The Moment “Reasonable Endeavours” Met a Shock to the Entire Market
The Woodside case clarifies the meaning of “reasonable endeavours” in commercial contracts. The High Court held that a party may consider its commercial, economic and operational interests when deciding whether it is able to supply under changed conditions.
The Moment a Lawful Contract Collided with an Unforeseen Reality
Codelfa Construction v State Rail Authority is the leading Australian case on frustration. The High Court held that an unforeseen injunction made contractual performance radically different from what both parties assumed.
When a Bank Took a Family Home Without Explaining the Risk
Commercial Bank of Australia v Amadio remains the leading case on unconscionable conduct. The High Court set aside a guarantee taken from vulnerable guarantors because the bank failed to explain critical risks it knew they could not understand.
The Clause You Never Saw But Are Still Bound By
A signature binds a person to the terms of a document, whether read or not. Toll v Alphapharm confirms the objective rule that commercial agreements are enforced by conduct, not assumptions.
Power That Can Be Used Against You
Minister for Public Works v Renard Constructions reshaped Australian contract law by confirming that broad contractual powers must be exercised reasonably and for a proper purpose. The case remains a leading authority on good faith, discretion, and fairness in commercial agreements.
When Authority Blurs, Risk Explodes: The Lesson of Pacific Carriers v BNP Paribas
A bank officer signed an indemnity she was not authorised to sign, and the High Court held the bank to the appearance of authority it created. Pacific Carriers v BNP Paribas shows how unclear internal systems can expose others to major loss — and why visible, reliable authority is essential in any modern legal or commercial decision.
Clarity Without Guesswork: What Mount Bruce Mining v Wright Prospecting Teaches Every Australian About Contracts
A decades-old mining agreement triggered a $130 million dispute because key phrases were read differently years later. The High Court restored commercial common sense: contracts mean what reasonable businesspeople would understand in their proper context. This case shows how clarity of structure protects everyone — and how ambiguity grows costly when decisions rely on a single interpretation.
When a Bank Can Charge You Even When You Did Nothing Wrong
When the High Court decided Andrews v ANZ (2012), it reshaped the law on penalties — proving that a fee can be unlawful even without a contractual breach. In today’s business world of automatic surcharges and hidden “service fees,” that principle still stands guard. Fair charging isn’t just a moral duty; it’s a legal one.