Fillable Printable MODEL CONSULTING AGREEMENT

MODEL CONSULTING AGREEMENT

MODELCONSULTING AGREEMENT

Thetextinitalicsisexplanatoryandshouldbereplacedorremovedinanyfinalagreement.

ThisAgreementismadeasof[date]between[nameofcompany](the“Company”)and

[nameofinvestigator](the“Consultant”),an[investigatorrank]atTheRockefellerUniversity

(the“University”).TheCompanyisengagedinscientificresearchin[describeareainwhichthe

investigatorwillconsult,preferablyasnarrowaspossibletoallowtheinvestigatortopotentially

consultinotherfields](the“Field”).T heConsultanthasextensiveexperienceintheField,and

theCompanyseekstobenefitfromtheConsultant’sexpertisebyretainingtheConsultantasa

consultant.TheConsultantwishestoperformconsultingservicesintheFieldfortheCompany.

Accordingly,theCompanyandtheConsultantagreeasfollows:

1.Services.

(a)TheConsultantshallprovide[advice][consultingservices]totheCompanywith

respecttomattersrelatedtotheField.TheConsultantshallbeengagedbytheCompanyasa

consultantfortheexchangeofideasonlyandshallnotdirectorconductresearchfororonbehalf

oftheCo mpany.

TheConsultant’sservicesmaybemor especificallydescribedintheagreement.

Theymayinclude:(i)servingontheCompany’sscientificadvisoryboardand

attendingscientificadvisoryboardmeetings;(ii)providingscientificadvice

regardingtheCompany’sproductlines,thegeneraldirectionofitsresearch

program,recruitmentofpersonnel,andtechniquesusedinresearchintheField;

and(iii)generallyadvisingtheCompanyinitseffortstoproduce,develop,and

marketproducts intheField. 

(b)UponrequestbytheCompany,andattimesmutuallyagreeduponbytheCompany

andtheConsultant,theConsultantshalldevoteupto[number]daysannuallytoproviding

consultingservicestotheCompany pursuanttothis Agreement.

Pleasereviewthetimethatwillberequiredundertheagreementinlightof(i)

anypreexistingnonUniversitycommitments,and(ii)theUniversity’sPolicyon

ConflictofCommitmentwhichrequiresthatnomorethan52daysperyearbe

devotedtoexternalactivitiessolongasaninvestigator’sUniver sityworkisnot

adverselyaffected.

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(c)TheCompanyacknowledgesthattheConsultantisemployedbyTheRockefeller

UniversityandConsultant’sobligationstotheUniversitysupersedeanyandallprovisionsofthis

Agreement.

Thepoliciesinclude,butarenotlimitedto,conflictofinterest,conflictof

commitment,andintellectualproperty.

2.Compensation.

AsfullconsiderationfortheconsultingservicesprovidedbytheConsultant,the

CompanyshallpaytotheConsultanttheamountof$[amount]annually,payablein[semi

annual,quarterly,monthly]installmentsof$[amount],beginningon[date].Inadditiontothe

foregoingamount,theCompanyshallpromptlyr eimbursetheCo nsultantforallreasonable

expensesincurredbytheConsu ltantinprovidingconsultingservicesunderthisAgreement,

includingtraveltomeetings[specifymodeoftravel].

Theconsultingagreementshouldclearlystatetheamountofallcompensationto

bereceived, includingcompensationintheformofsharesofstockorstock

optionsortheirequivalent. Exercisingstockoptionsmayincurtaxconsequence s, 

evenifthesharesarenotsold.Bothlegalandtaxadvicearestronglyadvisedin

decidingonparticipationinastockoptionagreement.

3.Competition.

Manycompaniesincludeprovisionspu rsuanttowhichtheConsultantagreesnot

toprovideconsultingservice stoanythirdpartyintheField.Aninvestigator

shouldconsiderwhetheranon competitionprovisionwouldconflictwithany

consultingagreementtowhichtheinvestigatorisalreadyboundorwouldbetoo

restrictiveoftheinvestigator’srighttoenterintootherconsultingagreements.

Followingaretwoexamplesofacceptablenoncompetitionprovisions. Ifthe

companydoesnotproposeusinganoncompetitionprovision,paragraph3(a)

maybeomittedbut,inthatevent,paragraph3(b)shouldbeinsertedelsewherein

theagreement. 

