How do I reconcile the documents in a cross-border trade dispute?

A four-step working method

1. Make a document chain from quote to purchase order, contract, invoice and shipping record.
2. Log versions: compare signatures, amendments and the date each party received them.
3. Separate goods, payments and correspondence into traceable ledgers.
4. Give advisers a facts-only brief; ask them to assess governing law and forum rather than guessing.

Common errors to avoid

• Subtracting a disputed deduction as though both parties agreed to it.
• Treating an empty worksheet field as a confirmed zero or a verified fact. Mark missing information explicitly.
• Sharing a working brief as a professional conclusion. Keep assumptions and unanswered questions attached.