Legal Definitions - introductory clause

An introductory clause is the opening section of a formal legal document, such as a contract, will, or official agreement. Its primary purpose is to formally establish the document's existence, identify the parties involved, state the effective date, and often briefly describe the document's nature or purpose. It acts as a foundational statement that sets the stage for the detailed terms and conditions that follow.

Here are a few examples:

• In a Service Agreement for a marketing campaign, the introductory clause might read:

  "This Marketing Services Agreement is made and entered into on November 15, 2023, by and between 'Global Marketing Solutions Inc.' (hereinafter referred to as 'Agency') and 'Fresh Foods Grocers LLC' (hereinafter referred to as 'Client')."

  This section clearly identifies the type of agreement (Marketing Services Agreement), the date it becomes effective, and the two main parties involved (Agency and Client), setting the formal groundwork for the entire contract.

• For a Residential Lease Agreement, the introductory clause could be:

  "This Residential Lease Agreement, effective as of December 1, 2023, is entered into by and between Laura Peterson ('Landlord') and David Kim ('Tenant') for the property located at 123 Elm Street, Anytown, USA."

  Here, the introductory clause specifies that the document is a Residential Lease Agreement, states its effective date, and names both the Landlord and the Tenant, along with the property address, providing essential context from the outset.

• In a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), an introductory clause might appear as:

  "This Non-Disclosure Agreement ('Agreement') is made and entered into this 20th day of October, 2023, by and between 'Tech Innovations Corp.' (the 'Disclosing Party') and 'Startup Ventures LLC' (the 'Receiving Party')."

  This example demonstrates how the introductory clause identifies the document as an NDA, specifies the date it was created, and clearly names the two parties involved, defining their roles (Disclosing Party and Receiving Party) for the remainder of the agreement.