Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Conspiracy definition

What does Conspiracy mean? In practice, conspiracy refers to the inchoate offence of two or more persons agreeing that a course of conduct be pursued which will necessarily involve the commission of a criminal offence. The offence is complete on agreement; the substantive crime need not be carried out. In England and Wales, conspiracy is principally a statutory offence under the Criminal Law Act 1977, requiring an agreement with intent that the conduct be carried out and that it will involve an offence. Common law conspiracy to defraud is preserved, as are the rare common law conspiracies to corrupt public morals and to...

Procuring (inducing) breach of contract: elements, causation and 'mere prevention', knowledge and intention, director liability, justification defence and remedies (England and Wales)

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Practice notes

As outlined in The economic torts—overview, the law provides protection for a person’s trade or business against conduct regarded as unacceptable in a commercial context.

For guidance on claims concerning:

the tort of intentional violation of the claimant’s rights in a judgment debt—see Practice Note: The Marex tort (interference with a judgment debt)
unlawful interference—see Practice Note: Economic tort of unlawful interference
Conspiracy, whether by lawful or unlawful means—see Practice Note: Civil conspiracy claims (economic tort)
matters founded on unconscionable and intimidating conduct—see Practice Note: Economic duress—Undue influence—tort of intimidation

This Practice Note addresses the economic tort of procuring a breach of contract (also termed inducing a breach of contract, and sometimes described as ‘interference with contractual relations’).

Civil claims involving allegations of fraud and Dishonesty frequently proceed by pleading one or more of the economic torts; see Practice Note: Civil fraud—causes of action (heads of claim).

What is the tort of procuring a breach of contract?

This tort, one of the economic torts, is committed where a person or entity, with knowledge and intent, causes loss to another by interfering with that party’s contractual rights or relations...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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