Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Scots contract law: illustrative decisions on interpretation, oral contracts, battle of forms/jurisdiction, implied terms and prevention, termination/damages, prescription, rectification, and construction and commercial lease disputes (2020–2026)

Published by a LexisNexis Dispute Resolution expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note summarises a range of illustrative Scottish court decisions concerning contractual disputes. Although every dispute requires examination on its own distinct factual and legal footing, appreciating how the principal legal rules operate within actual scenarios is helpful. For guidance on the well-established general principles relevant to interpretation and remedies for breach, see our E&W guidance:

Contract interpretation-overview
Contractual breach damages and remedies-overview

For further material on Scottish civil litigation, consult our topic: Scottish dispute resolution, which signposts more detailed guidance.

Case details and analysis

BPL Contracts (Scotland) Ltd v Beattie FRC Ltd

6 March 2026 | Court of Session, Outer House | [2026] CSOH 22

Nature of dispute

The dispute stemmed from the Aberdeen Harbour expansion works. The defender acted as main contractor, with the pursuer engaged for two work packages: the Crown Wall works and the Pavement Slab works. Both sub-contracts were concluded orally and never committed to writing. The parties were at odds over the terms of those oral agreements and the amounts alleged to remain due...

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Richard McMeeken

Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP

Richard is a partner in the commercial litigation team at Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP where he has worked for 20 years. He is ranked as a leading individual for commercial litigation in Chambers. He has a broad practice focussing on disputes in the areas of commercial contract, real estate, professional liability and insolvency. He also deals with cases in the areas of fraud and financial crime and is the firm's Money Laundering Compliance Officer. In addition to his commercial litigation practice, Richard leads Morton Fraser's contentious trusts and executries team which is ranked Band 1 in Legal 500. He is a solicitor advocate (2011) and is qualified (although does not currently practice) in England & Wales (2008). Richard also has an academic interest in the law and regularly speaks at conferences on his areas of expertise and regularly writes on legal...

Web page updated on 29/05/2026

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