英文合同的格式和条款.docx

1.前言一份标准英文合同通常可以分为前言（Preamble）、正文（Habendum）、附录（Schedule）及证明部分即结束词（Attestation）四大部分组成。前言（Preamble）由“Parties”及“Recitals”两部分组成。“Parties”为必备条款，在很多时候称为“commencement”即合同的开场白，主要介绍合同各方的名称或姓名、注册地及地址、邮编及在合同中的简称。当然，并不是所有的合同都要详细介绍以上诸要素，在许多简单合同中，只是提一下各方的名称。I.以下为“Parties”的常用表达方式：1. This Agreement is entered into by and between _ and _.本协议由以下双方_和_签署。注：如果涉及多方，between可用among替换。在常见的中文合同中，也有将其表示为：甲方：_乙方：_2. This Agreement is entered into by and between _ (hereinafter referred to as _) and _ (hereinafter referred to as _), whereby it is agreed as follows:本协议由以下双方_（以下简称“_”）和_（以下简称“_”）签署，达成如下协议：注：在很多合同中，这部分加入签约书由，如：This Agreement is entered into through friendly negotiations between _ Co.(hereinafter referred to as the “Party A”) and _ Co. (hereinafter referred to as the “Party B”) based on equality and mutual benefit to develop business on the terms and conditions set forth below:本协议由_（以下称为甲方）和_（以下称为乙方）为发展业务在平等互利的基础上签订，其条款如下：This Agreement is entered into between _ (hereinafter referred to as Company), and _, (hereinafter referred to as Employee) pursuant to paragraph VIII(2) of the Employee Handbook, whereby it is agreed as follows:本“协议”由_（以下简称“公司”）与_（以下简称“雇员”）根据“雇员手册”第VIII(2)款签署，“协议”内容如下：II.以下为标准的“Parties”条款：3. This Agreement is made and entered into this _th day of _ in the year of _ by and between _, a company duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of _, with its principal place of business at _ (hereinafter referred to as “_”), and _, a company duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of _, with its principal place of business at _ (hereinafter referred to as “_”), whereby it is agreed as follows:本合约由_，在_法律之下并凭该等法律正式组织并存在的公司，其主要营业地点在_（下称_），与_，在_法律之下并凭该等法律正式组织并存在的公司，其主要营业地点_（下称代理人），于_年_月_日签订和缔结，协议如下：III. “Recitals”由数个以Whereas字样开头的句子所组合而成（这些句子俗称为“Whereas Clauses”），表示当事人乃是在基于对这些事实（例如订约的目的、背景来由等）的共同认识，订立此合约。Recitalsarethewhereasclausesthatprecedethebodyofacontract4. This Agreement is made and entered into this _ day of _ in the year of _ by and between _, a company duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of _, with its principal place of business at _ (hereinafter referred to as “_”), and _, a company duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of _, with its principal place of business at _ (hereinafter referredto as “_”)WITNESSEDWHEREAS, _,WHEREAS, _, andWHEREAS, _.NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:本合约由_，在_法律之下并凭该等法律正式组织并存在的公司，其主要营业地点在_（下称_）（或下称供应商），与_，在_法律之下并凭该等法律正式组织并存在的公司，其主要营业地点_（下称代理人），于_年_月_日签订和缔结。鉴于_；鉴于_；鉴于_；因此，双方当事人达成以下协议：注：WITNESSED可以用WITHNESSTH、WITHNESSTH THAT等来代替。IV.在很多美国常用合同中，在很多情况下直接用RECITALS引导数个陈述语句或“Whereas Clauses”。下面为一个资产购买协议实例：This ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the Agreement) is made and entered into as of May 19, 1997 by and among AAA, a Delaware corporation (AAA), BBB, a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of AAA (Buyer), CCC (Summit), and DDD, an Oregon corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Summit (Seller).RECITALSA. The Boards of Directors of each of Summit, Seller, AAA and Buyer believe it is in the best interests of each company and their respective security holders that Buyer acquire certain listed assets and assume certain listed liabilities of Seller (the Acquisition).B. On the date hereof, Buyer has executed a $2,000,000 irrevocable purchase order to purchase 400 time-based licenses for Summits Visual HDL interfaces for Visual Test bench (VTB) software on AAAs standard form of purchase order, which is payable within five (5) business days after the date hereof.NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises and representations set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:2.