影响其他任何条款的效力。

(16) “没有其他业务关系”条款

在该条款中,合同双(各)方声明彼此之间除了合同关系之外没有其他任何法律关系。

(17) “不可抗力(Force Majeure)”条款

该条款是有关不可抗力构成要件及其具体情形,以及在发生不可抗力事件的情况下如果处理的约定。

(18) “所有协议(Entire Agreement)”条款Integration

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要声明本合同构成双(各)方就合同主题事宜达成的最终的、唯一的协议,除非明确指明,在此之前的所有约定,无论是口头的,还是书面的,均无效力。

(19) “传真签订生效(Execution by Fax)”条款

合同双(各)方可以在该条款中约定,双(各)方可通过传真方式签订合同并使其生效。 #p#分页标题#e#

(20) “语言(Language)”条款

该条款是有关合同适用语言的约定。

(21) “合同文本(Counterparts)”条款

该条款是对合同的份数以及各份合同的效力进行约定。

(22) “歧义(Ambiguities)”条款

在该条款中,合同双(各)方要约定主合同与其附件之间、主合同与其补充协议之间、主合同各语言文本之间如果发生意思歧义如何处理。

(23) “币种(Currency)”条款

该条款是对合同项下的货币种类进行约定。

3. 证明部分(ATTESTATION)

4. 附录部分(Schedule)

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