Bruks' Contract Circle: A Universal Process for Analyzing Any Contract Using Ten and Only Ten Basic Questions

Over the course of his career, the Firm’s Patrick Bruks has developed an innovative and groundbreaking process for analyzing any contract by asking and answering Ten and Only Ten Basic Questions. This process has been successfully applied to all types of transactions from a simple handshake deal to a 100 page agreement drafted by a team of attorneys. Both lawyers and business people have used Pat’s process to gain a significant competitive advantage in analyzing and negotiating contracts.

Given that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of different types of contracts, the idea that all contracts answer Ten and Only Ten Basic Questions may at first seem somewhat counterintuitive. However, the validity of this idea has been tested, re-tested, proven and re-proven in all kinds of transactions and agreements over the last decade including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, leases, licenses, non-compete and employment agreements, partnership agreements, operating agreements, settlement agreements, and supply agreements. 

Since 2007, Pat has been teaching a Mergers and Acquisitions class based on his Ten Basic Questions at DePaul University’s College of Law. His students constantly comment on how Pat’s process for analyzing a contract is simple, practical, and extremely easy to apply. They quickly learn and use the Ten Basic Questions to analyze a fact pattern, negotiate a term sheet, and draft the corresponding definitive agreement. In connection with his class, Pat has authored the book: Mergers and Acquisitions: A Universal Process for Analyzing any M&A Contract Using Ten and Only Ten Basic Questions.

If you would like further information on Pat’s process for analyzing any contract using Ten and Only Ten Basic Questions or would like a copy of his book, please contact him at pbruks@burkelaw.com.