“Can you please eyeball the agreement?”

Lawyering

“Can you please eyeball the agreement?”

This is one of my least favourite instructions.

It usually means a high-level review is expected, nothing too detailed. But I know that in order for me to truly understand an agreement, I need to spend time reading the details.

In M&A deals, the devil is in the details.

You can’t grasp how a complex agreement works without going through the actual mechanics.

Those detailed, lengthy clauses are the ones that affect liability, indemnity and how (or when) the sellers get paid.

So when someone asks me to “eyeball” a document, I know I’m in for a deep dive.

This is also why I prefer fixed-fee reviews- so I can do the work properly without being questioned on the fees, and clients have certainty.

This post was first posted on LinkedIn on 22 May 2025.

Linkedin Post
Getting into the details to make a deal work

A big part of my role as a corporate lawyer has been listening to clients explain the commercial terms they want in their deals. The next step is asking the right questions that make those terms work in the real world. Sometimes the parties have a general idea of the …

Linkedin Post
Founder Exit: Legal Checklist to Avoid Delays

Before buyers commit, their lawyers will conduct legal due diligence that may uncover gaps or non-compliance which delay the founder’s exit or reduce the price. This list helps founders/ sellers resolve common legal issues before they’re flagged in legal due diligence. Share Capital & Shareholders  Have all past share allotments …

Linkedin Post
Founders selling for the first time need more than high-level legal advice

Some founders selling their businesses for the first time are not sure where legal advice is needed or how deep that advice should go. In past deals where I acted for buyers, I have seen: – A founder who asked their lawyer for a “high-level review” of sale and purchase …