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Contract Interpretation Contract Disputes

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

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

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

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

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Overview of Three Recent Decisions on the Interpretation of Contractual Clauses

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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

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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

BCLP

Disputes in Focus: Quick Q&A on Contractual Interpretation

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Following a series of three Supreme Court judgments between 2011 and 2017, the general approach to interpretation of contracts under English law has been fairly clear....more

A&O Shearman

More than a leap of good faith to override express terms

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A relational contract containing a duty to act in good faith could not be implied to contradict express termination provisions....more

Gray Reed

Texas Supreme Court Rules on “Bespoke” Add-Back Royalty Clause

Gray Reed on

In Devon Energy Production Company, LP et al v. Sheppard et al, the Supreme Court of Texas construed what it referred to as a “bespoke” and “highly unique” royalty clause in several oil and gas leases to prohibit the...more

A&O Shearman

It’s not you, it’s me: relational contract to be interpreted like all others

A&O Shearman on

The Court of Appeal has (thankfully) confirmed there are no special rules of interpretation when it comes to relational contracts. This was a dispute about whether Quantum Actuarial had to do what was necessary to...more

Latham & Watkins LLP

Complex Commercial Litigation Law Review - Fifth Edition - England & Wales

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The courts of England are some of the most established fora for dealing with complex commercial litigation. The Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) that apply to English civil litigation, which govern every aspect of cases from...more

A&O Shearman

A cautionary tale of the importance of keeping track of changes

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A recent Scottish case involving a dispute over the calculation of the purchase price under a share purchase agreement highlights the importance of ensuring that definitions (and other terms in an agreement) accurately...more

A&O Shearman

Keeping the Faith: English Court of Appeal Considers Contractual Good Faith Provision in Shareholder Agreement

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The English law concerning contractual duties of good faith (express and implied) has received considerable judicial attention in recent years. It will therefore be of interest to those who use English law contracts,...more

A&O Shearman

Straddling the fence - contractual interpretation in the abstract

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Life expectancy obligations in a construction project applied only to the newbuilds, not the refurbished properties under that project, according to the High Court. This case was not one where a breach was being alleged,...more

PilieroMazza PLLC

Identifying and Quantifying Government Contract Claims

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Filing a claim against a government agency to recover time and/or money related to a contract can be a daunting process. Understanding the claims process and, if necessary, the appeals process is essential. Whether...more

PilieroMazza PLLC

[Webinar] Identifying and Quantifying Government Contract Claims - August 17th, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET

PilieroMazza PLLC on

Filing a claim against a government agency to recover time and/or money related to a contract can be a daunting process. Understanding the claims process and, if necessary, the appeals process is essential. Whether...more

A&O Shearman

Capable of remedy? Stobart runs out of road

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When a termination provision states that a party can terminate an agreement where that breach is “capable of remedy” and the party in breach fails to remedy the breach within a specified timeframe, a recent High Court...more

Ward and Smith, P.A.

When Is a Deal a Deal?

Ward and Smith, P.A. on

Oftentimes, individuals attempt to negotiate deals on their own without the benefit of legal advice and assistance. At best, this can lead to certain pitfalls. At worst, this can lead to the complete invalidity of the...more

Jones & Keller, P.C.

The Importance of Contract Language

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Several years ago, unclear, ambiguous, and inconsistent contract language (not to mention some bizarre lawyer shenanigans) cost the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers one-half of the team in divorce proceedings...more

Holland & Knight LLP

A Closer Look at Nettye Engler Energy, LP, v. BlueStone Natural Resources II, LLC

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The Supreme Court of Texas has once again tackled the heavily contested issue of postproduction costs in royalty calculations. In Nettye Engler Energy, LP, v. BlueStone Natural Resources II, LLC, No. 20-0639, the Court was...more

Freeman Law

Parol Evidence in Texas

Freeman Law on

When two parties enter into a contract, they often heavily negotiate the terms. In some circumstances, the parties may take weeks or months to carefully craft the wording of their contracts. In other circumstances, language...more

BCLP

Landlord Tenant Dispute: Tenant’s liability to make good damage and defects after the expiry of the tenancy

BCLP on

What is the allocation of responsibility for damage and defects after the expiry of a tenancy - The dispute in So Hon Ming Francis v Cheung Lau Shau Chun and Another ([2021] HKDC 1494, DCCJ 367/2019, 29 November 2021)...more

Latham & Watkins LLP

Complex Commercial Litigation Law Review, 4th Edition - England & Wales

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Litigation is, on one analysis, all about telling stories to impartial decision makers. Complex commercial litigation means that those stories are more detailed, more involved and more intricate. That means that telling the...more

Allen Matkins

Howsoever Denominated, This Was Not Promissory Fraud

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Parties exchange drafts of a contract and before signing one party surreptitiously substitutes provisions in the copy to be executed.  Some might call this "promissory fraud", but as Justice William Dato explains in an...more

A&O Shearman

Smart legal contracts: the emperor's new clothes or the elephant in the room?

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The Law Commission has published an impressive paper on smart legal contracts to which Allen & Overy, along with many others, contributed; but what does it all mean? ...more

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