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Contract Interpretation

Goodwin

A ‘Somewhat Special Category’: Interpreting Articles of Association

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In Syspal Capital Limited v. Truman & Anor [2024] EWHC 1561 (ChD), the court had to determine the correct interpretation of a particular clause in a company’s articles of association (articles) that concerned deemed transfer...more

Sullivan & Worcester

Interpreting English Law Contracts: avoiding the bear traps

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The importance of clear drafting cannot be overstated. Ambiguity of language can lead to disputes, costly litigation and unintended outcomes. The recent Court of Appeal judgment in Cantor Fitzgerald & Co v Yes Bank Ltd [2024]...more

BCLP

Conditions Precedent and Time Bars, Getting Around Them

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When a party fails to comply with a condition precedent, especially if such a provision includes a time limit for the fulfilment of the obligation, it will often advance various arguments to avoid the consequences of...more

Bennett Jones LLP

A Clarified Approach to Exclusion Clauses in Contracts for Sale of Goods

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Exclusion clauses are a common feature of agreements of purchase and sale and other commercial contracts. While often subject to negotiation, parties sometimes proceed with standard form exclusion clauses that may inject...more

Stikeman Elliott LLP

Interpreting Exclusion Clauses in Contracts for the Sale of Goods: Important Guidance from the Supreme Court of Canada

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On May 31, 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada released its highly anticipated decision in Earthco Soil Mixtures Inc. v. Pine Valley Enterprises Inc., 2024 SCC 20 (“Pine Valley”), clarifying how contracting parties can exclude...more

Allen Matkins

If A Contract Creates No Legally Enforceable Rights, Is It A Contract?

Allen Matkins on

The word "contract" is derived from the Latin word contrahere which means to draw (or drag) together.   The California Civil Code defines a "contract" as "an agreement to do or not to do a certain thing".  Cal. Civ. Code §...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Signature Lines Matter: When a Contract Amendment Is Not Really an Amendment

Construction law is largely a matter of contract law. Yes, there are federal and state statutes that deal with construction issues and, yes, construction cases sometimes involve tort claims, but more often than not,...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Mississippi Passes New Retainage Law Governing Private Construction Jobs

Construction contracts for private projects will soon be subject to a new retainage law in Mississippi. On April 19, 2024, Gov. Tate Reeves approved SB 2762 into law, and after July 1, 2024, most construction contracts on...more

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt PC

Understanding Easement Law in Washington State

This article discusses certain legal issues on how courts interpret written easements, and provides some highlights on Washington easement law. The quotations below all come from various Washington appellate and federal court...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Taking the High Road: Ambiguity Regarding “Versions” of Beer Precludes Summary Judgment

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a district court’s summary judgment denial and determination that the definition of “beer” (which encompassed “other versions and combinations” of beer and malt...more

Bennett Jones LLP

How Liquid is Your Letter of Credit?

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Other than cash, a standby letter of credit (LoC) is generally considered the most liquid form of performance security. While beneficiaries generally believe drawing on an LoC should be a relatively simple process, many do...more

Oliva Gibbs LLP

If the Lease Requires Notice, Then Provide Notice: Simple Enough?

Oliva Gibbs LLP on

I. Background In the case of Kirkbride v. Antero Res. Corp., the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is faced with a novel argument on the interpretation of a condition precedent within an oil and gas lease. The case comes to the...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Breach vs. Default — What’s the difference?

The words breach and default are often used interchangeably to indicate that somebody hasn’t done what they were legally required to do. According to Black’s Law Dictionary, the words do appear somewhat interchangeable. ...more

Rivkin Radler LLP

COVID Biz Interruption Coverage Denied by NY Court of Appeals

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On February 15, 2024, the New York Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the Appellate Division, First Department decision affirming dismissal of restaurant operator Consolidated Restaurant Operations, Inc.’s (CRO) complaint...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Limitation of Damages Clause in Contract Held Inapplicable to Subcontractor’s Change Order Claim

Construction contracts often include clauses that purport to limit the liability of one or both parties. This includes clauses that completely prohibit any claims for certain types of damages such as lost profits and other...more

Whitman Legal Solutions, LLC

Why People “May” Incorrectly Use “Shall,” “Must,” and “Will” Even Though They “Should” Know Better

Contracts, real estate leases, and other legal documents also often include provisions that are mandatory (like obligatos) and/or are optional (like ossias). Terms such as "shall," "must," "will," "may," and "should” each...more

A&O Shearman

Limitation of liability under the microscope

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The High Court has held a limitation clause in a research agreement would be effective to limit liability for dishonesty, though not fraudulent misrepresentation. Research paper errors give rise to dispute - Innovate...more

White & Case LLP

2023 Half-year in review – M&A legal and market developments

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We set out below a number of interesting English court decisions and market developments which have taken place and their impact on M&A transactions. This review looks at these developments and gives practical guidance on...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Overview of Three Recent Decisions on the Interpretation of Contractual Clauses

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on

English courts will seek to determine the objective meaning of a contractual provision when a dispute as to its interpretation arises. The starting point is the ordinary meaning of the words in the agreement but as and when...more

A&O Shearman

Aston Martin and the duty of good faith

A&O Shearman on

The High Court rejects various claims that the sports car manufacturer breached express and implied duties of good faith. This dispute between Aston Martin and AMMENA, its distributor in the MENA region, began when...more

Freiberger Haber LLP

Second Department Holds That Material Term of Contract For Sale of Real Property (i.e., the Property Description) Was Too...

Freiberger Haber LLP on

This BLOG has written numerous times on issues related to contract formation. See, e.g., [here], [here], [here], [here] and [here]. Briefly stated, “[t]o create a binding contract, there must be a manifestation of mutual...more

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Slips Happen – A Reminder on the Importance of Defining Terms

The New York Court of Appeals recently delivered an opinion in Skaneateles Country Club v. Cambs (unpublished at this time) that upheld an at-will termination of boat slip license. In 1999, Skaneateles Country Club (“SCC”)...more

Freiberger Haber LLP

Third-Party Beneficiaries and Contract Interpretation

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In Stagen v. Neu, 2023 N.Y. Slip Op. 06105 (1st Dept. Nov. 28, 2023), the Appellate Division, First Department addressed an issue of contract interpretation involving a word in a settlement agreement that most readers would...more

Vinson & Elkins LLP

Transferring Project Design Risk

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Some construction industry commentators have urged a more integrated approach to design and construction, with equitable risk sharing and an effort to ensure that project design will benefit from the experience of companies...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

How to Deal with Retainage on Alabama Public Projects

Retainage can be tricky in Alabama, particularly on public projects. In this post, we address retainage on public projects for public owners in the state (e.g., a governmental board, commission, agency, body, authority,...more

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