Freelance Letter Of Engagement Template

(a) Services. Your name / business name ("Provider") agrees to perform the following services for Client name / business name ("Client") in accordance with the terms of this Agreement: Freelancer will provide independent professional services to the Client as described in this engagement letter, operating as an independent contractor, on the timeline and fee terms set out herein. (b) Exclusions. The following items and activities are expressly excluded from the Services and are not covered by the fees set out in this Agreement unless the Parties agree otherwise in a written change order: Explicit exclusions (what is NOT included) For the avoidance of doubt, any work not described in subsection (a) above is out of scope. Client may request additional work through the change-order process, and Provider may agree to perform it at additional cost. (c) Assumptions. Provider's scope and pricing are based on the following assumptions: Key assumptions on which the scope is based If any assumption proves incorrect or if Client's requirements differ materially from those described, Provider will notify Client promptly and the Parties will agree in writing to any adjustments to scope, timeline, or fees before Provider proceeds with affected work. (d) Standard of Performance. Provider will perform the Services in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with applicable industry standards, using personnel with the skills and qualifications reasonably necessary to perform the work. (e) No Other Obligations. Provider has no obligation to perform services beyond those described in subsection (a). The Parties acknowledge that this Agreement, together with any attached statements of work, constitutes the complete description of Provider's obligations.

(a) Deliverables. Your name / business name ("Provider") will produce and deliver to Client name / business name ("Client") the following deliverables in the formats or media specified: List of deliverables with format / medium for each Delivery will be made electronically unless the Parties agree otherwise in writing. (b) Acceptance Window. Client has 5 business days after Provider delivers a deliverable (the "Acceptance Window") to review it against the specifications in this Agreement and any applicable statement of work. (c) Acceptance. Client accepts a deliverable by providing Provider with written notice of acceptance, or by using the deliverable in production or for its intended commercial purpose, whichever occurs first. (d) Deemed Acceptance. If Client does not deliver written notice of rejection within the Acceptance Window, the deliverable is deemed accepted as of the last day of the Acceptance Window. (e) Rejection and Revision. To reject a deliverable, Client must provide written notice within the Acceptance Window that identifies each non-conformity with the agreed specifications in reasonable detail. Vague objections or subjective dissatisfaction do not constitute valid rejection. Upon receipt of a valid rejection notice, Provider will revise and re-deliver the deliverable within 5 business days. The Parties agree that Client is entitled to 2 round(s) of revisions per deliverable at no additional charge. Revisions requested beyond that number are out of scope and subject to additional fees agreed in writing. (f) Specifications Govern. Acceptance or rejection must be based solely on whether the deliverable conforms to the specifications agreed in writing. Provider is not obligated to incorporate changes in direction, preference, or requirements that were not part of the agreed specifications unless documented in a change order.

(a) Schedule. Your name / business name ("Provider") will begin performing the Services on or around Anticipated project start date and will target the following milestones and delivery dates: Milestones, deliverables, and target dates All dates are estimates unless a specific date is expressly designated as a firm deadline in a signed statement of work. (b) Provider Delays. If Provider reasonably anticipates that it will miss a milestone or delivery date for reasons within its control, Provider will notify Client name / business name ("Client") in writing within 2 days of becoming aware of the delay, including a revised projected completion date and the reason for the delay. Provider will use commercially reasonable efforts to recover schedule where practicable. (c) Client-Caused Delays. Provider's obligations to meet any milestone or deadline are contingent on Client providing timely approvals, information, materials, and access as reasonably required. If Client fails to respond to Provider's written requests within 5 business days, or otherwise causes or contributes to a delay: (i) all affected milestones and delivery dates will automatically extend day-for-day by the period of Client's delay; (ii) Provider will have no liability for missing any deadline to the extent caused by Client's delay; and (iii) if the delay materially disrupts Provider's resource scheduling, Provider may invoice Client for reasonable additional costs incurred as a result, such as standby time or costs to remobilize. (d) Third-Party and Force Majeure Delays. Delays caused by third-party service providers, suppliers, or force majeure events will not be attributed to Provider. Provider will notify Client promptly and the Parties will work together in good faith to adjust the schedule. (e) Schedule Changes. Any change to a firm deadline requires a written change order signed by both Parties. Changes to estimated dates may be agreed by written confirmation (including email) between the Parties' authorized representatives.

