The English Courts Broaden The Scope For The Oral Variation Of Contracts

In three cases this year, the English courts have held that terms in contracts - providing that no variation shall be binding unless made in writing and signed by both parties - do not necessarily prevent an informal variation:

Globe Motors Inc v TRW Lucas Varity Electric Steering Ltd [2016] EWCA Civ 396: a Court of Appeal decision relating to a long term contract for the supply of automotive industry products. Beatson LJ commented that "in this context ... the fact that the parties'...