McMeel on the Construction of Contracts: Interpretation, Implication and Rectification , 3rd Edition

Home >
Law >
Contract Law >
McMeel on the Construction of Contracts: Interpretation, Implication and Rectification , 3rd Edition

Description
Contents
Author
Reviews

Details

Now in its third edition, this authoritative work on the construction of contracts is an invaluable resource for legal practitioners and academics seeking to understand the legal principles involved in contract interpretation as well as the current trends in the neighbouring topics of implied terms and rectification.

The third edition continues its principle-by-principle coverage of the main elements of contractual construction with reference to recent case law. Recent major construction of contract cases are discussed, including the UK Supreme Court decisions of Rainy Sky v Kookmin Bank (2011), Arnold v Britton (2015), the Lloyds Bank Bonds case (2016), and Wood v Capita Insurance Services (2017). Guidance is provided on balancing text, context, common sense and commercial purpose. The discussion of the implication of terms reflects the sceptical treatment of Belize Telecom (2009) in the Marks & Spencer case (2015). The issue of rectification addressed in detail in the new edition, reflecting the law's state of flux in this area with cases such as Daventry (2011), Cherry Tree v Landmain (2012) and Tartsinis v Navona (2015). The role of good faith is discussed with reference to Leggatt J in Yam Seng (2014) and the Court of Appeal in MSC Mediterranean Shipping v Cottonex (2016). Agreed damages clauses are revisited in the light of the reining in of the penalty rule in Cavendish v Makdessi (2016). There is consideration of Prime Sight v Lavarello (2013) and the Privy Council's reflections on contractual estoppel.

Providing practical guidance on how courts would interpret contractual terms with reference to recent commercial contract litigation, this is the essential reference work for all commercial and corporate lawyers, both litigators and those negotiating and drafting deals.

PART I: THE GENERAL PART
1: Principles and Policies
Introduction
Interpretation, Implication, and Rectification
The Evolution of the Principles of Construction
Principles and Policies
Ten Leading Decisions in the House of Lords
Concluding Observations
2: Comparative and Theoretical Perspectives
Comparative Perspectives
Theoretical Perspectives
3: The Objective Principle of Construction
Overview
The Objective Principle in Contract Formation
The Objective Principle in Interpretation
The Objective Principle in Implication
The Objective Principle in Rectification
4: Internal Context: The Whole Contract Approach
The Whole Contract or Holistic Approach
The Constituent Parts of a Contract
5: External Context: Surrounding Circumstances, 'Matrix', and 'Background'
Overview
Key Points
The Traditional Approach: the Surrounding Circumstances
The Modern Approach: 'Matrix' to 'Background'
The Exclusionary Rules
The Future
6: Standard Form Contracts, Public Policy, and the Realms of Strict Construction and Strict Compliance
Key Points
Standard Form Contracts
Other Examples of Strict Construction
Strict Compliance and Contractual Machinery
7: Presumptions
Statutory Presumptions
Common Law Presumptions
8: Maxims
Introduction
Contra proferentem
Ut res magis valeat quam pereat
Expressio unius
Eiusdem generis
Noscitur a sociis
Reddendo singula singulis
9: New Horizons: Good Faith, Contractual Discretions, and Human Rights
Reasonableness, Fairness, and Good Faith?
Contractual Discretion and Analogies with Public Law
Human Rights
Human Rights, Cultural Traditions, and Context

