Return to Blessing or Curse: The Right of Refusal
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Understanding how to arrange the meeting space is a key aspect of preparing for negotiation. In this video, Professor Guhan Subramanian discusses a real world example of how seating arrangements can influence a negotiator’s success. This discussion was held at the 3 day executive education workshop for senior executives at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School.
Guhan Subramanian is the Professor of Law and Business at the Harvard Law School and Professor of Business Law at the Harvard Business School.
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Renee Lloyd /
Rights of first refusal are thrown around quite liberally (and vaguely) in deals by business teams who often have little understanding of the mechanics of such clauses. Accordingly, this post does a nice job of highlighting one of the more problematic issues for the inattentive deal-maker. That said, it is also critical to highlight that the time-frame of a Right of First Refusal generally is important to track as well, lest the parties be held 'hostage' by a term for an indefinite period of time. Good deal makers understand that taking time up front to address critical detail saves time (and lots of $$) in the long run.
jeff brown /
The first type of right of first refusal may make the property essentially unmarketable--in a sale of a property encumbered by such a right, one then has to negotiate with a buyer, reach a price and then tell the buyer to hold that thought while someone else decides whether or not they want to take advantage of the deal the buyer has struck. Many potential buyers are reluctant to enter that game--the lower the price they negotiate, the more likely they are to lose.
Genghiz /
Hello Jeff, One would assume that before the property goes to market the seller would have already negotiate he right of refusal withy the potential buyer. Am I wrong here? Genghiz
Anne-Sophie Sayman /
Dear friends, I believe right of refusal is an extraordinary asset IF you really want to regain access to the property, for example. More for an emotional or practical reason as a business move it is not necessarily the smartest since you are already showing the future potential buyer your level in interest... extremely high. You have very little leverage. In the case that you do not compete against yourself, you compete against others, which is as dangerous since bluffing (false potential buyer with high offer) can push you to make a stronger offer.... In conclusion, I would say that if you want it that bad, in the end, you will probably pay it more, unless the asset you want is UNWANTED by anyone else....