Contract Drafting That Turns New Lawyers Into Trusted Advisors

Steven Weise
Steven Weise
Proskauer Rose LL

Steve Weise is a partner in Proskauer Rose LLP’s corporate department, practicing in its Los Angeles office. He practices a wide range of commercial law. He spends much of his time on matters arising under the Uniform Commercial Code, especially under Article 9 – Secured Transactions. He is a nationally recognized expert in these matters.

Edwin Smith
Edwin Smith
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Ed advises creditors and counter-parties on commercial and insolvency risks in sales, leasing, financing, investment securities, and derivatives and repo-style transactions and has represented parties in major insolvencies. Having actively participated as a Uniform Law Commissioner in the drafting of a number of the recent revisions to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), Chambers USA noted he “probably knows as much about UCC as anybody in the country.”

Live Video-Broadcast: August 29, 2025

2 hour CLE

Tuition: $195.00
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Program Summary

The faculty will provide an in-depth discussion on the principles and best practices of effective contract drafting. Topics will include strategies for tailoring contracts to the intended audience and eliminating unnecessary “legalese” in favor of clear, concise language. The presentation will explore how grammar, structure, and organization play a crucial role in conveying intent and avoiding ambiguity.

Participants will gain insight into common pitfalls associated with standard contractual terms and how such language can lead to unintended legal consequences. Additionally, the program will address key aspects of contract formation, the strategic use of choice-of-law and choice-of-forum clauses to enhance enforceability, and advanced techniques for allocating and managing risk through contractual provisions.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • How to make the contact terms clear for the intended audience
  • How to avoid making common drafting mistakes
  • How to protect the client through choice-of-law, choice-of-forum, and risk allocation clauses

Date / Time: August 29, 2025

  • 1:00 pm – 3:10 pm Eastern
  • 12:00 pm – 2:10 pm Central
  • 11:00 am – 1:10 pm Mountain
  • 10:00 am – 12:10 pm Pacific

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Speaker_Steven WeiseSteven Weise | Proskauer Rose LLP

Steve Weise is a partner in Proskauer Rose LLP’s corporate department, practicing in its Los Angeles office. He practices a wide range of commercial law. He spends much of his time on matters arising under the Uniform Commercial Code, especially under Article 9 – Secured Transactions. He is a nationally recognized expert in these matters. Steve is also authoritative on third-party opinion letters and contract law matters, especially online contracting, plain English drafting, contract drafting, and boilerplate. Steve is a member of the Permanent Editorial Board for the Uniform Commercial Code and of the Council of the American Law Institute. For thirty years, Steve has been on many Uniform Commercial Code drafting committees, including the comprehensive revision of UCC Article 9 in 1999 and the 2022 UCC Amendments addressing digital assets as collateral. Steve has been a Lecturer in Law at UCLA Law School, where he taught Uniform Commercial Code – Secured Transactions.

 

Speaker_Edwin SmithEdwin Smith | Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Ed advises creditors and counter-parties on commercial and insolvency risks in sales, leasing, financing, investment securities, and derivatives and repo-style transactions and has represented parties in major insolvencies. He has been a guest speaker for bar and trade organizations including ALI-CLE, the American Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, the International Insolvency Institute, the Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys, the Boston Hedge Fund Group, the Commercial Finance Association, the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, the Equipment Leasing Association, the Practicing Law Institute, the Risk Management Association, and various local bar associations. Having actively participated as a Uniform Law Commissioner in the drafting of a number of the recent revisions to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), Chambers USA noted he “probably knows as much about UCC as anybody in the country.”

Agenda

I. How to make the contact terms clear for the intended audience | 1:00pm – 1:30pm

II. How to avoid making common drafting mistakes | 1:30pm – 2:00pm

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

III. How to protect the client through choice-of-law, choice-of-forum, and risk allocation clauses | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

Credits

Alaska

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through Alaska’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity.
Alabama

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Arkansas

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Arizona

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

California

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Colorado

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Connecticut

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

District of Columbia

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Delaware

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Florida

Approved via Attorney Submission
2.5 General Hours

Receive CLE credit in Florida via attorney submission.
Georgia

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Hawaii

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Iowa

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Idaho

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Illinois

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Indiana

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Kansas

Pending CLE Approval
2 Substantive

Kentucky

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Louisiana

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Massachusetts

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Maryland

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Maine

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Michigan

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Minnesota

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Missouri

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Mississippi

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Montana

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

North Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

North Dakota

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through North Dakota’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity. Section 1, Policy 1.14
Nebraska

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

myLawCLE reports attendance to Nebraska on each attorney’s behalf for all programs. Please do not self-report.
New Hampshire

Approved for CLE Credits
120 General minutes

As of July 1, 2014, the NHMCLE Board no longer provides pre- or post-approval of courses. Attendees must self-determine whether a program is eligible for credit, and self-report their attendance online at www.nhbar.org, based on qualification provisions of Rule 53.
New Jersey

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New Jersey’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity, except for the courses required under BCLE Reg. 201:2
New Mexico

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Nevada

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

New York

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New York’s Approved Jurisdiction Group “B”.
Ohio

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Oklahoma

Pending CLE Approval
2.5 General

Oregon

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Pennsylvania

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Rhode Island

Pending CLE Approval
2.5 General

South Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

South Dakota

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Tennessee

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Texas

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Utah

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Virginia

Not Eligible
2 General Hours

Vermont

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Washington

Approved via Attorney Submission
2 Law & Legal Hours

Receive CLE credit in Washington via attorney submission.
Wisconsin

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

West Virginia

Pending CLE Approval
2.4 General

Wyoming

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

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