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RMK Maritime v CMB.Tech [2025] EWHC 2739 (Comm): contract trumps unjust enrichment; NOM clauses upheld; broad scope clauses undermine quantum meruit in M&A advisory mandates (England and Wales)

Published on: 03 February 2026

Published by a LexisNexis Commercial expert
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Article summary

RMK Maritime (Europe) Ltd and another company v CMB.Tech NV (formerly known as Euronav NV) [2025] EWHC 2739 (Comm)

What are the practical implications of this case?

The judgment has notable consequences for commercial lawyers advising on professional services contracts, M&A advisory mandates, and restitutionary claims.

Prevalence of contract over restitution

The court confirmed that unjust enrichment is a fallback doctrine, ordinarily inapplicable where a binding contract regulates the parties’ dealings. Even where certain services might be said to sit beyond the precise contractual remit, a restitutionary claim will fail if it would cut across the contractually agreed allocation of risk and remuneration.

Legal force of NOM clauses and variation provisions

The advisory agreement required any change to scope to be recorded in writing and signed by authorised representatives. The court regarded this as compelling evidence that informal understandings or expectations could not generate additional payment obligations. This underscores the commercial reality that NOM clauses are integral to contractual certainty, rather than merely ornamental. In practical terms, one could adopt internal protocols mandating written variation agreements before advisers undertake materially different or additional work...

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