Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Force majeure definition

What does Force majeure mean? Force majeure describes a contractual mechanism allocating the risk of events beyond a party’s reasonable control that prevent, hinder or delay performance (for example, natural disasters, war, epidemics/pandemics, strikes, or government action). It is not a free‑standing legal doctrine in England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Ireland; its effect depends entirely on the wording of a force majeure clause, which courts interpret strictly by reference to case law rather than any statutory definition. Typical clauses list specified events plus a catch‑all, require prompt notice and reasonable mitigation, and provide relief from breach (suspension or an extension of time)....

Precedent: Force majeure notice to claim relief and reserve termination rights

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Precedents

Dear [ insert name of Party B or its Representative ]

[ insert name and date of Agreement ]
[ Our client: [ insert client name ] OR [ Insert name Party A ] ]
[ Your client: [ insert client name ] OR [ Insert name Party B ] ]

[ [ As you will know, we OR We ] represent [ insert client name ] ([ insert short name Party A ]). ]
[ This correspondence formally confirms the information relayed to you by [ letter OR e-mail OR telephone call ] dated [ insert date ], from [ insert sender ] to [ insert recipient ]. ]...

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Lynne Counsell

Addington Chambers

Lynne has been in traditional Chancery practice for some thirty years, specialising in probate matters, construction of wills and trusts and also financial services and drafting.Lynne was for some years counsel for Tower Hamlets, representing them on landlord and tenant cases and counsel for Bedford Building Society representing it on mortgage cases.Lynne has written or updated over fifty books, including writing the initial volume of Atkin’s Court Forms “Financial Services” and updating Halsbury’s Laws on Injunctions. Lynne was also co-author of two editions of “Insider Trading” and co-editor and one of the writers of “Chancery Practice and Procedure.”Articles include “Marketing of Investments” for the Law Society Gazette and “The Doctrine of Mutual Wills” for the Trust Quarterly Review. Lynne won one of the few cases on mutual wills in the last fifty years – Charles v Fraser (2010).Lynne has drafted the standard unit trust for the...

Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

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I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...