A clear scope keeps small changes from becoming disputes.
Connect deliverables, dependencies, and approvals to the price.
The question to ask
Identify each deliverable, the customer inputs needed, the schedule, and who can authorize a change. Compare the statement of work with the main agreement and any order-of-precedence provision.
Illustrative clause — not a court case
Hypothetical wording: Provider will deliver all services requested by Customer for the fixed fee. It leaves the size of the commitment unresolved.
Source and legal limits
The official commercial vendor-review method asks reviewers to orient to the whole agreement and identify missing or unread documents. It is a review framework, not a state-law rule requiring change orders.
What can go wrong
The provider may promise work that was never priced. The customer may face unexpected invoices or lose schedule certainty. An approval email from an unauthorized person can add another factual dispute.
A focused negotiation
Attach a deliverable list and propose written approval of price and schedule effects before changed work begins. Specify the authorized approvers and how urgent work is treated. Keep acceptance criteria aligned with the updated scope.
Sources and scope
Anthropic commercial-legal vendor-agreement-review checklist (pinned reference)
Review method, not a statement of applicable law; draft positions require attorney review.
Put the checklist to work.
Choose a role and review the exact outbound text before requesting analysis. Live analysis is limited to eligible invited accounts; model and legal acceptance remain pending.
Open the review workspace Explore a local sample