3
PLAYBOOK TEMPLATES

Outside Counsel Billing Guidelines

Outside Counsel Billing Guidelines set the standards for law firm engagement, billing, and matter management. This playbook details compliance expectations, expense policies, and audit rights.

Liability and Damage Caps

Why This Matters: Limiting liability protects both parties from disproportionate financial exposure while ensuring accountability for serious breaches. Clear caps reduce litigation risks and encourage commercial certainty.

Negotiation strategy

If you're the Company:

Negotiate for a liability cap that reflects the transaction's value and potential risks. Ensure exceptions for fundamental breaches and willful misconduct are clearly defined to protect the company's interests.

If you're the Outside Counsel:

Advocate for a reasonable liability cap that limits exposure while allowing for exceptions in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Ensure indemnification obligations are not overly burdensome.

Essential elements

1

Liability Cap

Maximum recoverable damages limit.
2

Exceptions to Cap

Carve-outs for serious breaches.
3

Exclusion of Damages

No consequential or punitive damages.

Action framework

ACCEPT

Propose edits if the liability cap does not align with the transaction's value or risk profile.

EDIT

Reject if the clause lacks necessary exceptions for fundamental breaches or willful misconduct.

ADD

Add provisions if liability caps are missing or unclear, ensuring alignment with transaction value.

PRO TIP

Always align liability caps with the transaction's value and risk profile to ensure fairness and clarity.

Example clauses

FAVORABLE

Preferred Liability Cap Clause

"The total liability of either party under this Agreement shall not exceed [insert amount], which is agreed to be a reasonable estimate of the anticipated transaction value and potential risks associated with this Agreement."
NEUTRAL

Standard Liability Clause

"The liability of either party is limited to direct damages only, excluding any indirect or consequential damages."
UNFAVORABLE

Uncapped Liability Clause

"There shall be no cap on the liability of either party under this Agreement."

Fallbacks

High-Risk Transactions

In high-risk transactions, consider higher liability caps or additional carve-outs to address potential increased exposure. Consult with risk management to tailor provisions accordingly.

Low-Value Contracts

For low-value contracts, a lower liability cap may be appropriate, but ensure exceptions for serious breaches remain intact to protect both parties.

International Agreements

In international agreements, consider jurisdictional differences in liability laws and adjust caps and exceptions to comply with local regulations.
FEATURED SOLUTIONS

Contract Email Agent

Self-service Al for instant contract review and markups.
Never leave your inbox. Effortless contract markups and summaries—delivered straight to your inbox. No signups, no apps, no plugins, no playbooks, no delays.
LEARN MORE
FEATURED SOLUTIONS
DocJuris Editing Platform
Import PDF.
Redline on DocJuris.
Export to Word.
Save a day of work.
Import locked PDFs or Word docs and get work done with our world-class contract editing platform.  Track your changes and comments and export seamlessly to MS Word without the headaches of clunky add-ins.
LEARN MORE
FEATURED SOLUTIONS
Smart Markups
Markup clauses in seconds.
See the reasoning, stay in control.
Negotiate with confidence using DocJuris’s AI-powered suggestions. Pick a suggested action to balance or lean specific terms in favor of a party. Or, quickly make a clause mutual or simpler with a single click without the back-and-forth.
LEARN MORE
FEATURED SOLUTIONS
Repository AI
Uncover opportunities and risks in your signed contracts.
Turn your contracts into structured insights. With Repository AI, DocJuris analyzes every imported agreement—so you always know what’s expiring, auto-renewing, or exposing risk. Total visibility, zero guesswork.
LEARN MORE

Book a Contract AI Demo

See how DocJuris can automate your legal, procurement, and sales operations.

Contract review from 8 weeks to 5 minutes

Mitigate risk faster with dynamic playbooks

Become a valued partner

FIRST NAME*
LAST NAME*
BUSINESS EMAIL ADDRESS*
COMPANY*
TITLE*
COUNTRY*
PHONE (OPTIONAL)
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO LEARN?*
Thank you! Someone on our team will reach out.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Launch in days, not months

Unlike complex CLMs with long implementations and steep learning curves, DocJuris is built for speed and simplicity. We integrate with your workflow—whether connecting to a CLM or uploading agreements manually—so you're up and running in days, not months.
WEEK 1
CLM Readiness and Design
Our CX team works with you to understand your contracting challenges, prioritize key workflows, and identify the biggest impact areas. We build a tailored implementation plan that fits your needs.
WEEK 2
Install Module
We connect DocJuris to your contract repositories, set up admin and user accounts, and ensure your environment is ready for success.
WEEK 3
Deliver & Test
Your team builds initial playbooks, reviews existing clause libraries, and trains the DocJuris agent to align with your internal standards and negotiation positions.
WEEK 4
Launch
We support you in rolling out DocJuris to a pilot group or your full organization—with launch materials, training, and hands-on support to drive adoption from day one.

Not another CLM

Tackle everything your team needs using existing IT without expensive consultants, outrageous user licensing fees, or complex coding. DocJuris takes on the heavy lift and delivers your requirements with its people, process, and technology.

See how DocJuris can automate your legal, procurement, and sales operations.

Request demo
© 2025 DocJuris, Inc. All rights reserved. Patent Pending.
DocJuris is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. We cannot provide any kind of advice, explanation, opinion, or recommendation about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, options,selection of forms or strategies.