Legal translation services for contracts: ISO 17100 risk control, confidentiality & turnaround
Legal translation services for contracts that balance risk, confidentiality and speed. Our ISO 17100 process (TEP), NDAs and clear SLAs keep your deals moving.
Table of Contents
Why contract translations carry unique risk
Cross-border contracts are dense with defined terms, exhibits and governing-law nuances. Ambiguity becomes liability. That’s why we assign specialist legal linguists and use a second-linguist review to eliminate interpretation drift. Our team and workflow are purpose-built for agreements—MSAs, NDAs, SaaS terms, supplier contracts, distribution agreements and more. See our dedicated legal translation service page for scope and sector coverage.
We keep reviewers aligned with your commercial intent and house style through client-approved glossaries and style guides. Explore how we manage glossaries and coherence here: customised glossaries and glossaries & coherence.
How ISO 17100 powers legal translation services for contracts
Our legal translation services for contracts are delivered under ISO 17100, the international standard that defines translation processes, competencies and resources. It formalises the TEP workflow—Translation, independent Editing and Proofreading—so a second qualified linguist reviews the work before delivery. This dual-linguist safeguard materially reduces risk on binding language, definitions and remedies. (iso.org)
At M21Global, the ISO 17100 model sits inside a broader quality system: project set-up, mandated reviewer independence, and documented checks for figures, exhibits and cross-references. Read more about our ISO 17100 certification and our internal quality control and rigorous review practices.
Legal translation services for contracts and terminology governance
Legal translation services for contracts depend on stable terminology. We build and maintain bilingual termbases for each account, enforce term consistency during TEP, and update them after each project (continuous improvement). This prevents drift across frameworks, schedules and future amendments, and it shortens review cycles for counsel. Our focus on continuous improvement and textual coherence keeps every new matter aligned with precedent.
Confidentiality by design: NDAs, GDPR and secure workflows
We sign mutual NDAs and enforce least-privilege access for every project. For personal data within contracts (e.g., DPAs, SCCs), we operate as a processor under GDPR, with contractual commitments and technical/organizational measures that preserve confidentiality and integrity. Article 28 requires processors to offer “sufficient guarantees” and flow down the same obligations to any sub-processors—exactly how we structure our supply chain. ([privacy-regulation.eu](https://www.privacy-regulation.eu/en/article-28-processor-GDPR.htm? “Article 28 EU GDPR \”Processor\””))
We also align with recognized NDA best practices from legal bodies (clear definition of confidential information, appropriate duration, and carve-outs that do not hinder normal business). (sra.org.uk)
Where needed, we can scope extra controls: encrypted channels, restricted reviewers, and country-specific data residency.
For certified quality beyond human review, we also maintain ISO 18587 for post-editing of machine translation—useful for low-risk, high-volume annexes when speed is critical.
Turnaround SLAs: urgent vs. standard, without cutting corners
Deadlines are real in deals. We offer standard and urgent SLAs that keep the ISO TEP steps intact. Our translation services hub explains service levels; we scale with parallel linguist teams and staged deliveries for complex contracts. When time allows, we recommend the highest-assurance flow (full TEP plus legal QA). For extreme timeboxes, we still preserve a second-linguist edit and a final project-manager check—never a single-pass delivery.
What you receive: deliverables & term governance
Your deliverables include:
- Final bilingual files (source/target), redlines showing edits, and a clean target version.
- Updated termbase and a mini style sheet (capitalization, defined terms, boilerplate).
- A short risk memo highlighting flagged clauses and translation assumptions (if scoped).
- Optional DTP for contract templates or branded addenda.
See our broader technical rigor and deadlines & quality policies.
Pricing & when you need certified or sworn translations
Most B2B contract work needs professional TEP, not certification. However, certain filings or jurisdictions may require a certificate of accuracy or sworn translation. UK professional bodies specify certificate elements (true and accurate statement, date, translator/company identity and contact details). Requirements vary by venue, so we confirm before kickoff. (iti.org.uk)
If you do need a certified or sworn deliverable, we’ll route via our certified translations team and advise on notary/legalisation steps where applicable.