定义在正文（Habendum）部分，通常第一章为定义（Definitions）部分。定义条款即对合同中涉及的术语及名词作出限定、解释的条款。它可以散见于合同各个部分，但对于一些大型的、重要的合同，通常将其置于第一章。I.常见的定义语句常用mean, refer to, be construed as, include等来表达。如：1. Territory means the United States of America.“销售地区”是指美利坚合众国。2. “Commencement date” shall mean the date of signing this agreement by the last signing party hereto.“协议生效日”是指本“协议”最后签字的一方签署本“协议”的日期。3. The “agreement” herein referred to shall mean this agreement of agency by entrustment.“协议”在这里是指本委托代理协议。4. “Code” shall refer to the current and applicable Internal Revenue Code.“法”是指当前可用的国内税收法。5. Reference to any statutory provision shall be construed as a reference to the same as it may have been, or may from time be, amended, modified or re-enacted.引用法律规定理解为引用其本身外，还包括其修订、修正或重新实施案。6. Expenses include costs, charges and expenses of every description.“费用”包括各种形式的金钱支出。II.还有一类特殊的定义语句，即对于单、复数及阴、阳性名词的范围定义。通常都是用include来表达：1. Stock Certificate includes stock certificate and stock certificates.合同中的“股票”，包括单数与复数。2. He includes he and she.合同中的“他”，包括“他”与“她”。3. Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number.采用单数或复数的单词也包括复数或单数。III.定义语句中，有时需限定范围。而通常用得最多的是：“for the purpose of ”及“in relation to”某概念的定义条款，如果适用范围仅限于合同的“特定部份”，可以用“for the purpose of ”来为定义条款起头。而如果定义条款是针对合同的“特定概念”，就用“in relation to”来界定。如下例：1. For the purpose of this Agreement, Products means all types of the machineries manufactured by Manufacturer as are specified in Attachment A hereto.本协议所称的“产品”，指制造人所制造如附件A表列之各式机器。2. Address means(a) in relation to an individual, his usual residential or business address; and(b) in relation to a corporation, its registered or principal office in the Republic of China.“地址”就自然人而言，指通常之居所或工作场所；就公司而言，指位于中华人民共和国之注册所在地或主营业所。IV.在定义条款中，在定义语句前有时会加上一些陈述语句来引导，如：1. For the purpose of this Agreement, each of the following terms shall have the following meaning respectively:就本合同的目的而言，下列各用语，分别具有下述意义：2. In this Agreement, the following words or expressions shall have the meanings given to them respectively below:本协议内所用词句的意义，明确阐述如下：3. In this agreement unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to them hereunder:除非本“协议”有明确规定，下列词语应当具有如下规定之意义：4. The following are the definitions of various terms used in this Agreement:本“协议”使用之术语定义如下：3.有效期有效期(Term)条款通常规定合同的有效期限，何时生效及到何时结束，合同结束后必要时如何延展等等。I.以下为“Term”的常用表达方式：1. The term of this contract is for a _ (_) year period.合同的有效期为_年。如：The term of this contract is for a one (1) year period.2. The contract is for a _ month period, commencing _.合同的有效期为_月，开始于_。（期限）如：a. The contract is for a 12 month period, commencing September 17, 2002 thru September 16, 2003.b. The contract is for a 6 month period, commencing 4-1-03 and ending 9-30-2003.3. This agreement remains valid for _ year(s), i.e. commencing on _, _and terminating on _, _.本协议在_年之内有效，即从_年_月_日起生效，_年_月_日起到期。4. The contract term is hereby extended for the period_.合同的有效期为_。如：The contract term is hereby extended for the period 7/01/02-6/30/03 in accordance with Section E, Paragraph 10, Term of Contract and Contract Extension.II. Term条款除了规定合同的期限外，通常另外合同期限的延展“Extension”。