Compact Contract

A brief look at topical issues in contract

21 August 2020 Abigail Holmes

In Duchy Farm v Steel the High Court upheld a County Court decision that a confidentiality clause in a settlement agreement was not a condition of the agreement, and a breach of confidentiality by Steel therefore did not absolve Duchy Farm of the obligation to pay settlement monies. Duchy Farm and Steel settled an employment › Read More

20 August 2020 Edward McCullagh

A tax indemnity claim under a share purchase agreement was unenforceable because inadequate notice was given (Dodika v United Luck). The buyers gave notice of their claim by solicitors’ letter. However, that notice was inadequate, as it did not provide reasonable detail of the matter giving rise to the claim. The letter (sent shortly before › Read More

17 July 2020 Jason Rix

In Cathay Pacific v Lufthansa, the High Court found that an option in an engine maintenance agreement: (1) was not subject to an implied duty to be exercised rationality, (2) even if it were, there was no breach, (3) nor was the agreement a “relational contract” subject to an implied duty to act in good › Read More

15 July 2020 Richard Farnhill

The fact that your contract has been breached and the breach has caused you losses is not enough for you to make a recovery. Remoteness is the often overlooked third leg of the damages stool. In AG of the Virgin Islands v Central Water Associates the Privy Council gave more guidance on how the rules › Read More

01 July 2020 Jason Rix

The  Court of Appeal has confirmed that a provision in an English law facility agreement stating that the borrower would not be in default if “…sums were not paid in order to comply with any mandatory provision of law…” allowed the borrower to avoid making payments where to do so might breach U.S. federal law › Read More

04 June 2020 Emma Keeling

Yesterday, the Government’s Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill, described by our restructuring team as the most significant insolvency reforms in the UK for a generation, passed through the House of Commons. For a full analysis see their bulletin here. In this post I will focus on so-called “ipso facto” clauses, ie clauses which allow termination › Read More

15 May 2020 Celine O'Donovan

In Bains v Arunvill, the Court of Appeal held that non-performance amounting to a material breach of contract could not be remedied by a promise to perform. Non-performance could only be remedied by commencing actual performance. Arunvill had hired Bains as a consultant, with the specific services to be provided largely left at Bains’ discretion. › Read More

13 May 2020 Joseph Worndl

In 2 Entertain v Sony, the High Court held that liability for losses stemming from a warehouse fire during the 2011 London Riots could not be excluded by a force majeure clause. Sony provided warehousing and distribution services to 2 Entertain, a BBC subsidiary selling DVDs. In 2011, during, the London riots, a gang set › Read More

11 May 2020 Bianca Vasilache

In UK Acorn v Markel, the High Court implied a term that Markel should act rationally where something needed to be demonstrated to its “satisfaction”. UK Acorn, a bridging finance lender, obtained two judgments against a surveyor for negligent overvaluations. It sought to recover from Markel, the surveyor’s insurer. Markel tried to avoid paying by › Read More

05 May 2020 Jason Rix

In Gwynt Y Mor Ofto the court found that an indemnity in a sale and purchase agreement for loss “prior to Completion” meant the 6-day period between signing and completion. Accordingly, it did not cover corrosion in sub-sea cables dating back months or years. The defendants sold to the claimants the business of owning, maintaining and › Read More