304. What a Good Contract Can't Save You From — with Wendy Estela

A good contract is essential. But what happens when you've done everything right and the project still goes sideways?
My friend Wendy Estela, an attorney specializing in construction and design law, is back for part two of our conversation about protecting your interior design business.
Wendy is the founder of Estela Law and Designed Counsel™, a contract template and subscription service created specifically for interior designers. With 25 years of experience in business law, she works with designers at every stage of their careers, from those just starting out to AD100 and Elle Decor A-List professionals.
What I appreciate about Wendy is that she understands our industry. She doesn't just look at the legal language. She understands the relationships, financial realities, and everyday decisions that can make or break a design business.
Today, we're talking about difficult client relationships, unclear expectations, scope creep, payment disputes, and why the way you run your business every day matters just as much as what's written in your agreement.
Wendy also shares why she doesn't believe in the idea of a bulletproof contract, how designers can better explain their terms to clients, and why sometimes the smartest business decision is to walk away from a dispute.
And I'm sharing some of my own experiences, including mistakes I've made with contracts, the way I walk clients through my agreements, and a payment situation that taught me a very expensive lesson.
You'll Learn:
• Why a strong contract alone can't prevent every client dispute

• How to explain your contract so clients understand what they're agreeing to

• Why clear scopes of work and consistent business practices matter

• How payment terms can help protect your design business

• When pursuing a dispute may cost more than it's worth

• Why setting expectations during discovery is just as important as the contract itself

If you haven't listened to Episode 276 with Wendy, I encourage you to go back and listen to that conversation too. These two episodes really belong together.
Connect with Wendy Estela Wendy Estela is the founder of Estela Law and Designed Counsel™, where she helps interior designers navigate contracts, business transactions, and risk management with practical legal guidance.
• Website: estelalaw.com
• Contract templates and resources: www.designedcounsel.com
• Instagram: @estelalaw | @designed_counsel

Mentioned in this episode:
• Grab Your Free Script Guide here: reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-hand…

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance

Find the full shownotes at: devignierdesign.com/interior-design-contract-p…