Put a clear deed of release around the deal you are closing out

The commercial agreement is only part of the picture. Problems often arise when the written terms do not properly record what is being released, when payment is due, what happens to confidential information, or whether future claims are still possible. A deed of release helps capture those points in a more formal way. For example, if the arrangement involves a final payment, return of property, IP ownership, or mutual promises not to pursue further claims, those details usually need careful wording rather than a short settlement email.

That depends on the situation, but a deed of release commonly deals with who is being released, what claims are covered, whether the release is mutual or one-way, any settlement payment, confidentiality, non-disparagement, return of property, intellectual property, and how the relationship ends from this point. In some matters, service levels or handover obligations also need to be addressed. The exact drafting turns on the underlying dispute or exit arrangement, which is why a release used in one matter may not be suitable for another.

You can, but templates often fall short where the facts are specific. A release that is too broad, too narrow, or unclear about payment, liability, or future claims can create fresh arguments instead of closing the matter out. Templates also may not reflect whether the release should be mutual, whether related entities need to be covered, or whether there are side issues like IP ownership or continuing confidentiality obligations. A lawyer-drafted or lawyer-reviewed deed is usually most valuable when the commercial background is more than a simple one-line settlement.

Timing depends on whether we are drafting from scratch or reviewing a document that already exists, and on how settled the commercial terms are between the parties. If key points such as payment amount, release scope, and exit arrangements are still moving, the document may need further refinement. Once we have the relevant instructions and materials, we can let you know the expected turnaround. If the matter is urgent because a payment or separation date is approaching, flag that early so we can discuss timing and next steps.

Once signed, the deed becomes the operative record of the settlement or exit arrangement, so the next step is usually carrying out the obligations it contains. That may involve making a payment, returning property, transferring materials, ending access to systems, or observing confidentiality and non-disparagement commitments. If the other side later raises issues about performance or interpretation, that would usually fall outside this fixed-fee document service and may require separate advice. This page covers the deed itself rather than ongoing management of the broader dispute.

Just submit an enquiry via this page or click the 'get started' button on our website to submit an enquiry. After you've submitted an enquiry, one of our legal consultants will review your enquiry within 1 business day and get in touch to get a better idea of exactly what you are looking for.

Then your legal consultant will send through an email with a bit more information about the services you need, along with a fixed fee quote setting out costs, scope of the service and timing. Have a read through it, and if you're happy with the scope, you can accept and sign our engagement letter online - easy!

Once you've formally accepted, we'll connect you with a specialist lawyer and they will work with you to complete your project. They will contact you by email or phone if they need to get in touch.

Sprintlaw works on fixed-fee pricing wherever possible, so you can review the scope and cost before you decide whether to proceed. For the Deed Of Release service, pricing starts from $900.00.

After you enquire, a legal consultant will confirm what is included, the expected timing and whether any extra work is needed before you engage us.

We operate completely online, which means we can help you wherever you are in New Zealand. We have office spaces in Sydney, and in Melbourne, but our use of technology allows our team members to work remotely from around the world. Our legal team are mostly based in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. We also have a London office for Sprintlaw UK.

Our legal team is made up of experienced lawyers, who are specialists in various areas of law and hold an Australian legal practising certificate. None of our Sprintlaw lawyers are New Zealand qualified lawyers and they do not currently hold a New Zealand practising certificate.

They provide legal services working remotely from Australia via our 'legal consultancy' model, through which (under section 6 and section 35 of the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006) our Australian legal team are permitted to provide legal services to New Zealand businesses provided they do not provide services in certain 'reserved' areas of law. You can read our FAQ page to learn a bit more about our 'legal consultancy' model.

Given the strong similarities between Australian and New Zealand law, and the areas of law in which we practice (being small business and startup law), we do not view the fact that our lawyers have not qualified in New Zealand as having any substantive impact on the quality of our service. We are committed to ensuring that we provide high quality, affordable legal services to all our New Zealand clients.

Our legal team have all trained at leading firms, but have left the traditional corporate law world to join us on our mission to create a new and better way of delivering legal services. They have specialist expertise in technology law, intellectual property law, contract drafting and review, corporate law and commercial law.