1. The contract period is for _ year with option to re-new for _ year.合同有效期为_年，同时可以选择延长_年。2. The contract is for a _ month period, commencing _. The contract may be renewed for up to _ year option periods.合同的有效期为_月，开始于_，同时可以选择延长_年。3. This agreement shall commence on the commencement date and shall endure for a continuous period of _ years. Thereafter it will be automatically renewed for successive periods of _ years on the same terms and conditions unless one of the parties had given _days notice of termination.本协议应自生效日生效并在_年内有效。此后，除非一方当事人提前_天书面通知对方当事人终止本协议，本协议有效期自动延长_年，协议条款不变。III. Term条款并没有十分固定的表达方式，以下即是一些合同中Term的实例：1. This Agreement shall be valid and remain in force for a period of three (3) years commencing from the date appearing first above written upon the signing of both Party A and Party B and shall be extended for another period of three (3) years on the same terms and conditions unless either of the parties hereto gives the other party at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to terminate this Agreementprior to the expiration of the original term.本合约须从上面首次写明的甲方和乙方签订本约的日期起生效并保持效力三年，并将按同样条件延长三年，否则与约任何一方至少须在原定时间期满前三十天给予另一方提前终止本合约的书面通知。2. At any time and from time to time during the period commencing on the date hereof and terminating on _, 20_, party A may in writing advise party B.自本协议签订之日起到_年_月协议终止这段期间内，甲方可随时以书面形式通知乙方。3. The term of this Agreement shall be three years from the effective date, unless terminated in accordance with Article VI- (3) and Article IX.本合同的期限除非根据第8条第3款及第9条的规定终止外，有效期为3年。4. The contract is valid from _ until _.The contract period is automatically extended for any leave of absence allowed for in law.合同的有效期为从_到_。5. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the _ day of _ , 200_, and end on the _ day of _, 200_. Upon expiration of the above initail term, this Agreement shall automatically be renew and extended for a like period of time unless terminated in writing by either party _ days prior to the date for such renewal.本协议期限为200_年_月_日至200_年_月_日。除非续订日前_天一方以书面方式提出终止，否则上述首期届满后，协议应自动续订，延长时间与前期相同。4.不可抗力Force Majeure条款是一种免责条款，即免除由于不可抗力事件而违约的一方的违约责任。一般应规定的内容包括：不可抗力事件的定义（Definition of Force Majeure）以及不可抗力事件的后果（Consequences of Force Majeure）。在Force Majeure条款中，两者属于因果关系，难以截然分开。I.对于Force Majeure的定义，合同法定义如下：本法所称不可抗力，是指不能预见、不能避免并不能克服的客观情况。For purposes of this Law, force majeure means any objective circumstance, which is unforeseeable, unavoidable and insurmountable.II.以下是Force Majeure条款的举例：1. Neither party shall be responsible for delays or failures in performance resulting from acts or facts reasonably beyond the control of that party.任何一方不应对因其无法控制之行为或事实造成协议延迟履行或不履行承担任何责任。2. Either Party shall not be liable for any delay caused by any unpredictable factor or any factor which is unavoidable or insurmountable by reasonable means at the time of conclusion of this Agreement, or any loss caused by failure in fulfillment of obligations as stipulated herein.协议任一方无须对因任何在本协议签订时无法预见或以合理手段也无法避免或克服之原因造成的迟延或不履行本协议之义务所造成的损失承担责任。注：以上采用的是类似合同法概括的定义方法。而合同为不可抗力定义时更多地采用列举的方法。3. Neither party of this Agreement, directly or indirectly owing to any causes or circumstances beyond its control, including Acts of God, Governmental orders or restriction, war, warlike conditions, revolutions, strike, lockout, fire and flood.