Contract translation is one of the most demanding forms of legal translation because contracts are legally binding documents where every formulation has legal significance. Incorrect translation of contractual terms might lead to misunderstandings, disputes or render the contract invalid in certain jurisdictions.
What characterises the translation of contracts?
Translating contracts requires extreme precision, as every clause must be rendered exactly without altering the legal meaning. The translator must understand legal concepts such as force majeure, indemnity, warranties and representations that do not always have direct equivalents in other languages. Contracts often contain standard clauses with established legal significance. A professional legal translator understands how these clauses should be translated to retain their legal validity and uses established legal terminology accepted in the target country’s legal system.
Types of contracts that are often need to be translated
Common contracts requiring translation include purchase and delivery agreements between companies, licensing and franchise agreements for intellectual property rights, employment contracts for international staff, shareholder agreements and articles of association, as well as non-disclosure agreements and collaboration agreements. In certain cases, a certified translation is required. An experienced translation partner with legal translation expertise works to ISO standards with ISO-certified system support and employs the four-eyes principle where at least two legal experts review the translation. We recommend that the client’s solicitors or barristers should always review translated contracts before signing, as the translator is responsible for linguistic accuracy whilst legal advice requires a qualified solicitor. Secure data handling with confidentiality agreements is standard.