Conflict of Interest Agreement: Definition, Terms, Example
Jump to Section
What is a Conflict Of Interest Agreement?
A conflict of interest agreement is a document that outlines the relationship between two parties and provides protection for one party in case of a conflict of interest. It helps to protect against unfair competition and offers an unbiased way for both parties to resolve disputes amicably. A new business or partnership can help avoid potential conflicts by having all partners sign a conflict of interest agreement before any work begins.
A conflict of interest is when someone has competing interests, such as personal and professional, which could lead to unethical behavior or bias on behalf of the person with conflicting interests. Conflict of interest agreements are designed to prevent these situations by outlining what will happen if there is a dispute, so it doesn't escalate into something more.
Common Sections in Conflict Of Interest Agreements
Below is a list of common sections included in Conflict Of Interest Agreements. These sections are linked to the below sample agreement for you to explore.
Conflict Of Interest Agreement Sample
EXHIBIT 10.1
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
AGREEMENT AND POLICY
Policy on Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure of Certain Interests:
This conflict of interest policy is designed to help directors, officers, and employees of the GPods, Inc. identify situations that present potential conflicts of interest and to provide GPods, Inc. with a procedure that, if observed, will allow a transaction to be treated as valid and binding even though a director, officer, or employee has or may have a conflict of interest with respect to the transaction. In the event there is an inconsistency between the requirements and the procedures prescribed herein and those in federal or state law, the law shall control. All capitalized terms are defined in Part 2 of this policy.
1. Conflict of Interest Defined. For purposes of this policy, the following circumstances shall be deemed to create Conflicts of Interest:
A. Outside Interests.
(i) A Contract or Transaction between GPods, Inc. and a Responsible Person or Family Member.
(ii) A Contract or Transaction between GPods, Inc. and an entity in which a Responsible Person or Family Member has a Material Financial Interest or of which such person is a director, officer, agent, partner, associate, trustee, a personal representative, receiver, guardian, custodian, conservator, or other legal representative.
B. Outside Activities.
(i) A Responsible Person competing with GPods, Inc. in the rendering of services or in any other Contract or Transaction with a third party.
(ii) A Responsible Person’s having a Material Financial Interest in; or serving as a director, officer, employee, agent, partner, associate, trustee, personal representative, receiver, guardian, custodian, conservator, or other legal representative of, or consultant to; an entity or individual that competes with GPods, Inc. in the provision of services or in any other Contract or Transaction with a third party.
C. Gifts, Gratuities and Entertainment. A Responsible Person accepting gifts, entertainment, or other favors from any individual or entity that:
(i) does or is seeking business with, or is a competitor of GPods, Inc.; or
(ii) has received, is receiving or is seeking to receive a loan or grant, or to secure other financial commitments from GPods, Inc.; or
(iii) is a charitable organization; and
under circumstances where it might be inferred that such action was intended to influence or possibly would influence the Responsible Person in the performance of his or her duties. This does not preclude the acceptance of items of nominal or insignificant value or entertainment of nominal or insignificant value that are not related to any particular transaction or activity of GPods, Inc.
2. Definitions.
A. A Conflict of Interest is any circumstance described in Part 1 of this Policy.
B. A Responsible Person is any person serving as an officer, employee or member of the board of directors of GPods, Inc.
C. A Family Member is a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, or spouse of a child, brother, sister, or spouse of a brother or sister, of a Responsible Person.
D. A Material Financial Interest in an entity is a financial interest of any kind that, in view of all the circumstances, is substantial enough that it would, or reasonably could, affect a Responsible Person’s or Family Member’s judgment with respect to transactions to which the entity is a party. This includes all forms of compensation. (The board may wish to establish an amount that it would consider to be a “material financial interest.”)
E. A Contract or Transaction is any agreement or relationship involving the sale of purchase of goods, services, or rights of any kind, the providing or receipt of a loan or grant, the establishment of any other type of pecuniary relationship or review of a charitable organization by GPods, Inc. The making of a gift to GPods, Inc. is not a Contract or Transaction.
3. Procedures.
A. Before board or committee action on a Contract or Transaction involving a Conflict of Interest, a director or committee member having a Conflict of Interest and who is in attendance at the meeting shall disclose all facts material to the Conflict of Interest. Such disclosure shall be reflected in the minutes of the meeting.
B. A director or committee member who plans not to attend a meeting at which he or she has reason to believe that the board or committee will act on a matter in which the person has a Conflict of Interest shall disclose to the chair of the meeting all facts material to the Conflict of Interest. The chair shall report the disclosure at the meeting and the disclosure shall be reflected in the minutes of the meeting.
C. A person who has a Conflict of Interest shall not participate in or be permitted to hear the boards or committee’s discussion of the matter except to disclose material facts and to respond to questions. Such person shall not attempt to exert his or her personal influence with respect to the matter, either at or outside the meeting.
D. A person who has a Conflict of Interest with respect to a Contract or Transaction that will be voted on at a meeting shall not be counted in determining the presence of a quorum for purposes of the vote. The person having a conflict of interest may not vote on the Contract or Transaction and shall not be present in the meeting room when the vote is taken, unless the vote is by secret ballot. Such person’s ineligibility to vote shall be reflected in the minutes of the meeting. For purposes of this paragraph, a member of the board of directors of GPods, Inc. has a Conflict of Interest when he or she stands for election as an officer or for re-election as member of the board of directors.
E. Responsible Persons who are not members of the board of directors of GPods, Inc. or who have a Conflict of Interest with respect to a Contract or Transaction that is not the subject of board or committee action, shall disclose to the Chair or the Chair’s designee any Conflict of Interest that such Responsible Person has with respect to a Contract or Transaction. Such disclosure shall be made as soon as the Conflict of Interest is known to the Responsible Person. The Responsible Person shall refrain from any action that may affect GPods, Inc.’s participation in such Contract or Transaction.
In the event it is not entirely clear that a Conflict of Interest exists, the individual with the potential conflict shall disclose the circumstances to the Chair or the Chair’s designee, who shall determine whether there exists a Conflict of Interest that is subject to this policy.
4. Confidentiality.
Each Responsible Person shall exercise care not to disclose confidential information acquired in connection with such status or information the disclosure of which might be adverse to the interests of GPods, Inc. Furthermore, a Responsible Person shall not disclose or use information relating to the business of GPods, Inc. for the personal profit or advantage of the Responsible Person or a Family Member.
2
5. Review of Policy.
A. Each new Responsible Person shall be required to review a copy of this Policy and to acknowledge in writing that he or she has done so.
B. Each new Responsible Person shall annually complete a disclosure from identifying any relationships, positions, or circumstances in which the Responsible Person is involved that he or she believes could contribute to a Conflict of Interest arising. Such relationships, positions, or circumstance might include service as a director of or consultant to a not-for-profit organization, or ownership of a business that might provide goods or services to GPods, Inc. Any such information regarding business interests of a Responsible Person or a Family Member shall be treated as confidential and shall generally be made available only to the Chair, the Executive Director, and any committee appointed to address Conflicts of Interests, except to the extent additional disclosure is necessary in connection with the implementation of this Policy.
C. This policy shall be reviewed annually by each member of the board of directors. Any changes to the policy shall be communicated immediately to all Responsible Persons.
-Remainder of this page left blank-
GPods, Inc.
Conflict of Interest Information Form
Name: /s/Robert Dolan Date: May 5, 2017
Please describe below any relationships, positions, or circumstances in which you are involved that you believe could contribute to a Conflict of Interest (as defined in GPods, Inc.’s Policy on Conflict of Interest) arising.
None applicable
I hereby certify that the information set forth above is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I have reviewed, and agree to abide by, the Policy of Conflict of Interest of GPods, Inc. that is currently in effect.
Name: /s/Robert Dolan Date: May 5, 2017
4
Reference:
Security Exchange Commission - Edgar Database, EX-10.1 5 fs1_ex10z1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 CONFLICT OF INTEREST AGREEMENT AND POLICY, Viewed December 21, 2021, View Source on SEC.
Who Helps With Conflict Of Interest Agreements?
Lawyers with backgrounds working on conflict of interest agreements work with clients to help. Do you need help with a conflict of interest agreement?
Post a project in ContractsCounsel's marketplace to get free bids from lawyers to draft, review, or negotiate conflict of interest agreements. All lawyers are vetted by our team and peer reviewed by our customers for you to explore before hiring.
ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.
Meet some of our Conflict Of Interest Agreement Lawyers
July 20, 2026
Destiny S.
Destiny Staten is an advocate for education, children’s rights, and accessiblity. A graduate of American University Washington College of Law, her experiences have taught her that empowerment starts with access—whether that’s access to legal protection or knowledge about one’s rights.
July 20, 2026
Andrew F.
Andrew M. Fredrickson, Esq. is the founding partner of The Fredrickson Law Firm. Mr. Fredrickson is a problem solver who prides himself on finding good, practical resolutions for his clients. Mr. Fredrickson is an alumnus of Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, where he graduated at the top of his class with numerous accolades and honors. Mr. Fredrickson began his career as an in-house business and legal affairs executive for NBC Universal, eventually working with other television studios. After relocating from California to his home state of Florida, Mr. Fredrickson transitioned to practicing construction/business/and estate law. Ultimately, Mr. Fredrickson realized he had a passion for helping clients with protecting and planning for their families through a more proactive legal representation. Mr. Fredrickson quickly realized he could best serve his clients through a more individualized and personalized approach focused on estate planning. Mr. Fredrickson’s diverse background and skillset bring a vast array of knowledge and principals to the table in servicing his clients – it is these elements that are the foundation of The Fredrickson Law Firm, which continues to serve clients on an individualized, active, and practical basis to this day.
July 30, 2026
Pooja T.
I have spent over 19 years negotiating commercial and technology contracts across various industries. I have both Big Law and in house experience, most recently at Warner Bros. as a senior legal executive on their technology and commercial transactions team. I am a pragmatic dealmaker who balances business goals with legal risk.