(a) Fees. Client agrees to pay Your name / business name ("Provider") the following fees for the Services: Fee amount and structure (e.g., fixed price, hourly rate, retainer) (b) Invoicing. Provider will issue invoices in accordance with the fee schedule described in subsection (a). Each invoice will describe the work or milestone to which it relates in reasonable detail. (c) Payment Due Date. Client will pay each invoice within 30 days of the invoice date ("Due Date"). Payments must be made in US dollars unless the Parties agree otherwise in writing. (d) Late Payment Interest. If Client fails to pay any amount by the Due Date, the overdue balance will accrue interest at the rate of 1.5% per month (or the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, whichever is lower) from the Due Date until paid in full. Interest accrues daily and compounds monthly. (e) Right to Suspend. If any invoice remains unpaid for more than 10 days after its Due Date, Provider may, after giving 10 days' prior written notice to Client name / business name ("Client") and provided the invoice has not been paid during that notice period, suspend all work under this Agreement without liability until all overdue amounts (including accrued interest) are paid in full. Any deadlines, milestones, or delivery dates affected by a suspension will be extended by the duration of the suspension plus a reasonable remobilization period. (f) Disputed Invoices. If Client disputes any portion of an invoice in good faith, Client must (i) pay the undisputed portion by the Due Date and (ii) notify Provider in writing of the disputed amount and the basis for the dispute within 30 days of the invoice date. The Parties will work together in good faith to resolve disputes promptly. (g) Expenses. Unless otherwise stated, fees do not include out-of-pocket expenses. Reasonable pre-approved expenses will be invoiced at cost with supporting documentation.

(a) General Cooperation Obligation. Client agrees to: (i) provide timely responses to Provider's reasonable requests for information, decisions, approvals, and clarifications within 5 business days of Provider's request; (ii) designate a primary point of contact with authority to make decisions and provide approvals; (iii) provide Provider with necessary access to environments, systems, credentials, and facilities reasonably required for Provider's performance; and (iv) cooperate with Provider in good faith to facilitate Provider's performance of the Services. (b) Delay Consequences. If Client's failure to fulfill any responsibility or provide required information, access, approvals, or materials causes delay to Provider's performance: (i) the applicable delivery dates and milestones shall be extended by the duration of the delay plus any additional time reasonably required by Provider to resume performance; (ii) Provider may, in its sole discretion, suspend performance until Client cures such failure, provided Provider gives Client 5 business days' prior written notice; and (iii) Client shall pay Provider's additional fees and expenses incurred as a result of the delay, including without limitation standby time at the rate of $Standby Hourly Rate per hour and costs to remobilize resources.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNERSHIP (a) Background IP. Each party retains all right, title, and interest in its Background IP. "Background IP" means all intellectual property owned or licensed by a party prior to the Effective Date or developed independently of this Agreement. Each party grants the other a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use its Background IP solely to the extent necessary to perform or receive the Services during the term of this Agreement. (b) Deliverables — Work-for-Hire Designation. To the extent that any Deliverable constitutes a "work made for hire" as defined in 17 U.S.C. § 101 (including as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation, as an instructional text, as a test, as answer material for a test, or as an atlas), such Deliverable is a work made for hire for Client name / business name, and Client name / business name will be the author and owner of the copyright therein from the moment of creation. (c) Assignment. To the extent that any Deliverable does not qualify as a work made for hire, Your name / business name hereby irrevocably assigns to Client name / business name, effective upon receipt of full payment for such Deliverable, all right, title, and interest in and to such Deliverable, including all copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and other intellectual property rights worldwide, in perpetuity. (d) License for Partially-Paid Deliverables. If this Agreement terminates before Client name / business name has paid in full for a Deliverable, Your name / business name grants Client name / business name a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use that Deliverable solely for Client name / business name's internal purposes until the outstanding balance is paid, at which point the assignment in Section (c) becomes effective. (e) Agency Portfolio License. Client name / business name grants Your name / business name a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to display the Deliverables (excluding any Confidential Information) in Your name / business name's portfolio, case studies, and marketing materials, unless Client name / business name notifies Your name / business name in writing that a specific Deliverable is subject to confidentiality restrictions. (f) Third-Party Content. Your name / business name will obtain all necessary licenses for third-party content (stock images, fonts, music, software) incorporated into Deliverables, and will disclose to Client name / business name any third-party license restrictions that limit Client name / business name's use of the Deliverables. (g) Moral Rights. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Your name / business name waives all moral rights in the Deliverables in favor of Client name / business name. (h) Agency Tools & Methodologies. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Your name / business name retains all right, title, and interest in its proprietary tools, templates, methodologies, know-how, and general processes used to create the Deliverables. Client name / business name's rights are limited to the Deliverables themselves.

