IANAL, but if you want a "standard" contract, then you just put the deal on paper. Common law and legislation automatically has a framework for "standard" contr

IANAL, but if you want a "standard" contract, then you just put the deal on paper. Common law and legislation automatically has a framework for "standard" contracts - that's the legal framework that governs your plumber when they fix your leaking tap. If the negotiator doesn't know what terms can be changed (as they are just there to define the deal), and which can't (as they are there to limit legal risk, and can't be changed in any way without upsetting the lawyers), it's a bad sign. Some terms will tend to describe the work (you do X, we pay you Y). The lawyers don't need to touch that, as long as everything is clearly defined (though they will want to check the definitions). It's up to non-lawyers to decide what the deal is. Other terms are less flexible, and describe what the legal situation will be if the shit hits the fan. Stuff like jurisdiction, arbitration, liability, when the contract becomes void, and resolution process. You won't like it (as it's there to cover the other party's ass), but you probably won't get it changed - that's the way their lawyers like to play ball, and the agent you are dealing with won't be able to convince the legal team to change anything without a lot of work.