Commercial and International Contract Translation

International business involves a wide range of contracts, each with its own terminology, structure and legal requirements. At M21Global, we regularly translate every type of contract used in cross-border operations, including:

• Sale and purchase agreements: agreements for the acquisition of goods, assets or shares, including representations and warranties clauses.
• Distribution agreements: exclusive or non-exclusive distribution agreements, with territory clauses, sales targets and termination conditions.
• Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs): confidentiality agreements frequently used during due diligence and preliminary negotiations.
• Joint venture and shareholders' agreements: defining rights and obligations between partners in joint ventures, including governance, profit distribution and exit mechanisms.
• Supply agreements: terms for the supply of goods or raw materials, including Incoterms, delivery deadlines and penalties.
• Service and consultancy agreements: scope of services, service levels (SLAs), intellectual property and non-compete clauses.
• Framework agreements: agreements establishing general conditions for multiple future transactions between the same parties.
• Licensing agreements: intellectual property, patent, trademark and software licences, including royalties and usage restrictions.
• Employment contracts for expatriates: secondment or international hiring contracts, with governing law, benefits and repatriation clauses.

Each type of contract has its own terminological requirements. Our linguists are familiar with the specific drafting conventions in each area and ensure complete consistency throughout the entire document.

Depending on its intended use, a contract translation may require certification, authentication or legalisation. The type of validation required depends on the jurisdiction and the body before which the document will be presented.

Certified translation: a translation accompanied by a statement of fidelity issued by the translation company, attesting that the translation faithfully corresponds to the original document. It is frequently required by courts, registries and administrative bodies in many jurisdictions.

Sworn translation: in some countries (such as Brazil and several EU member states), sworn translation must be carried out by an officially appointed sworn translator. At M21Global, we work with sworn translators in multiple jurisdictions to ensure the legal validity of the document in the destination country.

Apostille (Hague Convention): for contracts to be used in countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention, the Apostille certifies the authenticity of the translated document. We handle the entire apostille process with the relevant authorities.

Consular legalisation: for countries that are not signatories to the Hague Convention, the translated contract may require consular legalisation. This process takes longer and involves the Foreign Office and the consulate of the destination country.

At M21Global, we manage the complete process, from translation through to certification, apostille or legalisation, according to the specific requirements of each case.

International contract translation requires more than linguistic competence. It requires method, the right tools and experience accumulated over thousands of projects.

ISO 17100 certified process: all contract translations follow our certified process, which includes translation by a specialised native linguist, review by a second independent linguist and final quality control. Learn more about our ISO certification.

Linguists with proven legal experience: our linguists are not lawyers; they are translation professionals with years of proven experience in the legal field. They know the terminology, the drafting conventions and the differences between legal systems. This specialisation enables them to produce translations that are not only accurate but also natural and aligned with the expectations of the legal professionals who will use the document.

Terminology management: each client receives a dedicated glossary, maintained and updated throughout their projects. Defined terms in the contract are mapped in the source and target languages, ensuring consistency within each document and across documents from the same client.

Bilingual review for critical contracts: for high-value or complex contracts, we offer bilingual review, where the reviewer compares the translated text against the original, paragraph by paragraph, to verify fidelity and completeness.

More than 20 years of experience: over more than two decades, M21Global has translated thousands of contracts for companies, law firms and institutions across dozens of language pairs. This accumulated experience is reflected in the quality, speed and reliability of the service we provide.