Commercial Contracts for Non-Lawyers: Practical Skills for Global Professionals
22nd - 23rd October 2025
Dusit Thani Hotel, Dubai - U.A.E.
Meet Our Trainer
Karen Dawson
Karen Dawson is an experienced legal consultant and trainer with over 20 years of expertise in the oil & gas and construction sectors. She has held senior in-house roles with Saipem Asia and as Head of Legal, Energy & Utilities at Sime Darby Berhad, leading complex contractual and dispute matters across upstream, midstream, and major infrastructure projects, including the Bakun Dam. Karen specializes in commercial and oil & gas contracts, contract negotiation, risk management, and dispute resolution, and has negotiated with global industry leaders such as ExxonMobil, Total, Maersk Oil Qatar, PTT Thailand, and Sarawak Hidro. Based in Kuala Lumpur, she delivers highly rated contract law training and masterclasses for both legal and non-legal professionals, known for her practical, engaging, and commercially aligned approach.
Learning Outcomes Key Topic
- Evaluate whether a document is legally binding.
- Understand key legal concepts such as warranties, indemnities, exclusion clauses and liquidated damages.
- Spot red flags, unclear terms, and areas requiring negotiation.
- Apply knowledge of contract types such as fixed price and cost reimbursable models.
- Assess insurance and indemnity mechanisms for risk mitigation.
- Utilize supporting documents like NDAs, MOUs and Letters of Intent effectively.
- Determine when and how contracts can be properly terminated.
Reason To Attend This Training
- Professionals who review, manage, or negotiate contracts but lack legal expertise.
- Organizations aiming to reduce legal risks and enhance internal contract management skills.
- Business units seeking to improve collaboration with legal teams and streamline commercial decisions.
- Individuals looking to boost their confidence in contract interpretation, negotiation, and enforcement.
- Teams involved in cross-border transactions, where understanding risk and legal language is crucial.
Course Details
Session 1: Contract Fundamentals From Offer to Execution
- - Definition of a contract
- - Contract lifecycle: from negotiation to close out
- - Legal elements:
- - Offer and acceptance
- - Consideration under common law
- - Capacity and intention to create legal relations
- - Certainty and privity of contract
Session 2: Key Terms in Commercial Contracts
- - 10 most commonly negotiated terms in contracts
- - Reading contracts from a commercial standpoint
- - Understanding:
- - Representations and warranties
- - Conditions precedent and subsequent
- - Implied terms
- - Guarantees and performance obligations
Session 3: Managing Risk Through Contract Clauses
- - Risk allocation tools in contracts:
- - Exclusion clauses
- - Limitations of liability
- - Consequential loss clauses
- - Liquidated damages
- - Third party liability
- - Types of indemnity provisions
- - Understanding:
- - Insurance types and coverage
- - Subrogation rights
- - “Time is of the essence” clauses
- - Force majeure clauses
Session 4: Contract Interpretation What the Courts Consider
- - Judicial approaches to contract interpretation
- - Key rules of interpretation:
- - Contra proferentem
- Express vs implied terms
- - Priority of documents and contract hierarchy
Session 1: Contract Pricing Models and Responsibilities
- - Contracting models:
- - Fixed price / lump sum
- - Cost reimbursable
- - Time and materials
- - Unit price
- - Aligning scope with pricing strategy
- - Responsibilities and payment risks
Session 6: Bonds, Guarantees and Risk Mitigation
- - Tender or bid bonds
- - Advance payment guarantees
- - Performance bonds
- - Parent company guarantees
- - Bank guarantees
- - Standby letters of credit
- - Practical issues in enforcement
Session 7: Important Documents – Getting the Basics Right
- - Role and function of each document:
- - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
- - Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
- - Letter of Intent (LOI)
- - Letter of Award (LOA)
- - Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
- - Legal enforceability and when to use each
Session 8: Ending Contracts When and How
- - Contract duration and expiry
- - Termination clauses:
- - Termination for cause
- - Termination for convenience
- - Consequences of termination
Course Fees
Get in Touch_____________________________
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- +92-301-2938376
- training@corsol.net