Counsel escalation brief

Use this for every contract issue that needs legal judgment, a new fallback, or approval.

Brief structure

Put the decision first:

1. exact question counsel must answer;
2. deadline and what depends on it;
3. agreement name, version, section, and exact text;
4. supplied playbook position and fallback, with its source;
5. neutral description of the difference;
6. business context supplied by the owner: value, service, data, timing, and leverage;
7. counterparty position, attributed to its source;
8. options already approved for discussion, if any;
9. missing document or fact;
10. named business owner and contract owner.

Keep facts, counterparty claims, playbook text, and open questions separate. Link or attach the source rather than pasting an incomplete fragment when context matters.

Gate

Do not recommend a legal position, predict an outcome, or label the issue safe, standard, enforceable, compliant, or acceptable. Return an unsent draft. Counsel decides; an authorised person sends and negotiates.