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

University and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with research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with research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

University employee.

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University employee.

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to the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University initsown name.

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: