contract-and-proposal-writer — Claude Code skill: documents

---
name: "contract-and-proposal-writer"
description: "Generate professional, jurisdiction-aware business documents: freelance contracts, project proposals, SOWs, NDAs, and MSAs. Structured Markdown output with docx conversion instructions. Covers US (Delaware), EU (GDPR), UK, and DACH (German law) jurisdictions. Not a substitute for legal counsel — use as strong starting points. Use when drafting a freelance contract, preparing a client proposal, writing an SOW for a new engagement, or producing an NDA before sharing sensitive material."
---

# 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:

    1. Document type? (contract / proposal / SOW / NDA / MSA)
    2. Jurisdiction? (US-Delaware / EU / UK / DACH)
    3. Engagement type? (fixed-price / hourly / retainer)
    4. Parties? (names, roles, business addresses)
    5. Scope summary? (1-3 sentences)
    6. Total value or hourly rate?
    7. Start date / end date or duration?
    8. 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 pandoc
brew install pandoc        # macOS
apt install pandoc         # Ubuntu

# Basic conversion
pandoc 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 template
pandoc 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. SERVICES

Developer 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 PROPERTY

Upon receipt of full payment, Developer assigns all right, title, and interest in the
Work 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 Client
requests 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 IP
as embedded in the Work Product.

## 4. CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party keeps confidential all non-public information received from the other.
This obligation survives termination for [3] years.

## 5. WARRANTIES

Developer warrants Work Product will substantially conform to specifications for
[90] days post-delivery. Developer will fix material defects at no charge during
this period. EXCEPT AS STATED, WORK PRODUCT IS PROVIDED "AS IS."

## 6. LIABILITY

Developer's total liability shall not exceed total fees paid under this Agreement.
Neither party liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.

## 7. TERMINATION

For Cause: Either party may terminate if the other materially breaches and fails
to cure within [14] days of written notice.

For Convenience: Client may terminate with [30] days written notice and pay for
all work completed plus [10%] of remaining contract value.

## 8. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

US: 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. SERVICES

Consultant 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 PROPERTY

Work 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 term
and [90] days thereafter.

## 6. CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION

EU/DACH: If Consultant processes personal data on behalf of Client, the parties
shall execute a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) per Art. 28 GDPR.

## 7. LIABILITY

Consultant's aggregate liability is capped at [3x] the fees paid in the [3] months
preceding the claim.

---

Signatures as above.
```

---

## Template C: SaaS Partnership Agreement

```markdown
# SAAS PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

**Effective Date:** [DATE]
**Provider:** [NAME], [ADDRESS]
**Partner:** [NAME], [ADDRESS]

---

## 1. PURPOSE

Provider grants Partner [reseller / referral / white-label / integration] rights to
Provider'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 PROPERTY

Each 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 PRIVACY

Each party is an independent data controller for its own customers.
Joint processing requires a separate DPA (Exhibit C - EU/DACH projects).

## 6. TERM

Initial: [12] months. Renews annually unless [90]-day written notice given.
Termination for Cause: [30]-day cure period for material breach.

## 7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Each 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 Matter
Processor processes personal data on behalf of Controller solely to perform services
under 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 Duration
For 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 Transfers
Data transfers outside EEA covered by: [ ] SCCs  [ ] Adequacy Decision  [ ] BCRs
```

---

## Common Pitfalls

1. **Missing IP assignment language** - "work for hire" alone is insufficient in EU; need explicit assignment of Nutzungsrechte in DACH
2. **Vague acceptance criteria** - Always define what "accepted" means (written sign-off, X days to reject)
3. **No change order process** - Scope creep kills fixed-price projects; add a clause for out-of-scope work
4. **Jurisdiction mismatch** - Choosing Delaware law for a German-only project creates enforcement problems
5. **Missing limitation of liability** - Without a cap, one bug could mean unlimited damages
6. **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