Commercial Agreements & Contracts In IndiaContractual Agreements during and post COVID-19

BACKGROUND  

COVID-19 has had a major impact on contractual obligations all across the globe. The Pandemic has brought the world to a standstill. With nation-wide lockdowns being imposed in countries across the globe, the world is facing an economic crisis.

Parties have been unable to fulfill their Contractual obligations. The Pandemic has proven as a true test of the effectiveness of contracts. Sub-standard contracts have rendered a lot of parties remediless and have caused not just financial but reputational loss to businesses.

In the wake of the COVID-19, various elements of contracts have gained significance. These are the same aspects which were not even given a second glance. The essence and prominence of contractual clauses such as the Force Majeure Clause, the Termination Clause, the Suspension of Obligations Clause, the Notice Period Clause, etc have been brought to light.   

Agreements are the heart and soul of any business arrangement. They define and categorically lay down the terms and conditions governing the obligations of the parties to the Contract. This article attempts to highlight the impact that COVID-19 has had on Contracts. We have also tried to identify existing ambiguities in contracts and their possible solutions.

IMPACT OF COVID19 ON CONTRACTS

Suspension of existing Contractual Obligations

Due to the spread of COVID19, the entire country has been in a lockdown from 25.03.2020. It is an unprecedented situation that has taken the entire world by shock. Contractual obligations have either become impossible to fulfill or their performance has been delayed indefinitely.

In this situation,where the contract provides for suspension, a lot of contracts have been ‘suspended’. The rights and obligations of the parties have been brought to a sudden halt. Most contracts fail to provide for an exit route or a recovery mechanism when faced by such a scenario. In such a case, the parties choose to merely suspend the obligations under the contract for the time being, till the situation improvises. Hence a status-quo is imposed on the performance of the contract, until further notice whereby parties mutually agree to shift or terminate the existing paradigm.

In extremely rare scenarios, the contract provides for the suspension of the obligations of the parties under contract. The suspension clause usually specifies the procedure to be followed by the parties in the event that such suspension is unavoidable. The clause also lays down the maximum time period for which the contract may be suspended. In the current COVID-19 scenario, it has been observed that very few contracts provide for suspension of a contract and most of them provide for termination instead. 

The most common type of Suspension Clause is as follows:

“This Agreement shall be suspended upon any of the following events, and shall remain suspended until such event is rectified:

(a)Situation X

(b)Situation Y

(c)Situation Z …  ”

The second-most common type of Suspension Clause is:

“The Parties may mutually agree to suspend the contract for a period not exceeding 2 months from the date of suspension. Further, in the event that the contractual obligations are not resumed after such suspension period is over, the contract shall be deemed to be terminated by mutual consent of the parties.”

The Pandemic is witness to the fact that if the Contract is not explicitly clear about the suspension of obligation of parties, the parties are left remediless. The contract that was meant to be a backdrop of a calculative business arrangement, turns into nothing but a gamble. By virtue of such sub-standard contracts, the parties are left to negotiate and arrive at a compromise or are left at the mercy of the party having a upper hand in the business arrangement. 

Termination of Contracts

Consideration the disruption of the supply chain caused by the pandemic, it is very likely that performances under many contracts will be delayed, interrupted, or even cancelled. Most Contracts provide for an exit mechanism to parties in the event that the parties are unable or unwilling to fulfil their obligations. However, the ambiguities present in such exit mechanisms can prove to be detrimental to the rights of the parties governed by the contract.

Often times, the termination of a contract can be initiated only by a specific party to the contract. Certain contracts require that the request of termination of a contract may be approved by a specific party to the contract at their sole discretion. Furthermore, certain contracts also necessitate a mutual agreement of parties for the termination of the Contract.

The most common form of a Termination Clause is as follows:

“PARTY ONE may terminate this agreement with immediate effect by delivering notice of the termination to PARTY TWO, if

PARTY ONE fails to perform, has made or makes any inaccuracy in, or otherwise materially breaches, any of its obligations, covenants, or representations, and

1.the failure, inaccuracy, or breach continues for a period of ‘x’ no. of Business Days’ after PARTY ONE delivers notice to PARTY TWO reasonably detailing the breach; or

2.there is or becomes any Law that makes effecting this agreement illegal or otherwise prohibited, or

3.any Governmental Authority issues an Order restraining or enjoining the transactions under this agreement.”

Most parties to commercial contracts have initiated termination of contracts. In the event that these termination clauses do not provide for a proper exit mechanism, heavy penalties may be levied on parties. The Pandemic has initiated a stark realization of the adverse effects of sub-standard contracts. The common contractual templates that are utilized by parties have dire consequences. COVID-19 has highlighted this harsh reality in the form of heavy losses and legal implications against parties to such contracts.

