It is vitally important that contracts are only terminated in a way that doesn't breach the terms of the contract or the law. Terminating a contract in the wrong way can lead to serious legal and financial consequences.
This article will provide a detailed explanation of when and how a contract can be terminated. And don't forget, if you need fast and affordable legal advice from a commercial contract lawyer, contact the team at Prosper Law.
An overview of when a contract can be terminated
A contract can be terminated in several different ways, including by:
Each of the ways in which a contract can be terminated is discussed below.
By agreement between parties
Parties to a contract can agree to terminate a contract. Such an agreement needs to be mutual (i.e. both parties must agree) and it is recommended that the agreement be recorded in writing.
If the mutual agreement to terminate a contract is not recorded in writing, it is open to a person to argue that the contract has not been ended by the agreement of the parties.
Rely on the contract terms
Contracts often contain termination clauses, being clauses that describe when and how the contract can be terminated.
Termination clauses can give a party a right to terminate:
because the other party has breached the contract; or
for their own convenience.
If the contract is breached by a party and the contract gives the innocent party a right to terminate, that party must follow the process (if any) described in the contract.
If a party is relying upon a termination for convenience clause, they must still follow the process described in the contract. This process is often more straightforward than terminating based on the other party’s breach.
It is recommended that you have your contract reviewed by a commercial contract lawyer before relying upon a termination clause. Terminating a contract can be complex and because contracts operate in parallel with other laws, the process is usually more involved than simply reading the contract.
Breach of contract
Repudiation
Repudiation occurs when a party, through words or conduct, shows an intention not to be bound by the relevant agreement.
It is critical to ensure that the other party has actually repudiated the contract before taking steps to exercise your right to terminate. Here you can read more about repudiation of contract.
Breach of an essential term
If a term of the contract is essential, the innocent party can terminate the contract even if the consequences of that breach are minor.
Serious breach of an intermediate-term
If a party has breached an intermediate-term (rather than an essential term), then the innocent party can terminate the contract provided that the consequences of that breach are sufficiently serious. Minor or technical breaches are not enough to invoke this right to terminate.
You can read more here to find out how to classify contract terms and work out whether the term is an essential term or an intermediate-term. Or you can simply ask a commercial contract lawyer for help.
Insolvency
Contracts may contain what is called an ipso facto clause (meaning by the fact of or act itself). An ipso facto clause entitles the innocent party to terminate a contract if the other party becomes insolvent.
The term insolvency is usually given a broad definition under the contract, so that it is not just the literal definition of insolvent that applies, but the ipso facto may also apply in circumstances where:
a person becomes bankrupt
a company enters liquidation
winding up procedures are started
a receiver, receiver/manager, controller, administrator or voluntary administrator is appointed
a mortgagee takes possession of the party's assets
the party is placed under official management
things that have the effect of any items in this list
It is important that, before exercising rights under an ipso facto clause, the innocent party considers whether the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) operates to prevent the reliance on the clause.
For instance, the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) prohibits reliance on an ipso facto clause where one of the following applies:
a managing controller (includes a receiver) is appointed
the company enters administration
the company is undertaking a scheme of arrangement to avoid being wound up
Rights under law
Contracts cannot be read in a vacuum. Contracts operate in a complex legal environment (cue: the lawyer!) and it is important to consider whether, even though there is a termination clause, the law operates to override the rights and obligations set out in the contract.
For example, a contract may contain very limited rights to terminate a contract, but the Unfair Contract Terms law operates to grant a party a right of termination in certain circumstances.
Frustration
The doctrine of frustration is a legal mechanism that can be used to bring a contract to an end. Sometimes, the doctrine finds its way into the term of the relevant contract either by:
a standalone frustration clause; or
being included as part of the termination clause.
Frustration according to the contract
A frustration clause usually looks something like this:
If an Event of Frustration occurs, then:
each party must, as far as possible, continue to perform their obligations under the Agreement; and
if the Event of Frustration continues for more than 90 days, either party may terminate this contract upon 7 days' notice in writing to the other party, and each party will be released from any further performance of the Agreement.
Event of Frustration means war, terrorism, epidemic, pandemic, severe weather events or other acts of God which causes one or more of the parties to be unable to perform the Agreement.
Doctrine of frustration
The doctrine of frustration applies where the relevant event means that the performance of the contract has become something that is now fundamentally different to that anticipated by the parties at the time the contract was entered into.
If the event could have been anticipated and therefore dealt with in the contract, the doctrine of frustration is unlikely to apply. An example of this might have been the effects of COVID-19 on the performance of contracts entered into after the pandemic began.
If you need advice about the doctrine of frustration, it is always best to speak to a commercial contract lawyer.
Effect of frustration
If the frustration clause is relied upon: the clause must be strictly followed (to avoid the risk of repudiation) and the effects will be as per the clause
If the doctrine of frustration is relied upon: the contract terminates automatically and (subject to limited exceptions) the loss resulting from the termination lies where it falls
Summary
No matter which method you choose to terminate your contract, it must be done properly and in accordance with the contract terms or relevant legal basis. If you do not properly terminate a contract, there can be significant consequences.
How can Prosper Law help?
If you are currently a party to an agreement and you want to bring that contract to an end, talk to Prosper Law's commercial contract lawyer for help.
We will provide you with a fixed-fee price for our legal fees to assist you to terminate your contract in the right way and get you help from a commercial contract lawyer. That might mean attempting to preserve business relationships, avoiding legal risk or managing commercial risks.
Farrah Motley | Legal Principal
PROSPER LAW - A Commercial Law Firm for Businesses
M: 0422 721 121
A: Suite No. 99, Level 54, 111 Eagle Street, Brisbane, Queensland Australia 4000
She was an artist and author of some ability, and her work Parvati Swayamvaram was distributed by Varma after her passing. Ravi Varma's dad was a researcher of Sanskrit and Ayurveda and hailed from the raja ravi varma paintings Ernakulam area in Kerala. Ravi Varma had three kin, a sister named Mangala Bayi and two siblings named Goda Varma (conceived 1854) and Raja Varma (conceived 1860).