Handshakes Gone Wrong

t worked fine—until someone sued.

That’s the problem with handshake deals. They feel solid in the field. They sound fair in a meeting. But in court, if it’s not written, it’s gone.

In the oilfield, trust still rules—until trust breaks. And when the money stops flowing or a job goes wrong, everyone suddenly remembers the paperwork that never existed.

Here’s why handshake deals dominate in the field—but fail in the courtroom:

No paper trail.

No defined scope.

No payment terms set.

No agreed risk allocation.

No protection from delay.

No enforceable deadlines.

No dispute resolution language.

No written sign-off or proof.

No clarity on change orders.

No leverage when sued.

No guarantee of payment.

No clear rights if fired.

No strength when things go bad.

Handshake deals win jobs—but written ones win in court.