Follow Us
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
Parties in complex commercial cases that are accused of defaulting on or breaching a contract may invoke the defense of impossibility, arguing that performance of contractual obligations was rendered impossible by an intervening event. Under New York law, those arguments rarely make it past the motion stage. Courts apply the doctrine narrowly, only to executory contracts and only where the intervening event was both unforeseeable and destroyed either the contract’s subject matter or the means of performance. The related doctrine of frustration of purpose may apply more broadly, but only where it would make little sense to perform on a contract because of an intervening event. The narrowness of these doctrines — and their questionable utility for litigators — underscores the importance of striving during the contract drafting process to include contingency clauses providing for foreseeable possibilities and language making clear the contract’s purpose.
*May exclude premium content
‘Best Efforts’ Clauses In Commercial Leases
By Gary M. Rosenberg, Alexander Lycoyannis and Michael A. Pensabene
Undefined terms of art such as “best efforts” are often utilized in commercial leases, but the interpretation of those terms and the enforceability of the clause, when left to the courts, will turn on how the lease is drafted.
The Impact of New York’s Greenhouse Gas Law
By Matthew Schneid
New York City's Local Law Number 97 was enacted to amend the New York City Charter and Administrative Code to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This is accomplished by requiring buildings to retrofit their systems with more energy efficient systems or purchase certain permitted carbon offsets.
How to Strike a Deal In a Stagnant Net Lease Market
By Chad Kurz
Transactions have slowed in just about every category for commercial real estate and net lease is no exception. The reasons are myriad for that but let’s boil them down.
Can ChatGPT Take the Place of Real Estate Lawyers?
By Tony Alfonso
While we marvel at the myriad applications of ChatGPT, it’s important to note that this newly introduced tool has nuances which can create problems if misunderstood — especially when attempting to produce legal documents or legal advice in real estate transactions.
Copyright © ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