AlternativeA

(wheretheinvestigatorhasnootherconsultingrelationships)

(a)TheConsultantrepresentstotheCompanythattheConsultantdoesnothaveany

agreementtoprovideconsultingservicestoanyotherparty,firm,orcompanyinthe[typeof

business,e.g.pharmaceutical]industryonmattersrelatingtotheField,andwillnotenterinto

anysuchagreement duringthetermofthisAgreement.

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(b)TheCompanyacknowledgesandagrees,however,thatnothinginthisAgr eement

shallaffecttheConsu ltant’sobligationsinconnectionwithresearchon behalfoftheUniversity.

AlternativeB

(wheretheinvestigatoralreadyhasotherconsulting relationships)

(a)TheConsultantrepresentstotheCompanythattheConsultantdoesnothaveany

agreementtoprovideconsultingservicestoanyotherparty,firm,orcompanyinthe[typeof

business,e.g.pharmaceutical]industryonmattersrelatingtotheFie ld,exceptforthe

agreement(s)datedasof[date(s)]betweentheConsultantand[name(s)ofothercompanyor

companies].DuringthetermofthisAgreement,theConsultantsha llnotconsultforanyentityin

the[typeofbusiness,e.g.pharmaceutical]industryotherthantheCompanyand[name(s)of

othercompanyorcompanies]onmattersrelatingtotheField.

(b)TheCompanyacknowledgesandagrees,however,thatnothinginthisAgreement

shallaffecttheConsu ltant’sobligationsinconnectionwithresearchon behalfoftheUniversity.

4.Confidentiality.

(a)TheConsultantmaydisclosetotheCompanyanyinformationthattheConsultant

wouldnormallyfreelydisclosetoothermembersofthescientificcommunityatlarge,whether

bypublication,bypresentationatseminars, orininformalscientificdiscuss ions.However,the

ConsultantshallnotdisclosetotheCompanyinformationthatisproprietarytotheUniversity

andisnotgenerallyavailabletothepublicotherthanthroughformaltechnologytransfer

procedures.

(b)I nprovidingconsultingservicestotheCompanypursuanttothisAgreement,the

ConsultantmayacquireinformationthatpertainstotheCompany’sproducts,processes,

equipment,programs,developments,orplansandthatisboth(i)disclosedormadeknownbythe

CompanytotheConsultantand(ii)identifiedas“proprietary”bytheCompanyatanytime

(“ProprietaryInformation”).TheConsu ltantagreesnottodiscloseanyProprietaryInformation

tothirdpartiesortouseanyProprietaryInformationforanypurposeotherthanperformanceof

consultingservicespursuanttothisAgreement,withoutthepriorwrittenconsentofthe

Company.

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(c)ProprietaryInformationsubjecttoparagraph4(b)doesnotincludeinformationthat:

(i)isorlaterbecomesavailabletothepublicthroughnobreachofthisAgreementbythe

Consultant;(ii)isobtainedbytheConsultantfromathirdpartywhohadthelegalrightto

disclosetheinformationtotheConsultant;(iii)isalreadyinthepossessionoftheConsultanton

thedatethisAgreementbecomeseffective;or(iv)isrequir edtobedisclosedbylaw,government

regulation,orcourtorder.Inaddition,ProprietaryInformationsubjecttoparagraph4(b)does

notincludeinformationgeneratedbytheConsultant,aloneorwith others,unlesstheinformation

(I)isgeneratedsolelyasadirectresultoftheperformanceofconsultingservicesunderthis

Agreementand(II) hasnotbeendevelopedinthecourseoftheConsultant’sactivitiesasa

Universityemployee.

5.Ret urnofMaterials. 

TheConsultantagrees,followingtheterminationofthisAgreementoruponearlier

requestbytheCompany,topromptlyreturnalldrawings,tracings,andwrittenmaterialsinthe

Consultant’spossessionand(i)suppliedbytheCompanyinconjunctionwiththeConsultant’s

consultingservicesunderthisAgreement,or(ii)generatedbytheConsultantintheperformance

ofconsultingservicesunderthis AgreementandnotgeneratedinthecourseoftheConsultant’s

activitiesasaUniversityemployee.