PART II: RELATED DOCTRINES
10: Implication of Terms: General Principles and Implied Terms at Law
General Principles of Implication of Terms
Implication of Terms at Law ('General Default Rules')
Principles for Developing New Implied Terms at Law
Implied Terms and the Employment Relationship
Implied Terms as to Cooperation
11: Implied Terms in Fact
The Relationship between Implication and Interpretation
The Relationship between Implication and Rectification
The Modern Test for Implication in Fact: Attorney-General for Belize v Belize Telecom Ltd
The Traditional Tests for the Implication of Terms in Fact
Applying the Technique of Implication in Fact
Implied Terms and Contractual Discretions
Some Particular Types of Implied Terms
Entire Agreement Clauses and Implied Terms
12: Custom and Usage
Custom, Practice, and Usage
Supplementing or Contradicting the Written Contract
Certain, Notorious, Reasonable
13: Technical and Legal Language
Introduction
Legal Language
Scientific, Technical, and Specialist Language
Foreign Language
14: Formation and Certainty
Construction Techniques in Formation and the Interface with Certainty
Particular Topics Relating to Contractual Certainty
Implied Contracts and Contracts by Conduct
15: Proof of Terms and Incorporation of Terms
Key Points
Proof of Terms
Incorporation of Terms
Incorporation by Signature
Incorporation by Notice
Incorporation by a Course of Dealing
Incorporation by Reference
The Effect of Misrepresentation
Limitations on Incorporation: The Effect of the interfoto Principle on 'Onerous and Unusual' Terms
16: Parties, Third Party Effects, and Clauses Precluding Assignment
Identifying the Parties to the Contract
The Third Party Effects of Contracts
Anti-assignment Clauses
17: Rectification and Correcting Mistakes through Construction
Construction as a Technique for Correcting Mistakes in Expression
Rectification of Documents in Equity
Common Mistake
Unilateral Mistake
General Matters
18: Common Assumptions, Estoppel by Convention, and Estoppel by Deed
Estoppel by Convention
Relationship with Other Species of Estoppel
Two Leading Cases
The Ingredients of Estoppel by Convention
Estoppel and Pre-contractual Statements
Estoppel By Deed
19: Construction and Mistake as a Vitiating Factor
The Intricate Relationship between Mistake and Interpretation
Common Mistake
Equitable Mistake

PART III: PARTICULAR CONTRACTUAL PROVISIONS
20: Conditions, Warranties, and Indemnities
Conditions
Warranties
Warranties in Business Acquisition Contracts
Indemnities
Construction of Indemnity Clauses
21: Exemption Clauses and Unfair Contract Terms
Introduction
Construction of Exemption Clauses
Excluding Liability for Negligence
Carving out Fraud
'Direct', 'Indirect', and 'Consequential' Losses
Statutory Control: The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977
General Approach to the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977
The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999
Reform
22: Change of Circumstances and 'Force Majeure' Clauses
Key Points
The Common Law Doctrine of Frustration
Incorporating Express Terms to Deal with Changes of Circumstances
Construction of the Operation and Effect of Force Majeure Clauses
23: Modification of Remedies: Express Termination, Retention of Title and No Set-off Clauses
Express Termination Clauses
Retention of Title
Restriction of Set-off
24: Payment: Penalties, Liquidated Damages, Acceleration, and Default Interest Clauses
Payment Clauses
Liquidated Damages Clauses
Minimum Payment Clauses
Accelerated Payment Clauses
Default Interest Clauses
25: Time Stipulations
Construction of Time Stipulations
Time of the Essence: the General Rule
Making Time of the Essence
Calculating Time
26: The Integrity of the Instrument: 'Entire Agreement' and 'Non-reliance' Clauses
'Entire Agreement' and 'Non-reliance' Clauses
Construction of Entire Agreement Clauses
Entire Agreement Clauses and Collateral Warranties
Non-reliance Clauses and Excluding Liability for Misrepresentation
Statutory Regulation
Entire Agreement Clauses and Implied Terms
Impact of Entire Agreement Clause on Extrinsic Evidence
Final Comparative Reflection

PART IV: RULES RELATING TO WRITTEN CONTRACTS
27: The Status of Instruments: Forgeries, Deliberate Alteration, Non Est Factum, and Shams
Forgery
Deliberate Alteration of Instruments
Non Est Factum
Sham

PART V: CONSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE
28: Evidence and Practice
The Modern Law of Civil Evidence
The Best Evidence Rule
Practice: Procedures for Determining Issues of Construction

Gerard McMeel, Professor of Law, University of Bristol; Barrister, Guildhall Chambers, Bristol, and Quadrant Chambers, London

"The appearance of a second edition of Gerald McMeel's book is a welcome reminder of how useful it is. Containing a lot of insightful material on general contract law, I found the discussion invaluable" - Professor Michael Furmston, Dean, School of Law and Professor of Law, Singapore Management University

"It is a thoroughly impressive text and one which I hope will be regularly updated over the years to come. If it is, it will continue to become a favourite for all lawyers and, no doubt, aide judges tackling difficult commercial cases." - The Student Law Journal

"A reflective and scholarly treatment of the principles and policies underlying the construction of contracts and related doctrines"; "an incisive analysis of the development of doctrine" - Review of previous edition, Peter McDonald Eggars QC [2008] Lloyd's Maritime and Commercial Law 411

"..academic interest in the subject has increased markedly in recent years and there are now some excellent new books on the subject: see, for example, Gerard McMeel, The Construction of Contracts: Interpretation, Implication and Rectification (2007)" - Review of previous edition, Professor David McLauchlan, (2009) 31 Sydney LR 5