July 30, 2026
Leonid M.
Leonid Murashkovskiy is an experienced attorney and licensed real estate broker based in Texas, specializing in real estate transactions, corporate law, business consulting, and estate planning. As the founder of Leonid Murashkovskiy, PLLC, and co-founder of Skyline Realty, Leonid brings a comprehensive multi-disciplinary perspective to contract law and asset management, having navigated complex transactions from initial acquisition and financing to development, portfolio compilation, and disposition throughout his career. Licensed to practice law in Texas and Illinois, Leonid earned his Juris Doctor in 2011 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, building upon extensive foundational experience as a mortgage loan officer, escrow officer, and paralegal. This diverse background equips him with deep practical insight into the mechanics of property and corporate deals, allowing him to deliver sharp, strategic counsel to clients managing intricate transactions and corporate operations.
Jennifer G.
August 8, 2026
Jennifer G.
Business and estate planning attorney with 12 years in law — five as licensed counsel, plus seven as a law clerk and legal assistant before that. I draft and review business contracts, form LLCs and corporations, and build wills, trusts, and estate plans. Two things make my work different. Alongside my JD I hold an LLM in Wealth Management and have passed the Series 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam), so I understand the tax and financial mechanics behind a document, not just its language — the same rigor I've applied to trust and entity structures for families with $100M+ in assets goes into a single NDA review. And I spent years in civil litigation defending insurers and their insureds, so I know which clauses actually get fought over, and I draft with that in mind instead of pasting boilerplate. Flat-fee quotes whenever scope allows. Same-business-day responses. Most single-document projects delivered in 1–3 business days, with a plain-English summary of what I changed and why. Licensed in Texas (Bar No. 24123061) and malpractice insured; available nationwide for contract, business, and commercial matters that don't require state-specific admission. Message me what you're working on and I'll tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit.
August 4, 2026
Christopher W.
I am a licensed Alabama attorney with a focus on estate planning, probate, contracts, family law, and debt negotiation. I have a dual background in law and healthcare which gives me a unique perspective and experience concerning risk management, documentation, and regulatory requirements. I am committed to providing thorough results, quick turnaround, and steady communication from start to finish.
August 1, 2026
Katherine P.
Ms. Pallidine earned her Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University College of Law, where she distinguished herself academically and received certificates in Intellectual Property Law and Real Estate Law. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Analysis, as well as a dual major in Women and Gender Studies from Florida International University. Throughout her legal education, Katherine gained valuable practical experience through various externship and internship programs. She served at the City Attorney’s Office of Coral Gables and Catholic Legal Services for the Archdiocese of Miami, as well as at a prominent Personal Injury Firm. These diverse experiences provided her with a broad understanding of multiple legal disciplines, sharpening her advocacy skills and deepening her understanding of client-centered service. Katherine is dedicated to helping her clients navigate sensitive legal issues with empathy, clarity, and a steadfast commitment to their best interests. She strives to build strong, trust-based relationships and is passionate about empowering her clients through knowledgeable legal guidance.
Find the best lawyer for your project
Browse Lawyers Now
Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.
View Trustpilot ReviewHow It Works
Business lawyers by top cities
- Austin Business Lawyers
- Boston Business Lawyers
- Chicago Business Lawyers
- Dallas Business Lawyers
- Denver Business Lawyers
- Houston Business Lawyers
- Los Angeles Business Lawyers
- New York Business Lawyers
- Phoenix Business Lawyers
- San Diego Business Lawyers
- Tampa Business Lawyers
Conflict Of Interest Agreement lawyers by city
- Austin Conflict Of Interest Agreement Lawyers
- Boston Conflict Of Interest Agreement Lawyers
- Chicago Conflict Of Interest Agreement Lawyers
- Dallas Conflict Of Interest Agreement Lawyers
- Denver Conflict Of Interest Agreement Lawyers
- Houston Conflict Of Interest Agreement Lawyers
- Los Angeles Conflict Of Interest Agreement Lawyers
- New York Conflict Of Interest Agreement Lawyers
- Phoenix Conflict Of Interest Agreement Lawyers
- San Diego Conflict Of Interest Agreement Lawyers
- Tampa Conflict Of Interest Agreement Lawyers
Contracts Counsel was incredibly helpful and easy to use. I submitted a project for a lawyer's help within a day I had received over 6 proposals from qualified lawyers. I submitted a bid that works best for my business and we went forward with the project.
View Trustpilot Review
I never knew how difficult it was to obtain representation or a lawyer, and ContractsCounsel was EXACTLY the type of service I was hoping for when I was in a pinch. Working with their service was efficient, effective and made me feel in control. Thank you so much and should I ever need attorney services down the road, I'll certainly be a repeat customer.
View Trustpilot Review
I got 5 bids within 24h of posting my project. I choose the person who provided the most detailed and relevant intro letter, highlighting their experience relevant to my project. I am very satisfied with the outcome and quality of the two agreements that were produced, they actually far exceed my expectations.
View Trustpilot Review