Poole's Casebook on Contract Law

Robert Merkin KC is Professor of Law, University of Reading; Professor of Law Emeritus, University of Exeter; and Special Counsel to Duncan Cotterill. Robert has written a number of texts and articles on contract, insurance and arbitration. He is co-editor of the Lloyd's Law Reports. He was appointed Queen's Counsel (honoris causa) in 2015 and was awarded a higher doctorate by Cardiff University in the same year. In 2018 Rob became Honorary Life President of the International Association of Insurance Law (AIDA). He has co-edited the book Essays in Memory of Professor Jill Poole: Coherence, Modernisation and Integration in Contract, Commercial and Corporate Laws (Routledge, 2018). Séverine Saintier is Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Cardiff. She is currently co-I with Exeter law colleague Dr Vessio in the externally funded and multidisciplinary project on circularity and the blockchain (https://circularrevolution.wales/about/) with Exeter Business School, Swansea University and Riversimple. She has co-edited Vulnerable Consumers and the Law, Consumer Protection and Access to Justice (Routledge, 2020) and written a number of articles for leading journals including the Journal of Business Law and the IEuropean Review of Private Law. Séverine is co-author with Robert of the privity chapter in Essays in Memory of Professor Jill Poole: Coherence, Modernisation and Integration in Contract, Commercial and Corporate Laws (Routledge, 2018).

1: Guidance on reading cases
Part 1 Formation
2: Agreement
3: Enforceability of promises: consideration and promissory estoppel
4: Intention to be legally bound, formalities and capacity to contract
Part 2 Content, Interpretation, Performance and Privity
5: Content of the contract and principles of interpretation
6: Exemption clauses and unfair contract terms
7: Privity of contract and third party rights
Part 3 Vitiating Factors
8: Mistake
9: Misrepresentation
10: Duress, undue influence, and unconscionable bargains
11: Illegality
Part 4 Performance and Termination of Contract
12: Discharge by frustration: subsequent impossibility
13: Breach of contract
14: Damages for breach of contract
15: Remedies providing for specific relief and restitutionary remedies