When Contracts Break | Episode 1 | : Frustration and force majeure under English law: limits, risks and practical implications

When disruption hits, what protection does English law really offer? In Episode One of our Contracts Under Pressure podcast series, Justine Reeves and Rebecca Hilton unpack why frustration is so hard to prove under English law, and why force majeure clause matters more than ever when contracts are pushed to breaking point.

As businesses in the Middle East seek to strengthen operational and contractual resilience, this episode explains the legal doctrines businesses often turn to first when contractual performance becomes difficult or impossible: frustration and force majeure.

This episode provides clear, practical insight into:

• When a contract may be frustrated - and why increased cost or hardship is rarely enough
• Why English law offers an “all or nothing” outcome when frustration applies
• How force majeure clauses work, what triggers them, and where arguments commonly fail
• The importance of wording, causation, mitigation, and notice requirements

Our Contracts Under Pressure podcast series is valuable for businesses managing contractual risks and an essential listen for in‑house counsel, commercial leaders, and anyone managing contracts in uncertain economic or geopolitical conditions.

Note: This podcast is a general discussion and does not constitute legal advice.

Listen to Episode 2 | Force majeure and hardship under UAE and Saudi law: when courts may intervene