CONFIDENTIALITY (a) Definition. "Confidential Information" means all non-public information disclosed by one party ("Discloser") to the other ("Recipient") in connection with this Agreement that is designated as confidential at the time of disclosure, or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential given the nature of the information and circumstances of disclosure. Without limiting the foregoing, Confidential Information includes: business plans, financial data, pricing, fee structures, customer and prospect lists, proprietary methodologies, software, technical specifications, and personnel information. (b) Exclusions. Confidential Information does not include information that: (i) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of Recipient; (ii) Recipient already knew before receiving it from Discloser, as shown by written records; (iii) Recipient independently develops without use of or reference to the Confidential Information; or (iv) Recipient rightfully receives from a third party without restriction. (c) Obligations. Recipient will: (i) use Discloser's Confidential Information solely to perform or receive the Services under this Agreement; (ii) disclose it only to its employees, contractors, and advisors who have a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations no less protective than this clause; and (iii) protect it with at least the same degree of care it uses for its own confidential information of similar sensitivity, but in no event less than reasonable care. (d) Compelled Disclosure. Recipient may disclose Confidential Information if required by law, court order, or regulatory authority, provided that Recipient: (i) gives Discloser prompt prior written notice to the extent legally permitted; (ii) cooperates with Discloser in seeking a protective order or other appropriate relief; and (iii) discloses only what is legally required. (e) Trade Secrets. Obligations with respect to information that constitutes a trade secret under applicable law (including the Defend Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1836) will continue for as long as such information remains a trade secret, notwithstanding any shorter survival period stated below. (f) Subcontractors. Your name / business name may share Client name / business name's Confidential Information with approved subcontractors solely to the extent necessary for them to perform work under this Agreement, provided each subcontractor is bound by written confidentiality obligations at least as protective as this clause. (g) Return or Destruction. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, or upon Discloser's written request, Recipient will promptly return or securely destroy all of Discloser's Confidential Information (including copies) and certify such return or destruction in writing, except as required by law or for legal-hold purposes. (h) Survival. This Section survives termination or expiration of this Agreement for a period of 3 years, except as provided in Section (e).

