Contract translation that survives both legal systems
Contracts are binding. Every term, condition and obligation must survive translation intact, not just linguistically but legally. We translate contracts between English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Dutch and other European languages.
Why contracts require specialist translation
General translators, even highly skilled ones, may render a contract in grammatically correct target language while accidentally changing the legal effect of a clause. Legal terminology is jurisdictionally specific: a "guarantor" in English common law has different implications from a "fiador" in Spanish civil law. The translator must understand the source system, understand the target system, and make informed decisions about how to bridge them.
Our contract translators are legal linguists who work with contracts daily. They recognise boilerplate, know which terms are negotiated, and understand the difference between a term of art and a plain-language description.
Types of contracts we translate
Commercial contracts: supply agreements, distribution agreements, service agreements, licensing and joint venture agreements. Employment contracts: individual employment agreements, collective bargaining agreements, non-compete and non-solicitation clauses. NDAs and confidentiality agreements: for M&A transactions, partnerships, vendor onboarding and investor relations.
Lease and property agreements: commercial leases and residential contracts, particularly relevant for cross-border transactions in Spain. Terms and conditions: commercial T&Cs, SaaS agreements and platform terms of service. Settlement agreements: dispute resolution documents, mediation outcomes and arbitration awards.
Who we translate contracts for
Orion Translations provides contract translation from Barcelona for law firms preparing cross-border transactions, corporate legal departments managing international subsidiaries, procurement teams onboarding foreign suppliers, and HR departments hiring across jurisdictions. For contracts that must be submitted to a Spanish court, notary or public registry, we provide MAEC-accredited sworn translation; for private business use, a standard professional legal translation is usually sufficient, and we advise which applies at the quote stage.
How we keep your contract watertight
Every contract passes through a two-stage process: translation by a legal linguist working into their native language, then revision by a second legal specialist checking terminology, cross-references, defined terms and numbering against the source. Defined terms are tracked so "the Supplier", "the Services" and every capitalised term stay consistent from recitals to signature block. Where the contract exists in two language versions, we can align both texts clause by clause so the prevailing-language provision does not hide surprises. Everything is handled under strict confidentiality, with NDAs signed on request.
Common cross-border scenarios we handle
A UK company appointing a Spanish distributor needs the distribution agreement to function under both readings. A German manufacturer hiring in Barcelona needs employment terms that match Spanish labour law vocabulary precisely. A startup raising internationally needs its NDAs and term sheets understood identically by investors on both sides. A property purchase in Spain needs the arras contract and the escritura rendered so the foreign buyer knows exactly what they are signing before the notary appointment. These are the situations our legal linguists work in every week.
If your deal has a signing date, tell us at the quote stage: we confirm a delivery date up front and build in time for your lawyers to review the translation before anyone sits down to sign.
Related translation services
A contract translated wrong can cost you the deal. Ours hold up.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Not always. Many contracts between private parties are valid with a standard professional translation. Sworn translation is required when the contract must be submitted to a Spanish court, notary, or public registry. We can advise which applies to your situation at the quote stage.
- Turnaround depends on the contract's length and complexity. Standard commercial contracts are typically delivered within a few business days; we confirm an exact date when you share your document.
- We don't recommend it for binding legal documents. Contract translation requires understanding how legal terms function in both the source and target legal systems. A bilingual non-specialist can introduce errors that change the contract's legal effect without realising it.
- Commercial contracts, employment agreements, NDAs, lease and property agreements, terms and conditions, and settlement agreements. See the full list above for details.
- Yes. All contract translation projects are handled under strict confidentiality, with NDAs available on request.