UK

Where are we now on the Interpretation of Contracts? A Cloak and Dagger Tale

Peter Rees QC

January 2016

A paper presented to the Society of Construction Law at meetings in Sheffield on 8th June, Birmingham on 13th October and Tunbridge Wells on 8th December 2015

This paper looks at the impact on the way contracts may be interpreted, following the Supreme Court decision in Arnold v Britton, the extent to which that case has changed both the five principles enunciated by Lord Hoffmann in ICS v West Bromwich, and what seemed to be a trend towards interpreting contracts in the light of commercial common sense.

Equitable Set-Off – A New Direction After Geldof?

Frances Pigott

August 2015

A paper presented to the Society of Construction Law at a meeting in Birmingham on 21st January 2015

Equitable set-off has traditionally been a difficult defence to define. The Court of Appeal in Geldof Metaalconstructie v Simon Carves reviewed a number of important cases and in drawing the threads together has rationalised the test for equitable set-off. In this paper the judgment of Rix LJ is reviewed and the implications of that judgment considered.