Confidentiality Provisions in Settlement Agreements

If you’ve ever signed a settlement agreement resolving some dispute, chances are pretty good it contained a confidentiality provision. In many cases, one side or both wish to keep the terms of a settlement to themselves – whether to avoid disclosure of amounts paid to settle or for some other reason. In our experience, these provisions are often paid lip …

Does Drafting a Contract Really Require Learning Legalese?

Attorneys are often accused of writing overly complex and confusing documents, and nowhere does this seem to occur more often than in contracts – whether leases, purchase agreements, settlement agreements, or non-compete agreements. This type of writing includes phrases that only seem to exist in old books and new contracts – for example, “hereinbefore” instead of “above.” There are a …

Electronic Signatures Gain Official Approval From North Carolina Court

Digital signatures have finally  been officially approved by the North Carolina Court of Appeals. In a recent decision by the North Carolina  Court of Appeals in Powell vs. City  of Newton, the Court enforced a settlement agreement even though no settlement  agreement had actually been  signed. As far as we know, this is the first reference to this statute by …