WARRANTIES 1. Express Warranties — Provider. Provider warrants that: (a) Authority and Right to Contract. Provider has the full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid, and binding obligation of Provider, enforceable against Provider in accordance with its terms. (b) Professional Workmanship. The Services will be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner, consistent with generally accepted industry standards for similar services, by personnel with the requisite skill, experience, and qualifications. (c) Compliance with Laws. Provider's performance of the Services and Provider's provision of any Deliverables will comply in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations in effect as of the date of performance or delivery. (d) No Conflicting Obligations. Provider's execution of this Agreement and performance of its obligations hereunder do not and will not conflict with, violate, or result in a breach of any other agreement to which Provider is a party or by which Provider is bound. 2. Express Warranties — Client. Client warrants that: (a) Authority and Right to Contract. Client has the full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid, and binding obligation of Client, enforceable against Client in accordance with its terms. (b) Ownership of Client Materials. Client owns or has sufficient rights to provide to Provider all data, content, materials, credentials, and other information furnished by Client to Provider for use in performing the Services ("Client Materials"), and Provider's use of Client Materials as authorized under this Agreement will not infringe or misappropriate any third party's intellectual property or other proprietary rights. (c) Compliance with Laws. Client's use of the Services and any Deliverables will comply in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations. 3. Warranty Period and Remedy. The warranties in Sections 1(b) and 1(c) are effective as of the date of delivery or performance and continue for 90 days thereafter (the "Warranty Period"). Client must provide written notice of any breach of warranty within the Warranty Period, specifying the nature of the breach in reasonable detail. Provider's sole obligation, and Client's sole remedy, for breach of the warranties in Sections 1(b) and 1(c) is for Provider to re-perform the non-conforming Services or correct the non-conforming Deliverables at no additional charge to Client. If Provider is unable to re-perform or correct the non-conforming Services or Deliverables within 10 days after receipt of Client's written notice, Client may terminate the applicable Statement of Work and receive a refund of fees paid for the non-conforming Services or Deliverables, less any value received by Client from conforming portions of the Services or Deliverables. 4. Disclaimer of Implied Warranties. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION, PROVIDER MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. PROVIDER DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES OR DELIVERABLES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR COMPLETELY SECURE, OR THAT ALL ERRORS OR DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED. PROVIDER DOES NOT WARRANT ANY RESULTS, OUTCOMES, OR BENEFITS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM USE OF THE SERVICES OR DELIVERABLES. 5. Third-Party Products and Services. Provider disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to any third-party software, hardware, platforms, APIs, or services incorporated into or used in connection with the Services or Deliverables, except to the extent Provider has the right to pass through any warranty provided by the third-party vendor. Provider's sole obligation with respect to third-party products and services is to use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with Client in pursuing any warranty claims available from the applicable third-party vendor. 6. Limitation on Warranty Claims. The warranties in this Section are made solely for the benefit of Client and may not be assigned or transferred to any third party without Provider's prior written consent. No warranty extends beyond the Warranty Period. Client's failure to provide timely written notice of a warranty breach within the Warranty Period constitutes a waiver of any claim relating to that breach. 7. No Warranty for Client Modifications. The warranties in Sections 1(b) and 1(c) do not apply to, and Provider has no liability for, any defect, error, or non-conformity arising out of or related to: (a) modifications to the Services or Deliverables made by Client or any third party other than Provider; (b) Client's failure to implement updates, patches, or fixes provided by Provider; (c) use of the Services or Deliverables in a manner inconsistent with Provider's instructions or Documentation; (d) Client's combination or integration of the Services or Deliverables with any third-party product, service, or data not approved in writing by Provider; or (e) any breach of Client's obligations or warranties under this Agreement.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY (a) Exclusion of Consequential Damages. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, neither party will be liable to the other for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages — including lost profits, lost revenue, loss of business opportunity, loss of data, or harm to reputation — arising out of or related to this Agreement, even if the party has been advised of the possibility of such damages and even if a limited remedy fails of its essential purpose. (b) Aggregate Cap. Each party's total aggregate liability to the other arising out of or related to this Agreement — whether in contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability, or otherwise — will not exceed the total fees actually paid or payable by Client name / business name to Your name / business name during the Cap look-back period (months)-month period immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim, or Minimum cap floor amount (e.g. $5,000), whichever is greater. (c) Exceptions. The limitations in Sections (a) and (b) do not apply to: (i) a party's obligation to indemnify the other for third-party claims of intellectual property infringement under the Mutual Indemnification clause; (ii) liability arising from a party's gross negligence or willful misconduct; (iii) a party's obligations under the Data Protection and Confidentiality clauses with respect to a data breach caused by that party's failure to maintain reasonable security; or (iv) a party's obligation to pay amounts owed under this Agreement. (d) Basis of the Bargain. Each party acknowledges that the limitations in this Section reflect a reasonable allocation of risk, are an essential element of the basis of the bargain between the parties, and that Your name / business name would not have entered into this Agreement without these limitations.

