Ready-to-use case file templates
# Matter: [Brief Description]
## Client
- **Name**: [Client Name]
- **Type**: [Individual/Company]
- **Contact**: [Email/Phone]
- **Industry**: [If relevant]
## Opposing Party
- **Name**: [Party Name]
- **Type**: [Individual/Company]
- **Counsel**: [If known]
## Matter Summary
[2-3 sentences describing the legal issue]
## Key Facts
1. [Key fact 1]
2. [Key fact 2]
3. [Key fact 3]
## Legal Issues
- [Issue 1]
- [Issue 2]
## Key Documents
- [Document 1] ([Date])
- [Document 2] ([Date])
## Status
- **Phase**: [Intake/Research/Strategy/Drafting/Review/Filing]
- **Next Steps**: [What needs to be done]
- **Deadline**: [Next deadline]
## Update Log
### [Date] - [Initials]
- [What was done/decided]# Litigation: [Case Name] v. [Defendant]
## Parties
### Plaintiff (Our Client)
- **Name**: [Name]
- **Type**: [Individual/Company]
- **Residence/Domicile**: [Canton]
### Defendant
- **Name**: [Name]
- **Type**: [Individual/Company]
- **Residence/Domicile**: [Canton]
- **Counsel**: [Lawyer/Firm]
## Court
- **Court**: [Court name, e.g., "Obergericht Zürich"]
- **Case Number**: [If assigned]
- **Judge**: [If known]
## Claims
1. **Claim 1**: [Description] - CHF [Amount]
2. **Claim 2**: [Description] - CHF [Amount]
**Total Claimed**: CHF [Total]
## Key Facts
1. [Fact with date]
2. [Fact with date]
3. [Fact with date]
## Legal Issues
### Primary
- [Main legal question]
### Secondary
- [Secondary issues]
## Procedural History
- **[Date]**: [Filing/Event]
- **[Date]**: [Filing/Event]
## Evidence
### Documents
- [Document 1]: [Relevance]
- [Document 2]: [Relevance]
### Witnesses
- [Name]: [What they can testify to]
## Strategy
### Our Position
[Our legal theory]
### Opposing Position
[Their likely arguments]
### Key Precedents
1. **BGE [citation]**: [Relevance]
2. **[Citation]**: [Relevance]
## Next Steps
1. [Step 1] - Due: [Date]
2. [Step 2] - Due: [Date]
## Status
- **Phase**: [Pleading/Discovery/Exchange/Evidence/Decision/Appeal]
- **Last Activity**: [Date and what]
- **Next Deadline**: [Date and what]
## Update Log
### [Date] - [Initials]
- [Update]# Contract Review: [Contract Type]
## Client
- **Name**: [Client Name]
- **Role**: [Buyer/Seller/Landlord/Tenant/Service Provider/etc.]
## Counterparty
- **Name**: [Party Name]
- **Role**: [Other party's role]
## Contract Details
- **Type**: [Commercial Lease/Service Agreement/Sale/Employment/etc.]
- **Date**: [Contract Date]
- **Value**: [CHF Amount]
- **Duration**: [Term]
## Client's Objectives
1. [Primary objective]
2. [Secondary objective]
## Key Terms Summary
| Term | Details | Assessment |
|------|---------|------------|
| Duration | [X years] | [OK/Concern/Red Flag] |
| Value | [CHF X] | [OK/Concern/Red Flag] |
| Termination | [Notice period] | [OK/Concern/Red Flag] |
## Issues Identified
### Critical (Must Address)
1. [Issue]: [Description] → Recommendation: [What to do]
### Material (Should Address)
1. [Issue]: [Description] → Recommendation: [What to do]
### Minor (Nice to Have)
1. [Issue]: [Description] → Recommendation: [What to do]
## Negotiation Points
1. [Point 1]: Request [what] - Rationale: [why]
2. [Point 2]: Request [what] - Rationale: [why]
## Recommendation
[Sign / Negotiate / Do Not Sign]
## Status
- **Phase**: [Initial Review/Client Discussion/Negotiation/Final Review]
- **Deadline**: [Client decision needed by]
## Update Log
### [Date] - [Initials]
- [Update]# Legal Opinion: [Topic]
## Client
- **Name**: [Client Name]
- **Request Date**: [Date]
## Question Presented
[The exact legal question asked]
## Background
### Facts
1. [Relevant fact 1]
2. [Relevant fact 2]
### Context
[Why client needs this opinion]
## Legal Framework
### Statutory Basis
- [Statute]: [Relevance]
### Key Precedents
1. **BGE [citation]**: [Holding and relevance]
2. **[Citation]**: [Holding and relevance]
## Analysis
### Issue 1: [Issue]
[Analysis]
### Issue 2: [Issue]
[Analysis]
## Conclusions
1. [Conclusion 1]
2. [Conclusion 2]
## Recommendations
1. [Recommendation 1]
2. [Recommendation 2]
## Caveats
- [Limitation 1]
- [Limitation 2]
## Status
- **Phase**: [Research/Drafting/Review/Delivered]
- **Due Date**: [When client needs it]
## Update Log
### [Date] - [Initials]
- [Update]# Due Diligence: [Target Company]
## Transaction
- **Type**: [Acquisition/Investment/Merger]
- **Target**: [Company Name]
- **Deal Size**: [CHF Amount]
- **Timeline**: Signing by [Date]
## Scope
- [ ] Corporate documents
- [ ] Employment matters
- [ ] Commercial contracts
- [ ] Real estate
- [ ] Litigation
- [ ] IP/IT
- [ ] Compliance/Regulatory
## Critical Issues
### Must Resolve Before Signing
1. [Issue]: [Status] → Action: [What to do]
### Address in SPA
1. [Issue]: [Risk] → Protection: [Specific clause]
### Post-Closing Follow-up
1. [Issue]: [Action required] → Owner: [Who handles]
## Risk Matrix
| Area | Finding | Severity | Likelihood | Action |
|------|---------|----------|------------|--------|
| [Area] | [Finding] | [H/M/L] | [H/M/L] | [Action] |
## Documents Reviewed
1. [Document category]: [Status - reviewed/flagged/clean]
## Status
- **Phase**: [Intake/Review/Reporting/Negotiation/Closing]
- **Progress**: [X% complete]
- **Next Milestone**: [What and when]
## Update Log
### [Date] - [Initials]
- [Update]- ✅ Matter summary and key facts
- ✅ Parties (anonymize if highly sensitive)
- ✅ Legal issues and strategy
- ✅ Key documents and where to find them
- ✅ Status and next steps
- ✅ Deadlines
- ❌ Client contact details (use matter codes)
- ❌ Privileged communications verbatim
- ❌ Settlement negotiations specifics
- ❌ Highly sensitive details that aren't needed for context
- After client meetings: Decisions, instructions
- After major research: Key findings
- When strategy changes: New direction
- Before handoffs: Current status
- Weekly minimum: For active matters
CLAUDE.md - Current, active file
CLAUDE_archive.md - When matter closes
- Quick Start - Setting up CLAUDE.md
- Collaboration - Shared CLAUDE.md workflows
- Team Features - Multi-lawyer access