062 - How to Properly Evaluate an NDA Agreement with Rob Cohen

Legal expert Rob Cohen returns to break down the real purpose of NDAs and what constitutes legitimate confidentiality requests versus overreach. If you've ever blindly signed a non-disclosure agreement without understanding the implications, this episode reveals the red flags to watch for and negotiation strategies that protect your business while maintaining client relationships.What You’ll LearnDifference between unilateral and bilateral NDA agreementsKey red flags in confidentiality clauses and duration termsHow to negotiate mutual protection for your proprietary processesWhen to push back without damaging business relationshipsStrategic approach to managing multiple NDA requestsTime Stamps01:43 - Introduction to NDAs05:51 - Unilateral vs. Bilateral Agreements11:20 - Common NDA Clauses and Concerns18:12 - Practical Advice for Small Businesses30:12 - Understanding Risk in Legal Agreements30:50 - Using AI for Legal Document Review32:01 - The Importance of Bilateral NDAs33:05 - Enforcing Non-Disclosure Agreements35:09 - Non-Compete Agreements and Legal Precedents39:21 - Adhesion Contracts and Their Implications40:35 - Negotiating Fair Legal Terms42:57 - Tips for Business Owners54:01 - The Role of Corporate Governance54:25 - Episode OutroSnippets from the Episode"Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. It's only in those moments where you find yourself caught that you realize the only way to not get caught is to pay attention to this stuff on the front end."- Chris Griffin"If someone's pushing you to rush and sign something, that's all the more reason not to. 'I've gotta get my bid in 24 hours.' Well, why are you calling me now?"- Rob Cohen"You also have to look at whether the agreement was reasonable in the first place. Rather than just applying to one party, it applies to either party. If they've got problems with it, then why were they so aggressive with their language to you?"- Rob Cohen"When you're chasing the next project, you make decisions like signing the NDA that is totally against you. You can't afford to not sign because you need that project, when in reality that project could lead to your demise."- Khalil BenalioulhajKey TakeawaysConsider bilateral protection instead of one-sided agreementsEstablish internal policies for who can sign binding agreementsCreate template NDAs with legal counsel for repeat situationsWatch for overly broad confidentiality definitions and missing carve-outsNegotiate reasonable timeframes and scope limitationsUse pushback as a test of partnership potentialResourcesNeed Help With An Event? Get in touch with ⁠⁠⁠⁠CrewXP⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch On ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Us On Social: ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠Have Questions? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us⁠⁠⁠⁠More from Rob Cohen⁠Rob Cohen on LinkedInDisplay Supply & Lighting, Inc. WebsiteMore from Chris⁠⁠⁠⁠CrewXP⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Email Chris⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠More from Khalil⁠⁠⁠⁠benali.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email Khalil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Meet With Khalil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect With UsReady to future-proof your experiential business? Subscribe to Experience Builders for more strategic insights that help agency owners build bulletproof businesses.