MUTUAL INDEMNIFICATION (a) Agency Indemnification. Your name / business name will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Client name / business name and its officers, directors, employees, and agents ("Client Indemnitees") from and against any third-party claims, suits, proceedings, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) ("Losses") arising out of or related to: (i) any material breach by Your name / business name of its representations, warranties, or obligations under this Agreement; (ii) Your name / business name's infringement of a third party's intellectual property rights through materials created solely by Your name / business name and not based on Client-supplied content; (iii) Your name / business name's violation of applicable law in performing the Services; or (iv) Your name / business name's gross negligence or willful misconduct. (b) Client Indemnification. Client name / business name will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Your name / business name and its officers, directors, employees, subcontractors, and agents ("Agency Indemnitees") from and against any Losses arising out of or related to: (i) any material breach by Client name / business name of its representations, warranties, or obligations under this Agreement; (ii) Client-supplied materials, content, product claims, pricing information, images, or data that infringe a third party's intellectual property rights or constitute false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims under applicable law; (iii) Client name / business name's violation of applicable law; or (iv) Client name / business name's gross negligence or willful misconduct. (c) Indemnification Procedure. The indemnified party will: (i) promptly notify the indemnifying party in writing of any claim for which indemnification is sought (provided that delay in notice reduces the indemnification obligation only to the extent the indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by the delay); (ii) give the indemnifying party sole control of the defense and settlement of the claim, provided that no settlement that imposes any obligation, restriction, or liability on the indemnified party may be entered without the indemnified party's prior written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld; and (iii) provide reasonable cooperation and assistance at the indemnifying party's expense. (d) Interaction with Liability Cap. The indemnification obligations in this Section are subject to the aggregate liability cap set forth in the Limitation of Liability clause, except for claims arising from a party's gross negligence or willful misconduct, which are not subject to that cap.

(a) Termination for Material Breach. Either Party may terminate this Agreement upon written notice if the other Party commits a material breach of this Agreement and fails to cure that breach within 10 days after receiving written notice that specifically describes the breach and demands cure ("Cure Period"). If the breaching Party cures the breach within the Cure Period, the Agreement will continue in full force. Termination under this subsection does not limit any other remedy available to the non-breaching Party. (b) Termination for Convenience. Either Party may terminate this Agreement without cause by providing the other Party with at least 14 days' prior written notice. During the notice period, Your name / business name ("Provider") will continue to perform the Services and Client name / business name ("Client") will continue to pay for Services rendered, unless the Parties agree in writing to wind down work sooner. (c) Payment for Work Performed. Upon any termination of this Agreement, Client will pay Provider, within 30 days after the effective termination date, all fees and approved expenses for work performed and costs incurred through the termination date that have not yet been invoiced or paid. Provider will submit a final invoice within 10 days after the termination date. For fixed-price engagements, payment will be prorated based on the proportion of work completed relative to the total scope. (d) Return of Materials. Each Party will, promptly after termination, return or securely destroy the other Party's confidential information and materials in its possession, and will certify such return or destruction in writing upon request. (e) Survival. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination — including payment obligations, confidentiality, intellectual property ownership, limitation of liability, and governing law — will survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; VENUE (a) Governing Law. This Agreement and any dispute arising out of or related to it — including its formation, interpretation, performance, breach, or termination — will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Governing law state (e.g. New York), without regard to its conflict-of-law provisions. (b) Consent to Jurisdiction. Each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Venue county (e.g. New York) County, Governing law state (e.g. New York) for any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement that is not subject to arbitration under the Dispute Resolution clause (if any). (c) Venue. Each party waives any objection to the laying of venue in the courts identified in Section (b), and waives any claim that such courts are an inconvenient forum. (d) Service of Process. Service of process in any such action may be made by any method authorized by the applicable court rules or by mailing a copy of the summons and complaint by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the party's address set forth in this Agreement. (e) Prevailing Party. In any dispute arising under this Agreement, the prevailing party is entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs from the non-prevailing party, unless the parties have agreed to a different allocation in the Dispute Resolution clause.