本合同任何一方当事人对直接或间接地由于其无法控制的原因或情况包括自然灾害、政府命令或限制、战争、战争状态、革命、罢工、工厂被关闭、火灾、水灾等而未能履行或延迟履行合同或合同一部分的行为，不负任何责任。注: Acts of God通常也译为“不可抗力”，但主要是指自然灾害；而Force Majeure则包括自然及人为两方面。4. Neither party will be liable for nondelivery, misdelivery or late delivery (other than the payment of money due hereunder) caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, among others, war, civil strife or commotion, riots, strikes, fires, floods, acts of God, inability to obtain materials, failure of carriers or compliance with any law, regulation or governmental order.任何当事人将不会为任何因为不可控制的情况产生的未交付货物、交付错误或延迟交货（除了支付应付款）。不可控制的情况包括战争、国内斗争或暴乱、骚乱、罢工、火灾、洪灾、自然灾害、无力获得材料、承运人的失误、遵守法律、法规或政府令。5. Should either of the parties to the contract by prevented from executing the contract by force majeure, such as earthquake, typhoon, flood, fire and war and other unforeseen events, and their happening and consequences are unpreventable and unavoidable, the prevented party shall notify the other party by cable without any delay, and within 15 days thereafter provide the detailed information of the events and a valid document for evidence issued by the relevant public notary organizationfor explaining the reason of its inability to execute or delay the execution of all or part of the contract. Both parties shall, through consolations, decide whether to terminate the contract or to exempt the part of obligations for implementation of the contract or whether to delay the execution of the contract according to the effects of the events on the performance of the contract.由于地震、台风、水灾、火灾、战争以及其它不能预见并且对其发生和后果不能防止或避免的不可抗力事件出现，致使直接影响合同的履行或者不能按约定的条件履行时，遇有上述不可抗力的一方，应立即电报通知对方，并应在十五天内，提供不可抗力详情及合同不能履行、或者部分不履行、或者需要延期履行的理由的有效证明文件。此项证明文件应由事故发生地有权证明的机构出具。按其对履行合同影响的程度，由双方协商决定是否解除合同，或者部分履行合同，或者延期履行合同。6. Force majeure shall hereof consist of the following events:Where such cases as war, earthquake, serious windstorms, snow, or fire or other events which no party can foresee and prevent from happening occur;The related laws and regulations in collection with the execution of duties by any party to this Agreement undergo changes, under which this Agreement will be illegal or the transfer cannot be fulfilled.In event of the occurrence of the above-mentioned events, if any party (hereinafter referred to as the “Effected Party ”) has been delayed or deterred from performing the duties of this Agreement in the course of its execution, the Affected Party shall be free from any liabilities for breach of the agreement and for compensation.In event of the force majeure, the affected party shall, within _days from the date of the occurrence, notify the other party of the impact of such events on the execution of the duties in this Agreement, by telex, telegraph or in any other lawful written form, and simultaneously submit the relevant official credentials concerning the force majeure herein.Should the effect of the force majeure cases last more than _ days, both parties shall consult each other about the alterations of this Agreement; in case they fail to reach an agreement, Chapter 8 shall thereupon apply.下述事件构成不可抗力：（1）发生战争、地震、严重的风灾、雪灾、火灾或其他各方无法预见、无法抗拒的事故。（2）自本协议签订之日起与本协议任何一方履行本协议相关的法律、法规发生变更致使本协议非法或转让行为无法完成。在发生本协议不可抗力事件之后，任何一方（以下简称受影响方）在履行本协议义务时受到拖延或不能履行时，受影响方不承担任何违约责任及赔偿责任。在发生不可抗力事件时，受影响方应自不可抗力事件发生之日起_天内以电传或电报或其他任何合理书面方式，通知另一方有关不可抗力的发生和不可抗力对其履行本协议