Comparison tables
Table 1 — Requirements & QA (TEP vs. shortcuts)
| Item | ISO 17100 TEP (Standard) | Shortcut (Not Recommended) |
|---|---|---|
| Linguists | Translator + independent editor | Single translator |
| Checks | Terminology, legal style, figures, cross-refs | Limited spell/grammar |
| Risk | Lowest practical risk for binding text | Elevated misinterpretation risk |
| Compliance | Meets ISO 17100 requirements | Does not meet ISO 17100 |
Source for ISO 17100 requirements. (iso.org)
Table 2 — Deliverables & SLAs
| Deliverable | Standard SLA | Urgent SLA |
|---|---|---|
| Clean target + tracked changes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bilingual review notes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Updated termbase | ✓ | ✓ (post-delivery update if phased) |
| Reviewer call with counsel | Optional | Optional |
| Data-handling memo (GDPR Art. 28) | On request | On request |
Reference on GDPR processor obligations. ([privacy-regulation.eu](https://www.privacy-regulation.eu/en/article-28-processor-GDPR.htm? “Article 28 EU GDPR \”Processor\””))
CTA: request a fast, secure quote
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FAQ
Q1. What makes legal translation services for contracts different from other legal content?
Contract language is performative—it triggers obligations, rights and remedies. That’s why we staff sector-savvy legal linguists and insist on a second-linguist edit under ISO 17100. The TEP sequence adds independence: the editor hasn’t seen the draft and reads it like opposing counsel would, catching ambiguities, misapplied defined terms or scope creep in limitation-of-liability language. For recurring frameworks (MSAs, DPAs, SOWs), we lock terminology and boilerplate in a termbase to stabilise meaning across amendments. This reduces rework for in-house counsel and speeds sign-off. (iso.org)
When required by venue (e.g., a registrar or notarial authority), we can attach a certificate of accuracy or escalate to sworn translation. We’ll advise at scoping time and route via our certified team to avoid surprises. (iti.org.uk)
Q2. How do you protect confidentiality when handling sensitive agreements and annexes?
We start with a mutual NDA that defines “Confidential Information” appropriately and avoids onerous restrictions on normal operations. Access is limited by role; files move via encrypted channels with audit trails. Where contracts contain personal data (e.g., DPAs, SCCs), GDPR Article 28 applies; we act as a processor, sign DPAs as needed, and ensure sub-processors are bound to the same obligations. We can apply additional controls—on-premise processing, country residency, or segmented teams—for highly sensitive deals. (sra.org.uk)
We also educate clients about NDA pitfalls flagged by regulators and professional bodies—unclear scope, excessive duration, or gagging effects. Our templates and playbooks reflect these cautions and keep confidentiality clauses proportionate to purpose. (sra.org.uk)
Q3. Can you meet urgent deadlines without skipping ISO steps?
Yes—by scaling the team, staging deliveries, and organising parallel review while keeping the independent edit. Our “urgent” SLA adds coordination resources, not shortcuts. We’ve built processes to maintain reviewer independence and preserve final PM checks even in compressed windows. For long annexes where risk is low (e.g., technical schedules), we can combine human translation with ISO 18587-governed post-editing to increase throughput safely, always disclosing scope and residual risks. See our translation services overview and ISO 18587 page.
Q4. Do we always need certified or sworn translations for contracts?
No. Most commercial agreements only need professional, ISO 17100 TEP output and, if desired, a simple certificate of accuracy. Certification rules vary by jurisdiction and venue, so we verify before work starts. UK bodies (ITI/CIOL/ATC) recommend that certificates state “true and accurate”, include the date, and identify the translator or translation company with contact details—elements we can provide as standard. If a court or authority requires sworn or notarised translation, we arrange it and advise on legalisation or apostille as applicable. (iti.org.uk)
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