Commercial Contract Law: Exemption, Frustration and Force Majeure

This book offers a critical and comparative analysis of exemption, frustration, and force majeure within the framework of three pivotal legal instruments: the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts, (UPICC) and English contract law.

Rooted in principles of fairness and legal predictability, the book argues that the CISG, UPICC and English law provide mechanisms through which contractual obligations may be excused when unforeseen events render performance impossible. While conceptually related, the book reveals substantive and procedural divergences in how each legal system interprets and applies the principles of exemption, frustration and force majeure. Systematically examining the similarities, differences, and evolving intersections of each legal framework, particularly in relation to mistake, termination, avoidance, risk, and hardship, the book employs a historical and jurisprudential context, highlighting both theoretical and practical applications. It suggests a Draft Model Frustration Clause (DMFC), aimed at addressing deficiencies in existing legal frameworks and providing a harmonized clause better suited for contemporary international commercial practice.

The book will be of interest to researchers in the field of commercial law, contract law and business law.