German to English Law/Patents

Dear translation colleagues:

I know this question has been asked before, as recently as last week. (I couldn't find it in the glossary.)

But I am deliberately asking it again, even though I know the answer. I'm having a problem with an agency from Belgium. I did this standard agreement filled with lots of standard legalese that you guys see in your sleep. The guy was finding fault everywhere with the legal wording, although I have translated many such documents to the satisfaction of the clients and always use the best answers that I find on Proz (which are usually confirmed by even dozens of other translators through their peer grading). But he still insists that I'm wrong and is demanding a very substantial payment discount, which I feel he is neither entitled to nor deserving of. Period.

Thus, I ask this question again for his benefit. If there are 275 of you out there, please either give an answer or peer grade. If you have a lot of translating experience or are a practicing attorney, please also note this with your "vote." He feels that Proz translators are all inexperienced and second-rate.

I thank you for your "vote."

Ron Stelter

from an agreement:

"Sollte eine der vorstehenden Bestimmungen unwirksam oder undurchfuehrbar sein oder werden, so wird hierdurch die Wirksamkeit aller sonstigen Bestimmungen nicht beruehrt. Die Parteien sind aufgerufen, anstelle der unwirksamen eine wirksame Regelung zu vereinbaren, die dem von beiden Parteien mit der unwirksamen Regelung beabsichtigten wirtschaftlichen Zweck der unwirksamen Regelung moeglichst nahekommt. Dies gilt entsprechend auch im Falle einer Luecke."