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version: "1.0.0" name: "contract-and-proposal-writer" description: "Contract & Proposal Writer"
Contract & Proposal Writer
Tier: POWERFUL Category: Business Growth Domain: Legal Documents, Business Development, Client Relations
Overview
Generate professional, jurisdiction-aware business documents: freelance contracts, project proposals, SOWs, NDAs, and MSAs. Outputs structured Markdown with docx conversion instructions. Covers US (Delaware), EU (GDPR), UK, and DACH (German law) jurisdictions.
Not a substitute for legal counsel. Use these templates as strong starting points; review with an attorney for high-value or complex engagements.
Core Capabilities
- Freelance development contracts (fixed-price & hourly)
- Project proposals with timeline/budget breakdown
- Statements of Work (SOW) with deliverables matrix
- NDAs (mutual & one-way)
- Master Service Agreements (MSA)
- Jurisdiction-specific clauses (US/EU/UK/DACH)
- GDPR Data Processing Addenda (EU/DACH)
Key Clauses Reference
| Clause | Options | |
|---|---|---|
| Payment terms | Net-30, milestone-based, monthly retainer | |
| IP ownership | Work-for-hire (US), assignment (EU/UK), license-back | |
| Liability cap | 1x contract value (standard), 3x (high-risk) | |
| Termination | For cause (14-day cure), convenience (30/60/90-day notice) | |
| Confidentiality | 2-5 year term, perpetual for trade secrets | |
| Warranty | "As-is" disclaimer, limited 30/90-day fix warranty | |
| Dispute resolution | Arbitration (AAA/ICC), courts (jurisdiction-specific) |
When to Use
- Starting a new client engagement and need a contract fast
- Client asks for a proposal with pricing and timeline
- Partnership or vendor relationship requiring an MSA
- Protecting IP or confidential information with an NDA
- EU/DACH project requiring GDPR-compliant data clauses
Workflow
1. Gather Requirements
Ask the user:
- Document type? (contract / proposal / SOW / NDA / MSA)
- Jurisdiction? (US-Delaware / EU / UK / DACH)
- Engagement type? (fixed-price / hourly / retainer)
- Parties? (names, roles, business addresses)
- Scope summary? (1-3 sentences)
- Total value or hourly rate?
- Start date / end date or duration?
- Special requirements? (IP assignment, white-label, subcontractors)
2. Select Template
| Type | Jurisdiction | Template | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dev contract fixed | Any | Template A | |
| Consulting retainer | Any | Template B | |
| SaaS partnership | Any | Template C | |
| NDA mutual | US/EU/UK/DACH | NDA-M | |
| NDA one-way | US/EU/UK/DACH | NDA-OW | |
| SOW | Any | SOW base |
3. Generate & Fill
Fill all [BRACKETED] placeholders. Flag missing data as "REQUIRED".
4. Convert to DOCX
bash
# Install pandocbrew install pandoc # macOSapt install pandoc # Ubuntu# Basic conversionpandoc contract.md -o contract.docx \--reference-doc=reference.docx \-V geometry:margin=1in# With numbered sections (legal style)pandoc contract.md -o contract.docx \--number-sections \-V documentclass=article \-V fontsize=11pt# With custom company templatepandoc contract.md -o contract.docx \--reference-doc=company-template.docx
Jurisdiction Notes
US (Delaware)
- Governing law: State of Delaware
- Work-for-hire doctrine applies (Copyright Act 101)
- Arbitration: AAA Commercial Rules
- Non-compete: enforceable with reasonable scope/time
EU (GDPR)
- Must include Data Processing Addendum if handling personal data
- IP assignment requires separate written deed in some member states
- Arbitration: ICC or local chamber
UK (post-Brexit)
- Governed by English law
- IP: Patents Act 1977 / CDPA 1988
- Arbitration: LCIA Rules
- Data: UK GDPR (post-Brexit equivalent)
DACH (Germany / Austria / Switzerland)
- BGB (Buergerliches Gesetzbuch) governs contracts
- Written form requirement for certain clauses (para 126 BGB)
- IP: Author always retains moral rights; must explicitly transfer Nutzungsrechte
- Non-competes: max 2 years, compensation required (para 74 HGB)
- Jurisdiction: German courts (Landgericht) or DIS arbitration
- DSGVO (GDPR implementation) mandatory for personal data processing
- Kuendigungsfristen: statutory notice periods apply
Template A: Web Dev Fixed-Price Contract
markdown
# SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT**Effective Date:** [DATE]**Client:** [CLIENT LEGAL NAME], [ADDRESS] ("Client")**Developer:** [YOUR LEGAL NAME / COMPANY], [ADDRESS] ("Developer")---## 1. SERVICESDeveloper agrees to design, develop, and deliver:**Project:** [PROJECT NAME]**Description:** [1-3 sentence scope]**Deliverables:**-[Deliverable 1] due [DATE]-[Deliverable 2] due [DATE]-[Deliverable 3] due [DATE]## 2. PAYMENT**Total Fee:** [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT]| Milestone | Amount | Due ||-----------|--------|-----|| Contract signing | 50% | Upon execution || Beta delivery | 25% | [DATE] || Final acceptance | 25% | Within 5 days of acceptance |Late payments accrue interest at 1.5% per month.Client has [10] business days to accept or reject deliverables in writing.## 3. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYUpon receipt of full payment, Developer assigns all right, title, and interest in theWork Product to Client as a work made for hire (US) / by assignment of future copyright (EU/UK).Developer retains the right to display Work Product in portfolio unless Clientrequests confidentiality in writing within [30] days of delivery.Pre-existing IP (tools, libraries, frameworks) remains Developer's property.Developer grants Client a perpetual, royalty-free license to use pre-existing IPas embedded in the Work Product.## 4. CONFIDENTIALITYEach party keeps confidential all non-public information received from the other.This obligation survives termination for [3] years.## 5. WARRANTIESDeveloper warrants Work Product will substantially conform to specifications for[90] days post-delivery. Developer will fix material defects at no charge duringthis period. EXCEPT AS STATED, WORK PRODUCT IS PROVIDED "AS IS."## 6. LIABILITYDeveloper's total liability shall not exceed total fees paid under this Agreement.Neither party liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.## 7. TERMINATIONFor Cause: Either party may terminate if the other materially breaches and failsto cure within [14] days of written notice.For Convenience: Client may terminate with [30] days written notice and pay forall work completed plus [10%] of remaining contract value.## 8. DISPUTE RESOLUTIONUS: Binding arbitration under AAA Commercial Rules, [CITY], Delaware law.EU/DACH: ICC / DIS arbitration, [CITY]. German / English law.UK: LCIA Rules, London. English law.## 9. GENERAL-Entire Agreement: Supersedes all prior discussions.-Amendments: Must be in writing, signed by both parties.-Independent Contractor: Developer is not an employee of Client.---CLIENT: _________________________ Date: _________[CLIENT NAME], [TITLE]DEVELOPER: _________________________ Date: _________[YOUR NAME], [TITLE]
Template B: Monthly Consulting Retainer
markdown
# CONSULTING RETAINER AGREEMENT**Effective Date:** [DATE]**Client:** [CLIENT LEGAL NAME] ("Client")**Consultant:** [YOUR NAME / COMPANY] ("Consultant")---## 1. SERVICESConsultant provides [DOMAIN, e.g., "CTO advisory and technical architecture"] services.**Monthly Hours:** Up to [X] hours/month**Rollover:** Unused hours [do / do not] roll over (max [X] hours banked)**Overflow Rate:** [CURRENCY] [RATE]/hr for hours exceeding retainer## 2. FEES**Monthly Retainer:** [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT], due on the 1st of each month.**Payment Method:** Bank transfer / Stripe / SEPA direct debit**Late Payment:** 2% monthly interest after [10]-day grace period.## 3. TERM AND TERMINATION**Initial Term:** [3] months starting [DATE]**Renewal:** Auto-renews monthly unless either party gives [30] days written notice.**Immediate termination:** For material breach uncured after [7] days notice.On termination, Consultant delivers all work in progress within [5] business days.## 4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYWork product created under this Agreement belongs to [Client / Consultant / jointly].Advisory output (recommendations, analyses) are Client property upon full payment.## 5. EXCLUSIVITY[OPTION A - Non-exclusive:]This Agreement is non-exclusive. Consultant may work with other clients.[OPTION B - Partial exclusivity:]Consultant will not work with direct competitors of Client during the termand [90] days thereafter.## 6. CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTIONEU/DACH: If Consultant processes personal data on behalf of Client, the partiesshall execute a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) per Art. 28 GDPR.## 7. LIABILITYConsultant's aggregate liability is capped at [3x] the fees paid in the [3] monthspreceding the claim.---Signatures as above.
Template C: SaaS Partnership Agreement
markdown
# SAAS PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT**Effective Date:** [DATE]**Provider:** [NAME], [ADDRESS]**Partner:** [NAME], [ADDRESS]---## 1. PURPOSEProvider grants Partner [reseller / referral / white-label / integration] rights toProvider's [PRODUCT NAME] ("Software") subject to this Agreement.## 2. PARTNERSHIP TYPE[ ] Referral: Partner refers customers; earns [X%] of first-year ARR per referral.[ ] Reseller: Partner resells licenses; earns [X%] discount off list price.[ ] White-label: Partner rebrands Software; pays [AMOUNT]/month platform fee.[ ] Integration: Partner integrates Software via API; terms in Exhibit A.## 3. REVENUE SHARE| Tier | Monthly ARR Referred | Commission ||------|---------------------|------------|| Bronze | < $10,000 | [X]% || Silver | $10,000-$50,000 | [X]% || Gold | > $50,000 | [X]% |Payout: Net-30 after month close, minimum $[500] threshold.## 4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYEach party retains all IP in its own products. No implied licenses.Partner may use Provider's marks per Provider's Brand Guidelines (Exhibit B).## 5. DATA AND PRIVACYEach party is an independent data controller for its own customers.Joint processing requires a separate DPA (Exhibit C - EU/DACH projects).## 6. TERMInitial: [12] months. Renews annually unless [90]-day written notice given.Termination for Cause: [30]-day cure period for material breach.## 7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITYEach party's liability capped at [1x] fees paid/received in prior [12] months.Mutual indemnification for IP infringement claims from own products.---Signatures, exhibits, and governing law per applicable jurisdiction.
GDPR Data Processing Addendum (EU/DACH Clause Block)
markdown
## DATA PROCESSING ADDENDUM (Art. 28 GDPR)Controller: [CLIENT NAME]Processor: [CONTRACTOR NAME]### Subject MatterProcessor processes personal data on behalf of Controller solely to perform servicesunder the main Agreement.### Categories of Data Subjects[e.g., end users, employees, customers]### Categories of Personal Data[e.g., names, email addresses, usage data]### Processing DurationFor the term of the main Agreement; deletion within [30] days of termination.### Processor Obligations-Process data only on Controller's documented instructions-Ensure persons authorized to process have committed to confidentiality-Implement technical and organizational measures per Art. 32 GDPR-Assist Controller with data subject rights requests-Not engage sub-processors without prior written consent-Delete or return all personal data upon termination### Sub-processors (current as of Effective Date)| Sub-processor | Location | Purpose ||--------------|----------|---------|| [AWS / GCP / Azure] | [Region] | Cloud hosting || [Other] | [Location] | [Purpose] |### Cross-border TransfersData transfers outside EEA covered by: [ ] SCCs [ ] Adequacy Decision [ ] BCRs
Common Pitfalls
- Missing IP assignment language - "work for hire" alone is insufficient in EU; need explicit assignment of Nutzungsrechte in DACH
- Vague acceptance criteria - Always define what "accepted" means (written sign-off, X days to reject)
- No change order process - Scope creep kills fixed-price projects; add a clause for out-of-scope work
- Jurisdiction mismatch - Choosing Delaware law for a German-only project creates enforcement problems
- Missing limitation of liability - Without a cap, one bug could mean unlimited damages
- Oral amendments - Contracts modified verbally are hard to enforce; always require written amendments
Best Practices
- Use milestone payments over net-30 for projects >$10K - reduces cash flow risk
- For EU/DACH: always check if a DPA is needed (any personal data = yes)
- For DACH: include a Schriftformklausel (written form clause) explicitly
- Add a force majeure clause for anything over 3 months
- For retainers: define response time SLAs (e.g., 4h urgent / 24h normal)
- Keep templates in version control; track changes with
git diff - Review annually - laws change, especially GDPR enforcement interpretations
- For NDAs: always specify the return/destruction of confidential materials on termination