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United Kingdom Leading Case construction interpretation

Arnold v Britton

[2015] UKSC 36
JurisdictionUnited Kingdom
CourtUK Supreme Court
Year2015
StatusBinding authority

Summary

Commercial common sense cannot be used to override the clear and unambiguous language of a contractual term when construing its meaning.

Key Principle

contractual interpretation; commercial common sense cannot override clear language

Area of Law

Contract — Formation and Interpretation

Related Cases

MWB Business Exchange Centres Ltd v Rock Advertising Ltd [2018] UKSC 24

A 'no oral modification' clause is legally effective, so any purported oral variation of a contract containing such a clause is unenforceable.

Marks and Spencer plc v BNP Paribas Securities Services Trust Co [2015] UKSC 72

Implied terms require strict business necessity or obviousness, rejecting the broader 'reasonable and equitable' Belize Telecom formulation.

Rainy Sky SA v Kookmin Bank [2011] UKSC 50

Where contractual language is ambiguous, courts should prefer the construction consistent with business common sense.

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