In Breach, But at What Cost? Force Majeure, Causation and Damages

The recent Judgment of the Commercial Court in Classic Maritime Inc. (“CMI”) v Limbungan Makmur SDN BHD & Anor (“Limbungan”) [2018] examines the role of causation when defending a matter on the grounds of force majeure. The Judgment also includes […]

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Challenges to Enforcement: No Breach of Natural Justice

This is the latest dispute between Vinci Construction UK Ltd (“Vinci”) and Beumer Group UK Ltd (“Beumer”) to arise out of a Sub-Contract concerning development works at Gatwick Airport. In this case, Beumer sought to resist enforcement of an adjudicator’s […]

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Contract Interpretation: Terms Will Not Be Implied Simply Because It May Appear Fair To Do So

The test for implying contractual terms was set out by the Supreme Court in Marks & Spencer Plc v BNP Paribas Securities Services Trust Co (Jersey) Ltd. Whilst that case settled what the test is, the application of that test […]

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Can a Party Set-Off Against an Adjudicator’s Decision?

Disputes regarding set-off against an adjudicator’s award are rare in enforcement proceedings. However, in the recent case of MI Electrical Solutions Limited (“MI”) v Elements (Europe) Limited (“Elements”) the court considered this very point. The decision highlights the difficulties which […]

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Interpreting Contracts: The Need for Clear Words

The principles governing the interpretation of contracts have been the subject of several recent cases in the Supreme Court and whilst those principles may now be settled it is clear that the application of them is far from simple. In […]

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Exclusion Clauses: Incorporation and Reasonableness

In our article in May 2017 we considered the case of Goodlife Foods Limited (“Goodlife”) v Hall Fire Protection Limited (“Hall”) which concerned a widely drafted exclusion clause. In a unanimous decision, the Court of Appeal has now upheld that […]

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Reviewing Assessments under NEC3

In the sixth first instance decision in the long-running dispute of Imperial Chemical Industries Limited (“ICI”) v Merit Merrell Technology Limited (“MMT”) the court assessed the quantum disputes between the parties. In an extensive judgment, the court considered a wide […]

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Contractor’s Liability for Design

Contractor’s Liability for Design In SSE Generation Ltd (“SSE”) v Hochtief Solutions AG (“Hochtief”) the Inner House of the Court of Session in Scotland considered the liability arising out of the collapse of a tunnel at a hydro-electric scheme. Although […]

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Adjudication, Enforcement, Payment and Winding-Up Petitions

Adjudication, Enforcement, Payment and Winding-Up Petitions This update considers the case of Victory House General Partner Limited, Re a Company [2018] EWHC 1143 (Ch), in which an application to restrain a winding-up petition was made following an un-paid, and enforced, […]

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Are ‘No Oral Modifications’ Clauses Enforceable?

The issues surrounding the enforcement of ‘No Oral Modifications’ (“NOM”) clauses has arisen yet again. It would appear however that it has now been finally determined. In our article in June 2016, we considered the effect of Globe Motors Inc […]

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