Legal Question in Business Law in New York

Re: Disagreement over what the ''Term'' of a contract is

I read this clause as saying that the client can, at his option (meaning you don't get a say in this), renew the agreement for up to one year. I see nothing in the language that you have provided that requires them to extend it for all four quarters at one time; the Term would end at the end of the extension requested. Based on the language that you have provided in your question, they can notify you at the beginning of March (i.e., now) that they want to renew for April-June, then at the beginning of June that they want to renew July-September, then again at the beginning of September for October-December.

Personal service agreements, though, are Special in terms of enforcement. You NEED to discuss your situation with an attorney who practices contract law. There may be ways that you can get out of agreeing to the extension, but you have not provided any language that allows you to do so in your question.

Understand that my reading of the language you have provided is done in a vacuum; this is not the way to construe a contract. Contracts are construed as a whole and you have given me only one clause. The rest of the document may have terms in it that would change what I have said here, dramatically. Take the contract -- the entire document -- to your lawyer for a more reliable reading.

THE INFORMATION PRESENTED HERE IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND IS NOT INTENDED, NOR SHOULD IT BE CONSTRUED, AS LEGAL ADVICE. THIS POSTING DOES NOT CREATE ANY ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US. FOR SPECIFIC ADVICE ABOUT YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION, CONSULT YOUR ATTORNEY.

Re: Disagreement over what the ''Term'' of a contract is

The client is mistaken. The option period is clearly defined and does not "move" wit the extension.

Re: Disagreement over what the ''Term'' of a contract is

Your contract doesn't say what you wanted. Call or write if you want help with this.