May 25, 2004

Greg E. Harris will be speaking about contracts for the Computer Consultant. Bring your questions andIdeas.

  • Assumptions
    • Contract for consulting/software development or implementation.
    • Limited engagement.
    • Specific set of goals/tasks.
  • Contacting Overview
    • General Rules.
      • Be as specific as possible
      • Be reasonable. Don't scare your client away.
      • Use counsel.
    • General Checklist.
      • Parties. Who are you really dealing with?
      • Recitals. Why have the parties come together?
      • What is to be done?
      • When is it to be done?
    • Other Questions to Consider
      • Right of early termination.>
      • Does the agreement provide enough flexibility to allow you to make decisions later?
      • Is there a future fact pattern not dealt with in the agreement?
      • Ambiguities?
      • Gaps in protection.
      • What unanswered questions remain?
      • Who owns the work product?
      • Exhibits and Schedules
      • Allow easy modification of agreement
  • Dealing With Different Clients
    • Small Operations
      • Generally dealing with owner - authority issues easy.
      • Lack of sophistication.
      • Lack of experience using professionals.
      • Collection issues?
    • Large Private Organizations
      • Authority is an issue. Who can bind the company?
      • Who are you working for?
      • Who will be paying you?
      • Are they going to use their agreement? Read it!
      • Beware of them trying to hire your people.
      • Who will you be training?
    • Public Organizations and Non-Profits
      • Make sure the bidding procedure has been followed.
      • Find out who cuts the checks and when. The billing procedure is important. Find a friend in the bureaucracy.
      • Authority issue important.
      • P.O. important.
      • Staffing - will it shift?
      • Who will you be training?

Greg Harris is a Portland Attorney

CURRENT POSITION: HARRIS & BOWKER LLP, Attorneys at Law

PRACTICE: Business, Corporate, Tax and Estate Planning forclosely-held businesses and their owners; Family Business SuccessionPlanning; Acquisition and Disposition of Business; Qualified andNon-Qualified Deferred Compensation; Real Property Matters; ComputerLaw and certain High Technology Matters.

EDUCATION: J.D. University of Oregon (1978)

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: Member, Oregon State Bar, Computer Law, Corporate Counsel, EstatePlanning, Real Property and Taxation Sections

FORMER POSITIONS:

  • Former shareholder, Knappenberger, Poole, Cyr & Moe, Portland, Oregon (1980 - 1985)
  • Arthur Andersen & Co. (1978-1980)
  • Securities Investigator - Oregon Corporation Division Securities Section

Gregory E. Harris was educated in Oregon and graduated in 1978 from the University ofOregon School of Law. He has practiced in Portland since 1980. His practice emphasizes business, tax and estate planning forclosely-held businesses and their owners.

Mr. Harris has beenaccorded an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, as aresult of a survey of his peers by the lawyer-rating service.

He is a member of theOregon State Bar Computer Law, Corporate Counsel, Estate Planning,Real Property and Taxation Sections and the Multnomah Bar Associationand speaks frequently on issues related to tax law, corporate law andestate planning for business owners and individuals.

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