Drafting, Structuring, and Legal Review of Contracts

In modern business, a well-drafted contract is not a mere formality or a standard template. It is a core instrument for managing legal risk, cash flows, and the allocation of responsibility between the parties. The stability of contractual relationships, the legal protection of a business, and the predictability of outcomes in the event of a dispute all depend on whether the contract has been properly drafted and structured, complies with applicable law, and has undergone a thorough legal review before execution.

Jurvneshservice provides comprehensive legal services for Ukrainian and international businesses, including contract drafting, structuring, preparation, and legal analysis. Our work reflects industry-specific requirements, tax implications, and the practical approaches taken by courts and international arbitral tribunals both in Ukraine and abroad. Our attorneys support clients throughout the entire contract lifecycle—from project concept and negotiation to execution and performance of contractual obligations.

Effective contract drafting begins with a detailed understanding of the client’s business model. Depending on the structure of the business, its primary revenue streams, exposure to foreign-currency transactions, tax burden, and the location of counterparties, contracts for sale of goods, services, or works must include tailored provisions designed to protect the client’s interests and mitigate legal and financial risk.

When structuring contracts, we take into account:

• the nature of the company’s operations and commercial objectives;
• the scale of the business and geographic scope of operations (Kyiv, Ukraine, and international markets);
• the presence of cross-border transactions and international contracts;
• industry-specific features, including franchising models.

This approach allows us to draft contracts that function effectively in real business conditions, rather than documents that contain hidden deficiencies or legal gaps revealed only at the performance stage.

Legal review of contracts goes well beyond formal compliance checks. To understand how a contract will operate in practice—particularly in cases of non-performance or breach—it must be analyzed systematically and from multiple legal perspectives.

A comprehensive contract review includes:

• verification of the balance between rights and obligations of the parties;
• assessment of liability provisions, penalties, and liquidated damages;
• analysis of termination grounds and their consequences for the client;
• identification of clauses that a counterparty could use adversely.

As experienced counsel, we evaluate contracts primarily from a dispute-readiness perspective: how a court or international arbitral tribunal would interpret the document, and whether it provides effective legal protection for the client’s interests.

Poorly drafted contracts almost inevitably result in financial exposure. This includes not only the price or value of goods or services not received, but also:

• hidden or improperly allocated obligations;
• excessive penalties and default interest;
• unilateral amendment rights granted to the counterparty;
• contractual limitations on the client’s ability to recover damages.

Legal review enables early identification and elimination of provisions that create an imbalance in financial liability, significantly reducing the risk of asset loss or enforcement of punitive sanctions.

Every contract has tax consequences. Errors in drafting or application of contractual terms may result in:

• incorrect tax accounting;
• additional tax assessments;
• loss of deductible expenses;
• claims by regulatory or supervisory authorities.

We analyze contracts from the standpoint of tax exposure, compliance with Ukrainian law, and prevailing judicial practice.

Contractual deficiencies frequently lead to operational disruptions and reputational harm, not merely financial losses. Ambiguous performance deadlines, poorly defined acceptance procedures, or unclear communication mechanisms between the parties can paralyze business operations.

Timely legal review of a contract significantly reduces the likelihood of disputes and increases the probability of proper performance.

Legal audits are particularly relevant for companies with long operating histories and extensive portfolios of heterogeneous contracts, or for businesses that entered into agreements without a structured contractual framework.

Compliance with Applicable Law
A contract must fully comply with current Ukrainian legislation to ensure enforceability and facilitate efficient dispute resolution.

Relevance and Currency of Provisions
Contract templates are often used for years without revision, resulting in outdated clauses that no longer reflect current legal standards or regulatory requirements.

Balance of Interests
Where a client is required to operate under a counterparty-provided contract, we assess whether the agreement creates unilateral advantages or disproportionate risk exposure.

We also provide negotiation support and contract alignment services—most commonly conducted through iterative exchanges of draft agreements or specific provisions.

Our attorneys assist clients in:

• articulating and defending their legal and commercial position;
• proposing legally sound alternative language;
• achieving a balanced outcome without escalating commercial tensions.

Following a contract review or audit, we provide practical recommendations regarding:

• updating contract templates or specific clauses;
• unifying contractual documentation across business operations;
• eliminating systemic drafting issues that increase litigation risk.

Our team has extensive experience working with sophisticated contractual arrangements, including international, multi-party, and hybrid agreements. This expertise is applied exclusively in the client’s interest.

We rely not only on formal requirements of Ukrainian law, but also on internationally recognized contract-law standards and best practices—an increasingly important factor both for cross-border business and for domestic transactions as market expectations continue to rise.

Anna Tsirat — Doctor of Laws, author of publications on contract law and franchising
Kateryna Tsirat — specialist in contract law and intellectual property
Dmytro Salatiuk — procedural counsel, representing clients in disputes arising from international commercial contracts

We provide professional legal support at every stage of contractual work—from review and drafting to enforcement and dispute resolution.

📧 Email: kyiv@jvs.law
📞 Phone: +38 (067) 465-77-73