Terms of Engagement

1. Introduction

These Terms of Engagement govern the professional relationship between Olive Tree Consulting Group ("the Firm", "we", "us") and clients ("you"). By engaging the Firm, you agree to these terms. Specific scope, deliverables, timeline, and fees are set out in an engagement letter for each project. These terms apply alongside and supplement any such engagement letter.

2. Our services

We provide management advisory services including strategic counsel, organizational analysis, and related professional advisory work. The specific nature and scope of services for any engagement are defined in the engagement letter, which is agreed in writing before work begins.

We reserve the right to decline or discontinue engagements where we determine that we cannot add genuine value, or where circumstances have changed materially from those described at the outset.

3. Fees and payment

Fees for each engagement are set out in the relevant engagement letter. Unless otherwise agreed, invoices are issued monthly or at agreed milestones. Payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date.

In cases of non-payment, we reserve the right to suspend work until outstanding invoices are settled. Disputed invoices must be raised in writing within 14 days of receipt.

Out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in connection with an engagement (travel, accommodation, data services) will be invoiced at cost with supporting receipts, unless otherwise agreed.

4. Confidentiality

We treat all client information as strictly confidential. We do not disclose client identities, engagement details, or any information shared during an engagement, in any form, to any party, without the client's explicit written consent. This obligation applies to all members of our team and any specialists engaged in connection with client work.

Confidentiality obligations survive the termination or completion of any engagement indefinitely.

We ask that clients treat our methodologies, frameworks, and working materials with equivalent discretion.

5. Client responsibilities

The quality of our work depends directly on the quality and completeness of information available to us. Clients are responsible for providing accurate, complete, and timely information relevant to the engagement. We cannot accept responsibility for conclusions or recommendations based on information that was inaccurate or withheld.

Clients are responsible for their own decisions. Our role is advisory. We provide analysis, judgment, and recommendations. The decision to act on them, and accountability for the outcomes of those decisions, rests with the client.

6. Intellectual property

All deliverables produced specifically for a client engagement become the property of the client upon full payment of the fees for that engagement.

Our background methodologies, frameworks, analytical tools, and general intellectual property developed independently of any specific engagement remain the property of the Firm. Clients may use deliverables for their internal purposes but may not represent our methodologies as their own or commercialize our frameworks without written consent.

7. Independence

We maintain full independence from all technology vendors, software providers, recruitment firms, and other third parties. We do not accept commissions, referral fees, or any form of payment from third parties in connection with advice given to clients. Our recommendations are based solely on what we believe to be in the client's interest.

8. Limitation of liability

Our aggregate liability in connection with any engagement, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, is limited to the total fees paid by the client for that specific engagement.

We are not liable for indirect, consequential, punitive, or special losses of any kind, including loss of profit, loss of revenue, or reputational damage, arising from or in connection with our services.

Nothing in these terms limits liability for fraud or for death or personal injury caused by negligence.

9. Termination

Either party may terminate an engagement by giving 30 days' written notice. Fees for work completed and expenses incurred up to the termination date are payable in full.

We reserve the right to terminate an engagement immediately if a client materially breaches these terms, fails to make payment when due, or if circumstances arise that would compromise our professional independence or integrity.

10. Governing law and disputes

These terms are governed by applicable law. We prefer to resolve disagreements directly and promptly.

We prefer to resolve disagreements directly and promptly. Where a dispute cannot be resolved through direct discussion, it will be submitted to binding arbitration under the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, with proceedings conducted in English.

11. Contact

Questions about these terms: contact@olive-tree-consulting.com, +1 (425) 529-3156