Signing in Two Languages: Navigating NDAs and Contract Negotiations in Legal Spanish

A signature that almost sank the deal

Three years back, a Barcelona startup flew me to Bogotá to hash out a distribution contract with a Colombian fintech. I handed over our polished NDA—glossy logo, perfect English—and watched the local counsel squint at phrases like “governing law” and “injunctive relief.” She slid the paper back, smiled politely, and said, “Lo sentimos, James, pero debemos redactarlo conforme a la legislación colombiana.” Translation: nice try, but no dice unless it’s in Spanish and mirrors local statutes. I spent the night rewriting clauses at a café, wrestling with terms like obligaciones de confidencialidad perpetuas so they sounded both airtight and culturally respectful. That caffeine-soaked lesson birthed my obsession with Legal Spanish—precise, formal, but still readable for executives from Santo Domingo to Santiago de Chile.

Why “legalese” in Spanish feels denser than English

English contracts lean on plain-language movements; Latin documents savor solemnity. Where an English NDA says “This agreement ends in two years,” a Dominican counterpart might proclaim “La vigencia se extinguirá a los veinticuatro (24) meses contados a partir de la fecha de suscripción.” Add civil-law concepts—buena fe, objeto lícito, and a sprinkle of European heritage—and expat negotiators suddenly swim in syrup. Yet clients across Latin America increasingly demand clarity. The sweet spot? Drafts that honor civil-law formality while translating core ideas into sentences executives can digest over coffee.

The contract cycle—cultural checkpoints from draft to firma

In Spain, redlines zip back within hours, annotated in Track Changes and peppered with “por favor revísese.” In Mexico, edits may ride through several departments—Legal, Compliance, Finance—each adding a signature block. Colombian teams schedule a mesa de trabajo (work table) where lawyers and business leads debate each comma; bring patience and café tinto. The Dominican Republic values hierarchy: expect the CEO’s aunt (yes, really) to peek before the ink dries. Understanding these rhythms prevents the rookie mistake of chasing signatures too aggressively.

Core vocabulary that tightens every clause

Commit two terms per sprint to your Spanish Vocabulary drills; they’ll emerge on autopilot during intense conference calls.

Anatomy of a bilingual NDA everyone accepts

First paragraph: name each company with legal suffix—S.A.S., S.R.L., S.A.—and national ID numbers; civil-law lawyers live for these details. Second, define Información Reservada in a sweeping sentence, then carve out exclusions—public knowledge, self-developed data—so no one panics about prior inventions. Third, outline obligations with parallel verbs—proteger, no divulgar, usar únicamente. Finally, set plazo de vigencia plus a survival clause: confidentiality survives termination for three years, or in pharma deals, forever.

Keep sentences under forty Spanish words; break droning recitals with sub-headings: Objeto, Obligaciones, Excepciones, Vigencia, Jurisdicción. Your counterpart’s eyes will thank you.

Example negotiation: Colombian lawyer meets Dominican founder

Camila (abogada, Colombia)
“Necesitamos que el plazo de vigencia sea de cinco años, no dos.”
We need the term to be five years, not two.

Luis (fundador, República Dominicana)
“Entiendo, pero nuestros proyectos duran máximo veinticuatro meses. Tal vez podríamos dejar la confidencialidad por tres años y luego renovación automática.”
I understand, but our projects last a maximum of twenty-four months. Perhaps we could keep confidentiality for three years and then automatic renewal.

Camila (bridging)
“Me parece razonable si añadimos una cláusula de resolución anticipada en caso de adquisición.”
Sounds reasonable if we add an early-termination clause in case of an acquisition.

Luis
“Perfecto. Propongo incluirla bajo el título ‘Terminación.’ Quedo atento a tu versión.”
Perfect. I propose including it under the title “Termination.” I await your version.

Bold regional slang would cheapen this legal tone, so both stick to formal registers.

Governing law—choosing a friendly courthouse

Spanish firms often insist on Madrid courts; Colombians cite the Centro de Arbitraje de la Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá; Mexicans may prefer ICC arbitration in Mexico City. Dominicans lean on Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Santo Domingo. If power is lopsided, offer neutral Panama arbitration—Spanish language, common for cross-border LATAM deals. Always specify “idioma Español” to avoid surprise translations.

Negotiation etiquette—voice and body language

In-person meetings: arrive with printed copies, signature tabs, and a blue ink pen—civil-law cultures assume blue denotes original. Shake hands firmly but skip Anglo eye-laser intensity. Address counsel as doctor / doctora even if they’re not PhDs; that courtesy smooths wrinkles. On video, dress formally top to bottom; a Colombian counterpart once joked he could tell when I wore shorts by my posture.

Translating tough clauses without bullet lists

English clause: “Recipient shall implement industry-standard safeguards, including but not limited to encryption, access controls, and audit trails.”
Spanish plain-law rewrite: “La Parte Receptora se compromete a implementar salvaguardas de estándar industrial, como la encriptación de la información, controles de acceso y registros de auditoría.”
One flowing sentence; semicolons only if absolutely necessary. Spanish loves parallel construction.

Red flag phrases to replace

• “As is” clause → sin garantía de ningún tipo
• “Best efforts” → mejores esfuerzos razonables (avoid literal “mejor esfuerzo.”)
• “Injunctive relief” → medidas cautelares (civil-law equivalent)
• “Hold harmless” → mantener indemne (never drop indemne)

Using half-translated common-law jargon signals amateur hour and triggers extra reviews.

Signing ritual across borders

Dominican execs like ceremonial touches—champagne after stamping the final page. Colombians schedule a swift notary visit; carry passport and company NIT. Spaniards might insist on a póliza de responsabilidad civil (liability policy) annexed before signature. Prepare scans in advance; Latin offices still love seals and initialed margins (rúbricas).

Reflection: contracts as bilingual brain gyms

Drafting NDAs in Spanish rewired my thinking. I learned buena fe isn’t “good faith” lite but a legal cornerstone; that a Mexican convenio may outrank a simple contrato; and that each accent wraps legality in its own politeness code. Every clause negotiated sharpens my ear—teaching that a Colombian “lo revisamos” promises action, while a Dominican “lo vemos después” could stall for months.

Share your trickiest clause or proudest redline in the comments. Our collective nit-picks turn legal Spanish from obstacle to competitive edge.