Paper Beats Paper?

Somewhere at the bottom of most agreements is a clause that looks something like this: Entire Agreement:  This Agreement and the Exhibits and Attachments referred to in this Agreement contain the entire understanding of the Parties with regard to the subject matter contained in this Agreement and supersede all prior written or oral agreements, understandings … Read more

Whereas, Now, Therefore

At the beginning of many contracts is a series of clauses beginning with “Whereas.”  Besides giving us lawyers a chance to use a fancy word, these phrases actually have a purpose.  They are called the “Recitals,” and they are used to provide context to the agreement. The first paragraph tells the name of the agreement, … Read more

Lessons from Japan: Wooden you like to know.

I have been in Kyoto, Japan, for the past week, and one thing that keeps coming up is that stuff has been here for a long time.  Like centuries upon centuries long.  And not just things like a stone statute or wall, but buildings made of wood.  If something happens to an edifice (and with … Read more