These things are sent to try us: In-house Counsel and Pre-contractual Agreements – the Australian Experience

Peter Quinlivian, Senior Legal Counsel, BAE Systems Australia Defence Pty Ltd

This paper explores various types of pre-contractual agreements commonly encountered, and the particular features of each. It analyses where Australian law draws the line of enforceability over such arrangements by reference to traditional contractual concepts, and the principles referred to in the paper are illustrated by high level examples drawn from recent Australian decisions on point, with the aim of helping practitioners identify and deal with the issues commonly met. The paper also looks at the emerging overlay of a requirement of good faith into contracts, and considers how this might apply to pre-contractual agreements. It suggests matters practitioners might address to avoid common pitfalls and costly disputes around the issue of legal enforceability, and offers some general thoughts on the use of pre-contractual agreements to help in managing that tension.

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Contract Industry April 2014 Vol. 7, No. 27, Spring 2014

Peter Quinlivian

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Peter Quinlivian is a commercial lawyer with more than twenty years’ experience in major projects, contracts, litigation and shipping law both in private practice and in-house in the mining, government and defence sectors. He currently is currently Senior Legal Counsel at BAE Systems Australia Limited, the Australian arm of a global defence contractor

Contract Industry April 2014 Vol. 7, No. 27, Spring 2014