6.IntellectualProperty.

TheagreementshouldensurethattheCompanycanhavenoinfluenceonthe

directionofUniversityresearchorthedistributionofeffortamongUniversity

researchprojects,norightsbyreasonoftheagreementtoUniversityresearchor

intellectualproperty,norighttopreventorlimitpublicationofUniversity

researchorintellectualproperty,andnoadvantageofanysortinbiddingto

purchaseintellectualpropertyarisingfromUniversityresearch.

(a)Subjecttothetermsofparagraph6(b),below,theConsultantherebyassignstothe

Companyanyright,title,andinterest[he/she]mayhaveinanyinvention,discovery,

improvement,or otherintellectualpropertywhich(i)theConsultant,aloneorwithothers,

developssolelyasadirectresultofperformingconsultingservicesfortheCompanyunderthis

Agreementand(ii)isnotdevelopedinthecourseofConsultant’sactivitiesasaUniversity

employee.AnyintellectualpropertyassignabletotheCompanypursuanttothepreceding

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sentenceishereinafterreferredtoas“CompanyIntellectualProperty.”Uponther equestofthe

Company,theConsultantshallexecutesuchfurtherassignments,documents, andother

instrumentsasmaybenecessarytoassignCompanyIntellectualPropertytotheCompanyandto

assisttheCompanyinapplyingfor,obtainingandenforcingpatentsor otherrightsintheUnited

StatesandinanyforeigncountrywithrespecttoanyCompanyIntellectualProperty.The

Companywillbearthecostofpreparationofallpatentorotherapp licationsandassignments,

andthecostofobtainingandenforcingallpatentsandotherrightstoCompanyIntellectual

Pro perty. 

(b)TheCompanyshallhavenorightsbyreasonofthisAgreementinanypublication,

invention,discovery,improvement,or otherintellectualpropertywhatsoever,whetheror not

publishable,patentable,orcopyrightable,whichisconce ivedorreducedtopracticeinwholeor

inpart,usingthefacilities,equipmentorfundsoftheUniversity.TheCompanyalso

acknowledgesandagreesthatitwillenjoynopriorityoradvantageasaresu ltoftheconsultancy

createdbythisAgreementingainingaccess,whetherbylicenseorotherwise,toanypr oprietary

informationor intellectualpropertythatarisesfromanyresearchundertakenbytheConsultantin

[his/her]capacityasanemployeeoftheUniversity.

7.DefenseandIndemnification.

TheCompanyagrees,atitssoleexpense,todefendtheConsultant,theUniversity,its

trustees,officers,students,faculty,employeesandagents(“Indemnitees”)against,andto

indemnifyandholdtheIndemniteesharmlessfrom,anyliability,claim,judgment,cost,expense,

damage,deficiency,loss,or obligation,ofanykindornature(includingwithoutlimitation

reasonableattorneys’feesandothercostsandexpensesofdefense)relatingtoaclaimorsuitby

athirdpartyagainsttheIndemnitees,eitherarisingfromthisAgreement,theConsultant’ s

performanceofservicesfortheCompanyunderthis Agree ment,oranyCompanyproductsor

servicesrelatedtotheConsultant’sperformanceofservicesunderthisAgreement.

8.TermandTermination.

(a)Unlessterminatedearlierunderparagraph8(b),below,thisAgreementshallbefor a

termof[term].

6

(b)WithoutlimitinganyrightswhicheitherpartytothisAgreementmayhavebyreason

ofanydefaultby theotherparty,eachpartyreservestherighttoterminatethisAgreementatany

timeuponthirty(30)dayspriorwrittennoticetothe otherparty.

(c)TerminationofthisAgreement,includingbutnotlimitedtopursuanttoparagraph

9(f)below,shallnotaffect(i) theCompany’sobligationstorecognizethepriorityofUniversity

andUniversityintellectualpropertyrightsunderparagraph6(b),above,(ii)theCompany’s

obligationstodefendandindemnifytheIndemniteesunderparagraph7,above,(iii)the

Company’s obligationtopayforservicespreviouslyperformedbytheConsultantorexpenses

reasonablyincurredbytheConsultantforwhichtheConsultantisentitledtoreimbursement

underparagraph2,above,o r(iv)theConsultant’scontinuingobligationstotheCompanyunder

paragraphs 4(b)and6(a),above.

