Photo: Wendy Estela, a Kahan Kerensky Capossela LLP attorney
The Art of Creating an Effective Contract
“Information is a negotiator’s greatest weapon.” – Victor Kiam, American Entrepreneur and TV Spokesperson
Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to the portion of our industry that many of us don’t exactly like dealing with—negotiating contracts.
Contracts are essential to our success, though. They guide our principals on a project, help clients understand the timeline regarding design and purchases, lay out the details in writing that we don’t always keep tucked in the back of our minds, and so much more. They are our guiding light, so to speak.
Because of the details in a contract, we always want to ensure that each contract is written efficiently and successfully. That’s where the help of an attorney who specializes in interior design contracts may come in handy.
Wendy Estela, a Kahan Kerensky Capossela LLP attorney, began working exclusively with interior designers about a decade ago, helping write and negotiate contracts for their projects. She’s also been essential in streamlining designer contracts, making them more digestible for designers and their clients.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Estela recently. We invited her to share more about her legal experience working with interior designers and what led her to focus on our industry. She also shared some constructive tips on what elements of a contract are essential when working with a client. Read more below.