13.1 General Restriction. Neither Party may assign, delegate, or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, without the other Party's prior written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. 13.2 M&A Exception. Notwithstanding Section 13.1, either Party may assign this Agreement without consent in connection with a merger, acquisition, change of control, or sale of all or substantially all of the assets to which this Agreement relates, provided that: (a) the assignee assumes all obligations of the assigning Party under this Agreement; and (b) the assigning Party provides the other Party written notice within thirty (30) days of the assignment. 13.3 Void Assignment. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section is void. 13.4 Binding Effect. This Agreement is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the Parties and their permitted successors and assigns.

14.1 Form. All notices, requests, demands, consents, and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement ("Notices") must be in writing. 14.2 Delivery Methods. Notices may be delivered by: (a) personal delivery; (b) nationally recognized overnight courier (e.g., FedEx, UPS); (c) certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (d) email to the address specified below, provided that the sender retains proof of transmission and does not receive an automated bounce or delivery-failure notification within twenty-four (24) hours. 14.3 Effectiveness. Notices are effective: (a) upon personal delivery; (b) one (1) business day after deposit with overnight courier; (c) three (3) business days after deposit in the mail; or (d) on the day of email transmission if sent by 5:00 PM recipient's local time on a business day, or on the next business day if sent after 5:00 PM or on a non-business day. 14.4 Addresses. To Provider: Your name / business name, Provider Notice Address, Email: Provider Legal/Notice Email To Customer: Client name / business name, Customer Notice Address, Email: Customer Legal/Notice Email Either Party may change its notice address by providing written notice to the other in accordance with this Section.

15.1 Integration. This Agreement, together with all SOWs, Change Orders, and exhibits executed hereunder, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, negotiations, representations, warranties, and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the same subject matter. 15.2 No Oral Modifications. No oral statement, prior course of dealing, trade usage, or conduct will be used to supplement, interpret, or contradict the written terms of this Agreement. 15.3 Purchase Orders. Any terms set forth in Customer's purchase orders, vendor registration forms, or similar documents are of no force or effect and do not modify this Agreement unless expressly incorporated into a signed SOW or Change Order. 15.4 Results Representations. Customer acknowledges that no employee, agent, or representative of Provider has authority to guarantee specific results or outcomes, and that any such representation made outside this Agreement is not binding on Provider.

16.1 Electronic Signatures. This Agreement and any SOW or amendment may be signed by electronic signature, including signatures created through E-Signature Platform (e.g., DocuSign, HelloSign) or any other electronic signature service compliant with the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN Act), 15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq., and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) as enacted in the applicable jurisdiction. Electronic signatures have the same legal effect as original handwritten signatures. 16.2 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart by electronic transmission (including PDF or electronic signature platform delivery) is equally effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart.

The parties are independent contractors with respect to each other. This Agreement does not create a partnership, franchise, joint venture, agency, fiduciary, or employment relationship between the parties. (a) No Authority to Bind. Neither party has the authority to bind the other or to incur any obligation on the other party's behalf without the other party's prior written consent. (b) No Employment Benefits. Neither party nor its personnel are entitled to any employee benefits from the other party, including without limitation health insurance, retirement benefits, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, paid time off, or other benefits provided to the other party's employees. Each party is solely responsible for all taxes, withholdings, and employment-related obligations with respect to its own personnel. (c) No Partnership or Joint Venture. The parties expressly disclaim any intent to form a partnership or joint venture. Neither party shall hold itself out as a partner or joint venturer of the other party, nor shall either party be liable for any debts, obligations, or liabilities incurred by the other party. (d) Subcontractors. Provider shall not engage subcontractors or delegate any obligations under this Agreement without Client's prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. If Client consents to Provider's use of subcontractors, Provider shall remain fully liable for the performance of all obligations under this Agreement and for the acts and omissions of its subcontractors.