9.M iscellaneous.

(a)ThisAgreementshallinuretothebenefitofandbebindingupontherespectiveheirs, 

executors,successors, representatives,andassignsoftheparties,asthecasemaybe;provided,

however,theobligationshereunderofeachpartytotheotherarepersonalandmaynotbe

assignedwithouttheexpresswrittenconsentof suchotherparty.

(b)TherelationshipcreatedbythisAgreementshallbethatofindependentcontractor,

andtheConsultantshallhavenoauthoritytobindoractasagentfortheCompanyorits

employeesforanypurpose.

IftheCompanyisaCaliforniacompany,theconsultingwilltakeplacein

California,ortheConsultingAgreementisgovernedbyCalifornialaw,please

addthissentence:

ThepartiesacknowledgethatthisAgreementisnotacontractofemployment

withinthemeaningofSection2750oftheCaliforniaLaborCode,andthe

ConsultantisnotanemployeeoftheCompanyforanypurposeunderthe

CaliforniaLaborCode.

(c)TheCompanymayusetheConsultant’sname,andindoingsomaycitethe

Consultant’srelationshipwiththeUniversity,solongasanysuch usage(i)islimitedtoreporting

factualeventsoroccurrencesonly,and(ii)ismadeinamannerthatcouldnotreasonably

constituteanendorse mentoftheCompanyorofanyCompanyprogram, productorservice. 

However,theCompanyshallnotusetheConsultant’snameortheUniversity’snameinany

pressrelease,orquotetheConsultantinanycompanymaterials, orotherwis eusethe

7

Consultant’snameortheUniversity’snameinamannernotspecificallypermittedbythe

precedingsentence,unlessineac hcasetheCompanyobtainsinadvancethewrittenconsentof

theUniversity,and,inthecaseoftheuseoftheConsultant’sname,theConsultant’sconsentas

well.

(d)Noticegivenbyonepartytotheotherhereundershallbeinwritinganddeemedto

havebeenproperlygivenorpaidifdepos itedwiththeUnitedStates PostalService,registeredor

certifiedmail, orsentbyovernightmail,address edasfollows:

[NameandAddressoftheCompany.]

[NameandAddressoftheConsultant.]

(e)ThisAgreementsupersedesallpreviousagreementsanddiscussionsrelatingtothe

subjectmattershereofandconstitutestheentireagreementbetweentheCompanyandthe

ConsultantwithrespecttothesubjectmattersofthisAgreement.ThisAgreementmaynotbe

modifiedinanyrespectbyanyverbalstatement,representation,oragreementmadebyany

employee,officer,orother representativeoftheCompany,orbyany writtendocuments unless it

is signedbyanofficeroftheCompanyandbytheConsultant.

(f)Ifanypr ovisionofthisAgreementaffectingtherightsorpropertyoftheUniversityis

adjudicatedtobeinvalid, unenforceable,contraryto,orpro hibitedunderapplicablelawsor

regulationsofanyjurisd iction, thisAgreementshallterminateasofthedatesuchadjudicationis

effective.IfanyotherprovisionofthisAgreementisadjudicatedtobeinvalid,unenforceable,

contraryto,orprohibitedunderapplicablelawsorregulationsofanyjurisdiction,suchprovision

shallbeseveredandtheremainingprovisionsshallcontinueinfullforceandeffect.

(g)T heConsultantandtheCompanyacknowledgethat(i)theConsultantisenteringinto

thisAgree mentin[his/her]individualcapacityandnotasanemployeeoragentofthe

University,(ii) theUniversityisnotapartytothisAgreementandhasnoliabilityorobligation

hereunder,and(iii)theUniversityisanintendedthirdpartybeneficiaryofthisAgreementand

certainprovis ionsofthisAgreementareforthebenefitoftheU niversityandareenforceableby

theUniversityinitsownname.

8

INWITNESSWHEREOF, thepartieshaveexecutedthisAgreementeffectivethe

datefirststatedabove.

[NameofCompany]

By:

Name:

Title:

Date:

__________________________________

[NameofConsultant] 

Date: