Contracts & Commercial Agreements

If a supplier's contract makes your company responsible for delays, even when the supplier causes them, you could face unexpected costs. Before accepting those terms, our contracts and commercial agreements attorneys in Phoenix, Arizona, can review the proposed agreement and negotiate provisions that better protect your interests. 

At Rafael Tirado & Associates, we help business owners, investors, and companies establish clear contractual relationships and address legal concerns involving existing agreements. We also advise businesses with operations or commercial partners in both the United States and Mexico.

Drawing on more than 20 years of legal experience, we provide practical guidance in Spanish and English tailored to your commercial objectives. Hablamos español. Contact us to schedule a free consultation about your contractual needs. 

Drafting Commercial Agreements for Your Business

We prepare commercial contracts that establish clear responsibilities, protect your financial interests, and reflect the specific terms of your business relationships. Rather than relying on generic templates, we develop agreements around the transaction, the parties involved, and the obligations each party is expected to fulfill. 

Our contract drafting services include: 

• Vendor and supplier agreements 

• Independent contractor and service agreements 

• Distribution and purchasing contracts 

• Business partnership agreements 

• Commercial sales agreements 

• Confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements 

• Bilingual English–Spanish contracts 

We address payment terms, performance expectations, delivery requirements, and procedures for resolving disagreements. When a commercial relationship involves continuing obligations, we also establish provisions governing renewals, changes in responsibilities, and termination. 

For acquisitions and ownership changes, we prepare and review related agreements. As part of our mergers, acquisitions, and business transactions services, we help align those contracts with the broader transaction. Our goal is to create agreements that support your business operations while reducing uncertainty about each party's contractual commitments. 

Reviewing Contracts Before You Sign

Our attorneys review proposed agreements to identify unfavorable provisions, unclear obligations, and potential liabilities before your business becomes legally committed. We explain how specific terms could affect your operations and recommend changes when you need additional protection. 

A contract may place disproportionate financial responsibility on your company, restrict your ability to work with other businesses, or make it difficult to end an arrangement. We examine these provisions alongside the commercial terms you negotiated to determine whether the written agreement accurately reflects your understanding. 

We also consider applicable legal requirements. For example, A.R.S. § 44-101 generally requires certain agreements, including those that cannot be performed within one year, to be documented in a signed writing. Our review helps identify issues that could affect enforceability. 

Handling Commercial Agreements Between the U.S. and Mexico 

We assist companies entering commercial agreements involving businesses, investors, or operations in the United States and Mexico. Cross-border contracts require careful consideration of each party's responsibilities and the legal arrangements governing the transaction. 

Our attorneys review provisions involving governing law, payment obligations, delivery requirements, and the location and procedures for resolving disputes. For agreements prepared in English and Spanish, we also address which language version controls if the terms conflict. 

We help clients consider arbitration provisions and how qualifying arbitration awards may be recognized and enforced across borders under the New York Convention. These decisions can affect the options available when a business partner fails to perform. 

With founding attorney Rafael Tirado licensed in both Arizona and Mexico, we bring cross-border business experience to these commercial relationships. 

Negotiating Payment, Performance, and Liability Terms

We represent businesses during contract negotiations to establish reasonable obligations and address provisions that create unnecessary financial exposure. Our involvement is particularly valuable when another party presents a standard agreement that heavily favors its own interests. 

We negotiate terms involving: 

• Payment schedules, deposits, and late-payment provisions 

• Delivery deadlines and performance standards 

• Warranties and responsibility for defective goods 

• Liability limitations and indemnification obligations 

• Dispute resolution procedures 

• Contract renewal and termination rights 

For instance, when a service agreement imposes penalties for missed deadlines without addressing customer-caused delays, we seek language that allocates responsibility more fairly. 

We also consider the commercial relationship itself. Our objective is to secure workable terms that protect your interests without creating unnecessary obstacles to doing business. 

Protecting Confidential Information and Business Assets

We draft and review contractual provisions designed to protect proprietary information, commercial relationships, and valuable business assets. These protections are particularly relevant when companies share customer information, pricing arrangements, internal processes, or confidential materials with outside parties. 

Our attorneys establish confidentiality obligations and address permitted uses and disclosures of sensitive information. We also help clarify ownership of intellectual property, work products, and other assets created or exchanged during a business relationship. 

When these arrangements involve business ownership or internal operations, we coordinate contractual protections with our broader corporate and business law services to help maintain consistency across your company's legal documents. 

Amending, Renewing, and Terminating Existing Contracts

We help businesses modify commercial agreements when their operational needs, financial circumstances, or business relationships change. An existing contract may no longer reflect current pricing, service expectations, or the responsibilities of the parties. 

Our attorneys review amendment requirements and prepare revised provisions that document the new arrangements. We also examine automatic renewal clauses and notice obligations to help clients avoid unintended extensions. 

When a business wants to end an agreement, we assess its termination rights and any continuing obligations. This includes reviewing potential early-termination penalties, outstanding payments, and responsibilities that may survive the contract's expiration. 

We help businesses document these changes appropriately so that informal arrangements do not create disagreements about which terms remain enforceable. 

Resolving Breaches of Contract and Commercial Disputes

We represent businesses involved in disputes over unpaid obligations, failure to perform, and alleged breaches of commercial agreements. Our attorneys review the contract and the parties' conduct to determine the available enforcement options. 

Whether a customer has refused payment, a supplier failed to deliver, or a business partner disregarded agreed obligations, we assess the supporting documentation and develop an approach suited to the dispute. 

We pursue negotiated resolutions when appropriate and provide representation in commercial litigation when necessary. Our guidance addresses potential remedies, financial exposure, and the practical consequences of continued disagreement. 

Filing deadlines vary by agreement and the nature of the claim. We identify applicable deadlines when advising businesses about their enforcement options. 

Arizona law also permits courts to award reasonable attorney fees to successful parties in certain contested contract actions under A.R.S. § 12-341.01. We factor potential litigation expenses into our discussion of your options. 

Contracts & Commercial Agreements Attorneys Serving Phoenix, Arizona

Our commercial agreements practice is led by founding attorney Rafael Tirado, who brings more than 20 years of legal experience to corporate, commercial, and international business matters. 

Licensed in Arizona since 2004 and Mexico since 2000, Attorney Tirado has experience structuring business operations involving both countries. He earned his law degree from Universidad de Monterrey and an LL.M. in International Trade Law from the University of Arizona. 

We provide legal guidance to businesses and investors, emphasizing clear communication, practical solutions, and individual attention. Our bilingual services allow clients to discuss their commercial concerns in English or Spanish. 

Learn more about our contracts and commercial agreements attorneys in Phoenix, Arizona, or contact us to discuss a proposed agreement, contractual concern, or commercial dispute.