Cian BrennanFounder, Quantum Contract Solutions · Founder

Not all that you sign protects you.

Name: Not all that you sign protects you.
Uploaded: 2026-02-04T04:00:38+00:00
Duration: 47 s
Channel: Cian Brennan
Description: In this concise video, the speaker warns subcontractors about the hidden dangers of poorly drafted indemnity clauses. He explains that an indemnity…

4 Feb 2026 · 1 min

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In this concise video, the speaker warns subcontractors about the hidden dangers of poorly drafted indemnity clauses. He explains that an indemnity clause determines who pays for damage or injury linked to the work, and that overly broad, one‑way clauses can turn a subcontractor into an effective insurer, exposing them to unlimited, unpriced liabilities. The speaker advocates for narrowly defined, reciprocal indemnities that limit liability to damage caused by the subcontractor’s own work and advise that any clause that does not explicitly restrict liability should be rejected, as it places the subcontractor in an unexpected financial trap.

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As a subcontractor, a bad indemnity clause doesn't protect the client. It makes you the insurer for whatever goes wrong on site. An indemnity clause is basically who pays if there is damage, injury linked to the work. So it sounds fair until the wording quietly turns into you cover everything, even if it's not your fault. The rule is simple: a well-defined indemnity should limit your liability to damage caused by your own work. And the safest version is specific, plus reciprocal, which means it's for both of you guys, right? And each party covers its own risk. Because when indemnities get broad and one-way, you don't just take on risk, you walk into unexpected liabilities and financial traps you never even priced. And so if a clause doesn't clearly say only damage caused by your work, you shouldn't be signing a subcontractor, because you're not signing up to be everybody's safety net.