Cutting Through the Red Tape: Pragmatic Contracting for Real-World Results
When a long-standing client approached us to assist in finalising a supplier agreement with a major UK retailer, our role was to bring clarity and precision to a complex set of contractual terms, ensuring the final agreement truly reflected how the parties worked together in practice.
Led by Senior Associate, Marco Difato, our commercial team stepped in to refocus the negotiation around what truly mattered: commercial reality. Applying a keen eye for detail and a pragmatic approach, Marco fine-tuned the documentation to align legal drafting with the practical needs of the relationship.
Like many large-scale supply agreements, the initial draft was comprehensive but densely worded, designed to cover every possible scenario within the retailer’s operations. While thorough, it required careful tailoring to reflect the specific nature of our client’s products and their ongoing relationship with the retailer.
Working closely with the client, Marco streamlined the agreement, cutting through the legal complexity to focus on the key commercial principles and operational realities at the heart of the deal. By analysing how the parties actually worked in practice, he was able to identify the real commercial risks and priorities, then reshape the agreement to balance protection with practicality.
Drawing on his extensive experience in commercial contracting, Marco proposed using the client’s existing standard terms and conditions as the foundation for the revised document. These were then adapted to ensure consistency, clarity, and a balanced position for both sides. The resulting agreement was concise, fair, and fit for purpose, providing strong legal protection while remaining accessible to the business teams who would use it day to day.
The project stands as an example of how Adam Benedict’s commercial team adds value through precision and pragmatism. By approaching negotiations with a focus on real-world application rather than rigid templates, we deliver contracts that enable collaboration and long-term success.
As Marco notes:
“There’s a tendency in commercial contracting to over-engineer the solution. Our job is to step back and ask, ‘What are the parties actually doing, and what does the contract need to achieve?’ That’s where the value lies.”
At Adam Benedict, we believe legal documentation should support progress, not stifle it. Whether advising on supplier frameworks, distribution agreements, or bespoke trading terms, our team combines legal rigour with commercial insight to deliver tailored, workable agreements that build confidence and trust.
If your organisation is negotiating supplier frameworks, distribution deals, or bespoke trading terms, particularly with large retailers or corporate buyers, our experienced team can help ensure your contracts work in the real world, not just on paper.
