Would You Bet Your Business on a Hand Shake?

Lisa Temple
Sep 2
2 min read

A few of my clients have recently confessed something: they’ve sealed deals with nothing more than a handshake.

And every time, I tell them the story of Castle Restoration—a New York case from 2022 that should make every business owner’s stomach drop (Castle Restoration, LLC v. Castle Restoration & Construction, Inc., No. 016349-15 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., Suffolk Cty., Feb. 9, 2022), 2022 NY Slip Op 50082 (U), 2022 WL 402882, 2022 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 485).

Here’s what happened: Castle Restoration thought they had a “gentleman’s agreement.” They provided labor and materials, and in return, they’d get credit against a promissory note from an earlier sale. No paperwork, just trust. Just a handshake.

But when push came to shove, the court threw it out. Why? Because the original contract required all modifications to be in writing. That handshake wasn’t worth the paper it wasn’t written on. Castle Restoration lost both the work they performed and the money they expected. Gone.

Now pause and imagine it’s you. You trust a partner. You shake hands. You walk away confident. Weeks later, the deal crumbles. Memories blur. The other side disputes what was “really said.” And you? You’re left holding the bag.

That’s the seduction, and the danger, of handshake deals: they feel solid in the moment but dissolve into smoke when tested.

Why Consistent Legal Advice Just Makes Sense

Prevention beats cure every time: A well-drafted agreement today saves you from litigation tomorrow.
Sleep through storms: You don’t lie awake wondering if someone can twist that verbal promise, because there’s no ambiguity to begin with.
Structural leverage: Want to scale, pitch, or negotiate? Knowing your legal foundation is rock-solid gives you confidence, and power.

In short: investing in forward-thinking legal counsel is like tightening your seatbelt before a crash, you (and your business) come out smarter and safer.

Why ChatGPT Cannot Be Your Lawyer

Sure, ChatGPT is agile, fast, and conversational—but here’s the hard truth:

No liability. If ChatGPT is wrong, you’re on your own.
No context. Legal nuances differ by state, industry, and contract specifics. AI lacks the situational awareness lawyers bring.
No emotional intelligence or trust. Trust isn’t just in the words—it’s in the relationship, the intent, the understanding of your business’s heartbeat.

Counting on AI for legal counsel is like disarming your fire alarm—you might get away with it. Until you don’t.

The Smarter Solution: Subscription-Based Legal Services

Here’s where logic meets peace of mind:

Predictable pricing. No surprises or billable-hour anxiety.
Habit-forming safety. Got a question? You call. No hesitation.
Accessible counsel. Spot a potential issue early and get help before it snowballs.
Flexible scaling. From startup to expansion, your retainer grows with you.

It's not just insurance—it’s empowerment. And just like you budget for energy or software, why not budget for legal clarity?

Final Thought: Choose Fireproofing Over Fires

You built your business to feel alive—not to feel undone.

So ask yourself: will you wait to get burned, or will you fireproof the foundation?

Consistent legal advice delivers peace. ChatGPT doesn’t. A subscription does.

👉 Explore our legal subscription packages here: https://www.temple-law.com/services-3.