Clear explanations of 500+ contract clauses, written in plain English for businesses and individuals.
This protects you if a government action—like a ban, seizure, or court order—makes performance impossible. For example, if the government suddenly prohibits the import of a product you've contracted to sell, you're not liable for breach. This is lega
Read More →This clause says you're not responsible if riots, strikes, or public disorder prevent you from performing your contract. For example, if a supplier can't deliver goods because violent protests block the roads, they won't be in breach. The legal princ
Read More →This clause specifically names epidemics, pandemics, or disease outbreaks as qualifying force majeure events and often sets special rules for them. Before COVID-19, many contracts did not mention epidemics, which created disputes about whether lockdo
Read More →This clause gives either party the right to end the contract if a force majeure event lasts longer than a set period—often 30, 60, or 90 days. This is important because it prevents you from being trapped in a contract that cannot be performed. For ex
Read More →This clause allows both parties to pause (suspend) their obligations for a long time if a force majeure event continues—for example, if a pandemic shuts down operations for months, neither side has to perform during that period. The clause typically
Read More →This clause says that if a force majeure event happens, you must still try to minimize the damage and find workarounds to perform your contract. For instance, if your supplier's factory floods, you must try to source materials elsewhere rather than s
Read More →This clause requires you to tell the other party quickly if something beyond your control (like a natural disaster or war) stops you from performing your contract. The clause sets a deadline—often 24-48 hours—to give written notice. This matters beca
Read More →This clause requires that the arbitration process, the evidence presented, and the arbitrator's decision remain private and cannot be disclosed to the public, media, or third parties. It matters because arbitration is private by nature (unlike court
Read More →This clause specifies whether the losing party must pay interest on top of the money owed, and at what rate, from the date the dispute arose until the award is paid. It matters because interest can add 20-50% or more to the final amount owed, dependi
Read More →This clause decides who pays the arbitrator's fees, lawyers' fees, and other dispute costs if a disagreement goes to arbitration or court. It matters because dispute costs can be enormous—arbitrator fees alone can reach thousands of pounds or dollars
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