Contract Attorney Serving the DMV
Thienel Law drafts, reviews, and negotiates business contracts across Maryland, D.C., and Virginia, with tax counsel built in. Schedule a free consultation.
Links to outside sources open in a new tab.
Thienel Law drafts, reviews, and negotiates business contracts for companies and individuals in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, with the tax side handled by the same attorney.
A contract is the written record of who owes what, when, and what happens if something goes wrong. When it is clear, it prevents disputes before they start. When it is vague, one-sided, or copied from an online template, it becomes the thing your business fights about later. Thienel Law drafts new agreements and reviews the ones put in front of you, whether that is a client services agreement, a vendor contract, an independent contractor agreement, or a non-disclosure agreement, and it does this as part of the firm’s broader business law practice. Because Stephen Thienel holds an LL.M. in Taxation and prepares returns in-house, the tax consequences buried in a payment or ownership term get caught before you sign, not after.
What does a contract attorney do, and who needs one?
A contract attorney drafts, reviews, and negotiates the written agreements a business relies on, and explains the terms so you can decide with your eyes open. Drafting means building an agreement from your deal terms. Review means reading a contract someone else wrote, flagging what is missing or unfavorable, and proposing changes before you sign.
You do not need a lawyer for every document, but you benefit from one when the stakes are real: a contract that governs significant money, a long-term commitment, ownership or intellectual property, or a relationship you cannot easily exit. Small business owners, founders, contractors, and professionals across the DMV use Thienel Law when a deal matters enough that the wording has to be right.
What goes wrong with a weak or missing contract?
Most contract problems are invisible until money is on the line. A term that seemed obvious to you turns out to mean something different to the other side, and there is nothing in writing to settle it.
A one-sided agreement drafted by the other party’s lawyer protects them, not you, and you often do not notice until you try to leave or enforce it. A template pulled off the internet may use the wrong state’s law, miss a clause your deal needs, or include one that quietly waives your rights. Handshake deals and email threads can be binding, but they are hard to prove and harder to enforce, and some agreements are not enforceable at all unless they are written down and signed.
What does Thienel Law draft and review?
Thienel Law handles the contracts a business actually runs on, drafted or reviewed to fit your deal rather than a generic form.
- Client, customer, and services agreements that define scope, payment, and what happens if the work changes.
- Vendor and supplier contracts, including terms for delivery, quality, and termination.
- Independent contractor and consulting agreements, with the classification and ownership language that protects you.
- Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements for employees, contractors, and prospective partners.
- Master service agreements and statements of work for ongoing relationships.
- Non-compete, non-solicitation, and restrictive covenant terms, drafted to be enforceable in your jurisdiction.
- Review and redlining of contracts sent to you, with a plain-language explanation of what each key term means and where you are exposed.
- Amendments, renewals, and termination letters for agreements already in place.
What is it like to work with Steve on a contract?
Every engagement begins with a free 30-minute consultation. It is a fit conversation for people who are ready to hire a business attorney: you describe the deal and the contract in front of you, and you and Steve decide together whether working with him makes sense. From there you work directly with Stephen Thienel, not a rotating cast of associates or paralegals.
The practice runs online. Secure video meetings, shared document folders, and electronic signatures let you send over a draft, talk it through, and sign from wherever you work. You get clear terms agreed up front, so you know what the contract work will cost before it begins.
How do contract laws differ in Maryland, D.C., and Virginia?
Most contract law is common law, so the basics of offer, acceptance, and consideration look similar across the DMV. The differences that matter show up in specific rules, and one of the most important is the statute of frauds: the rule that certain agreements are not enforceable unless they are in writing and signed by the party being held to them.
All three jurisdictions require a signed writing for several familiar categories, including a promise to answer for someone else’s debt and an agreement that cannot be performed within one year. Virginia lists these and others, such as contracts to sell real estate, in its statute governing when written evidence is required. The District of Columbia sets out a similar list of agreements that must be written, and Maryland’s statute of frauds reaches the same core categories. Because Stephen Thienel is licensed in Maryland, D.C., and Virginia, one attorney can draft or review your contract under the law that actually governs it, instead of guessing which state’s rules apply.
Where does contract work fit in your business legal needs?
A contract rarely stands alone. It connects to how your company is formed, who owns it, and the larger deals it signs, so it helps to see the whole cluster.
What clients say about working with Steve
I have worked with Steve Thienel for more than 20 years now and the experience has been amazing. Steve and his team are very thorough, they review all sides of a situation, and are very measured in how they approach a solution. They are 100% client focused and a pleasure to work with!
Throughout years, Steve has been my go to guy for business, real estate, and legal work. Steve works fast and is highly reliable. I would recommend Steve to anyone.
Received expert advice including options when applicable. Filings were timely and I was kept informed each step of the way. First class service!!!
I have been receiving services from Mr. Thienel for over 15 years. I have found his legal services to be of exceptionally high value and quality. His services are always timely, professional and thorough!
Reviews are published as given. Thienel Law does not offer compensation for reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Is a verbal contract legally binding?
Often yes, but it depends on what the contract is for. Many oral agreements are enforceable, yet certain types must be in writing and signed to hold up, such as a promise to pay someone else's debt or an agreement that cannot be completed within one year. Even when an oral contract is valid, it is hard to prove, which is why putting the deal in writing protects you.
Should I have a lawyer review a contract before I sign it?
If the contract governs meaningful money, a long commitment, ownership, or a relationship you cannot easily leave, a review is worth it. The party who drafted the agreement wrote it to protect themselves, and the terms that hurt you most are usually the ones that look routine. Thienel Law reviews the contract, explains each key term in plain language, and proposes changes before you are bound.
What is wrong with using a free contract template I found online?
A template can be a starting point, but it does not know your deal. It may rely on the wrong state's law, leave out a clause your situation needs, or include terms that waive rights you did not mean to give up. A contract that fits your actual agreement and jurisdiction is far less likely to fail when you need it.
Do you draft contracts for businesses in all three DMV jurisdictions?
Yes. Stephen Thienel is licensed in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, so he can draft or review your contract under the law that governs it, whether your business operates in one of those jurisdictions or across all three. That matters because rules like the statute of frauds and enforceability of non-compete terms are not identical from one to the next.
How much does it cost to have a contract drafted or reviewed?
Thienel Law sets clear terms up front, so you know what the work will cost before it starts. The right figure depends on the contract and what you need, which is one of the things the free 30-minute consultation is for. You leave that conversation knowing the scope and the cost, with no obligation to continue.
Ready to get your contract right?
Stephen Thienel drafts and reviews business contracts for companies and individuals across Maryland, D.C., and Virginia, with the tax side handled by the same attorney who reads the fine print. If you are ready to hire a business attorney, schedule a free 30-minute consultation and see whether the fit is right.
- Tell Steve about your matter
- Pick a time that works