Force Majeure Clause

This is probably the most talked about clause in COVID-19 times. From being the least used clause in a contract, it has now become the most scrutinised and the most invoked clause of recent times, in any contract. Often times, contract did not even incorporate a force majeure clause. Its presence was limited to a small, three-four line paragraph which was the result of the same paragraph from an initial contract which may not even be related to the current contract.

A force majeure clause basically relieves the parties to the contract from carrying out their obligations upon the occurrence of a certain specific set of events, which are beyond the control of the parties. Most contracts specify a particular specific set of events that qualify as force majeure events. A force majeure clause may provide for immediate termination of a contract without any legal consequences. It may also provide for the termination of the contract if the force majeure event continues for a specified period of time.

The nature of a force majeure clause is determined by the nature of the contract and the obligations of the parties therein. The current COVID19 pandemic may or may not be considered as a force majeure event depending on the force majeure clause in a contract. There is no straight jacket formula that can be applied to determine a force majeure event. However, it is settled law that:

1. A force majeure clause cannot be assumed to exist under a contract. It is pertinent for the clause to explicitly be specified in the contract for its application.

2.Force Majeure and the doctrine of frustration are both concepts of the law of Contract but they are not the same thing. Their applicability and basic framework vary from one another on a large extent.

3.Force majeure clause will not apply if alternative modes of performances are available.

The most common type of a Force Majeure Clause is:

“In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or other causes reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes.”

This Pandemic Business Cycle is absurd and unprecedented since it is unique to the Pandemic scenario being faced by the entire world for the very first time. This has increased the probability of uncertainty in various contractual transactions and obligation hence it is the need of the hour to understand the importance of including a Force Majeure Clause in our contracts and agreements.

CONTRACT MANAGEMENT IN THE POST COVID19 ERA

It is pertinent to note that after the lockdown is lifted and the whole Pandemic situation subsides, the repercussions of it shall continue to stay with us. We can never go back to life like it used to be. We will have to adapt to a new, post-COVID19 world. The post-COVID19 era shall necessitate the implementation of certain Pandemic Legal Intelligence strategies by businesses. This will include implementation of certain new risk analysis and risk identification measures in commercial contracts. Certain steps that can be taken by businesses and industries in the post-COVID19 era include:

Periodic and thorough implementation of policies that incorporate contract vetting and risk assessment of legal obligations. This will improve the quality of contracts and ensure that a steady and contemporary safeguard mechanism exists in contracts. This will also ensure that contemporary risk management and damage control strategies can be implemented in time to anticipate contractual shortcomings.

Incorporation of an ‘inclusive’ force majeure clause instead of the dated, force majeure clause that is being used in contracts from the past many years. Businesses must refrain from incorporation of a force majeure clause that is too rigid. Having an inclusive force majeure clause that specifies a certain force majeure events, in addition to other unspecified event leave a scope for protection against unanticipated events in the future. The Pandemic is a classic example of a force majeure event that could not have been anticipated by anyone, by any stretch of imagination. Inclusive force majeure clauses have served as a blessing in disguise for the concerned parties.

Incorporation of fair and practical exit mechanisms in a contract is a very important aspect of any commercial contract. The first and foremost thing that must be assessed by any party entering a contract must be the termination clause of the contract. It is imperative to weigh the pros and cons of the procedure laid down in a termination clause and its repercussions. Most parties fail to understand the importance of this clause.

Contracts must be analysed to assess the rights and obligations of a party from time to time and there must be sufficient scope for amendment in the contracts depending on the changing times. Uncertainty in fulfilment of business and professional obligations is why the COVID-19 has proven to be such a big setback factor for businesses around the globe.

There is an incessant need to encourage incorporation of mediation and alternate dispute resolution clauses in the event that disputes arise from such contracts. This is necessary to safeguard parties from incurring major expenses on litigation and dispute resolution between parties. Time is equivalent to money in this era and precious time is lost in litigation. Hence, incorporation of alternate dispute resolution mechanisms is the need of the hour.

CONCLUSION

Damage-control and Pandemic Legal Intelligence is the need of the hour.

Commercial contracts can have major repercussions for businesses if these contracts are not analysed diligently. It is important to engage in professional risk analysis of commercial contracts in the post-COVID era to continue working as a profit making organisation.

Contemporary business practices need to be incorporated which cannot be done without engaging in a mechanism of proper checks and balances with regard to the legal obligations of the parties to a contract.

Commercial contracts form the basis of any business deal. If the groundwork is not laid appropriately, it is impossible for the commercial strategy to succeed.

The world has already witnessed the shortcomings of sub-standard and open-ended contracts that has led to huge financial losses to businesses around the globe due to the pandemic. The Post-COVID era must be welcomed with contemporary strategies. We must learn from our mistakes and be well prepared to face the post-COVID era.

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