You know that most contracts don’t have to be in writing to be legal. But does anyone ever sue over broken verbal agreements? Is it safe to make non-written deals, knowing that you can back out later
without a problem?
Published 12.10.2005
In a recent case, the parties had entered into a verbal agreement. When one of them terminated it early, the other claimed that this right hadn’t been an “express term” of their contract. How did the
Court of Appeal resolve the argument?
Published 21.02.2012
In a recent case, two small companies were each represented by lawyers during a dispute. The issue was whether a telephone conversation between the respective managing directors had settled the
matter. What was the outcome?
Published 03.02.2012
Contract paperwork can be tricky to keep track of and slow things down so you might be tempted by the alternative of a verbal contract. But is this safe? A 2021 case has highlighted the perils of
relying on a verbal agreement. What are they?
Published 23.02.2021
The directors want to put a “no set-off” clause in the company’s commercial contracts, so that in the event of a dispute, third parties would still have to pay up. What’s the Court of Appeal’s
current thinking on this type of approach?
Published 31.05.2011
Let’s suppose that you’ve entered into verbal negotiations regarding the purchase (or sale) of shares in a private company, but there’s no written share purchase agreement yet. Are the discussions
legally binding?
Published 29.05.2014
You’ve found a problem with a contract that could prove costly to put right. You used a sub-contractor and would like to pass the cost on to them but they’re relying on a small print exclusion
clause. What’s your position?
Published 21.05.2008
You are the director tasked with handling a new IT contract for the company. The supplier has given you their contract which says that you can’t rely on any pre-contract discussions. But what if
things go wrong, surely this can’t be right?
Published 31.03.2010
You’ve been sent a draft commercial contract and underneath the words “accepted by” is a box for your signature. Surely your business will only be bound by the terms and conditions once you’ve signed
on the dotted line?
Published 12.05.2015
You’ve been told that if your company gets hit by swine ‘flu that it can wriggle out of any contract providing it contains a force majeure clause. Is this right?
Published 03.09.2009