Although presented as being derived from the past, principles in contract law have been subject to constant reformulation, thereby facilitating legal change while simultaneously seeming to preclude it. Principle and policy have been mutually interdependent, propositions not usually being called principles unless they have been perceived to lead to just results in particular cases, and as likely to produce results in future cases that accord with common sense, commercial convenience and sound public policy. The influence of policy has been frequent in contract law, but Stephen Waddams argues that an unmediated appeal to non-legal sources of policy has been constrained by the need to formulate generalised propositions recognised as legal principles. This interrelation of principle and policy has played an important role in enabling an uncodified system to hold a middle course between a rigid formalism on the one hand and an unconstrained instrumentalism on the other.

This informative and accessible book reviews the core concepts of contract law and theory from an Anglo-American perspective. Larry A. DiMatteo deftly analyses the key principles, rules and frameworks which have shaped Anglo-American contract law, as well as highlighting important legislative acts that have changed and modernised its development.

The book provides rule-by-rule commentaries on European contract law (general contract law, consumer contract law, the law of sale and related services), dealing with its modern manifestations as well as its historical and comparative foundations. After the collapse of the European Commission's plans to codify European contract law it is timely to reflect on what has been achieved over the past three to four decades, and for an assessment of the current situation. In particular, the production of a bewildering number of reference texts has contributed to a complex picture of European contract laws rather than a European contract law. The present book adopts a broad perspective and an integrative approach. All relevant reference texts (from the CISG to the Draft Common European Sales Law) are critically examined and compared with each other. As far as the acquis commun (ie the traditional private law as laid down in the national codifications) is concerned, the Principles of European Contract Law have been chosen as a point of departure. The rules contained in that document have, however, been complemented with some chapters, sections, and individual provisions drawn from other sources, primarily in order to account for the quickly growing acquis communautaire in the field of consumer contract law. In addition, the book ties the discussion concerning the reference texts back to the pertinent historical and comparative background; and it thus investigates whether, and to what extent, these texts can be taken to be genuinely European in nature, ie to constitute a manifestation of a common core of European contract law. Where this is not the case, the question is asked whether, and for what reasons, they should be seen as points of departure for the further development of European contract law.

Foundational Principles of Contract Law not only sets out the principles and rules of contract law, it places more emphasis on what the principles and rules of contract law should be, based on policy, morality, and experience. A major premise of the book is that the best way to grasp contract law is to understand it from a critical perspective as an organic, dynamic subject. When contract law is approached in this way it is much easier to grasp and learn than when it is presented simply as a static collection of principles and rules. Professor Eisenberg covers almost all areas of contract law, including the enforceability of promises, remedies for breach of contract, problems of assent, form contracts, the effect of mistake and changed circumstances, interpretation, and problems of performance. Although the emphasis of the book is on the principles and rules of contract law, it also covers important theories in contract law, such as the theory of efficient breach, the theory of overreliance, the normative theory of contracts, formalism, and theories of contract interpretation.

In this volume the Project Group "Restatement of European Insurance Contract Law" presents its Principles of European Insurance Contract Law ("PEICL"). These principles were submitted to the European Commission as a Draft Common Frame of Reference of European Insurance Contract Law ("DCFR Insurance"). The volume comprises the PEICL/DCFR Insurance as well as translations into Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Spanish and Swedish. A short introduction sets out the approach used by the Project Group, how the PEICL/DCFR Insurance relate to the overall Draft Common Frame of Reference, the participation of the Project Group in the CoPECL (Common Principles of European Contract Law) Network, as well as the general structure and characteristics of the PEICL/DCFR Insurance. The Project Group has also drafted the PEICL/DCFR Insurance as a model for an Optional Instrument of European Insurance Contract Law.

This text provides a comprehensive guide to the principles of European contract law. They have been drawn up by an independent body of experts from each Member State of the EU, under a project supported by the European Commission and many other organizations. The principles are stated in the form of articles, with a detailed commentary explaining the purpose and operation of each article and its relation to the remainder. Each article also has extensive comparative notes surveying the national laws and other international provisions on the topic.

The Association Henri Capitant des Amis de la Culture Juridique Française and the Société de législation comparée joined the academic network on European Contract Law in 2005 to work on the elaboration of a "common terminology" and on "guiding principles" as well as to propose a revised version of the Principles of European Contract Law (PECL). The results of this work were sent to the European Commission and have already been published in French. The English translation is now being published by sellier.elp. This work could contribute to the wider European project. The part on the guiding principles could be a component of the CFR, in the form of "black letter" model rules or recitals. The part on terminology is, in itself, useful for the elaboration of the final various linguistic versions of the CFR. It finds its place within the materials which will accompany the model rules. Last but by no means least, the revised version of the PECL should be considered by the European institutions as an alternative set of model rules on contract law.

The Principles of European Contract Law, prepared by the so-called Lando Commission, today constitute the most advanced project on the harmonisation of European private law. As well as providing a set of rules which could facilitate cross-border trade within Europe, the Principles can be seen as a modern lex mercatoria which, for example, could be referred to by arbitrators deciding a case according to internationally accepted principles of law. Furthermore, the Principles provide a framework for EU legislation on contract law and, more importantly, they can be viewed as a first step towards a European Civil Code. They may also prove to be a catalyst for the development of national legislation, judicial decisions and legal doctrine. This new title, which follows the first volume covering Parts I and II of the Principles, includes chapters on plurality of parties, assignment of claims, transfer of contract, set-off, prescription, illegality and conditions. It provides a systematic overview of the Principles in comparison with Dutch law, which will be of interest not only in the Netherlands but also to lawyers in other countries who need to gain a clearer understanding of the Dutch contract law system.

A sourcebook for students and practitioners who are interested in international business transactions and want to gain familiarity with the law and practice of international trade law, policies and ethics. Each chapter deals with an important aspect of international trade and business.

This book examines national reports on contract law in each of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in order to provide a comparative analysis. It then establishes common principles, where possible, as well as a set of general “soft law” principles governing international commercial contracts in these countries. The importance of commercial transactions in the BRICS countries is rapidly growing, yet differences in contract law among these countries can lead to misunderstandings and disputes. The rapid development of the BRICS instruments (and the legal implications of their use) suggests the need to address common legal issues that could harm the continued development of the BRICS economies. Contract law represents one of the core areas in which this process can take place. Addressing the salient legal issues within the BRICS discourse requires a comprehensive, comparative approach that explores the different solutions provided by each member country, in order to identify similarities and convergences. This process may ultimately help to reduce the legal obstacles to, and indirect costs of, cross-border transactions by offering a transparent and predictable legal environment for any future attempt at adopting common legal instruments.