The GAFTA Board of Appeal satisfied in full the Client’s claim of approximately USD150,000 seeking compensation for damages specified in a washout agreement that were caused by the failure to comply with the contract.

A washout agreement is a settlement agreement by which a party seeks to terminate the contract, without declaring a default, with compensation paid by the party who refuses to fulfil the contract. Typically, the compensation is the difference between the contractual price of the goods and the market price of the goods on the day of such a refusal.

The question of whether the parties concluded a washout agreement arises more and more often in trade disputes and has become the “cornerstone” of the case.

Our biggest challenge was that the parties discussed the agreement verbally through brokers. In addition, there were no formal labour or contractual relations between the representative of the counterparty and the company represented by him. These circumstances served as a ground for the counterparty to challenge the conclusion of the contract.

However, English law is flexible as to the form of a contract, which can be concluded either verbally or in writing using all possible means of communication. The authority of the company’s representatives is presumed in English law. That is why the existence of formal labour relations or other corporate restrictions in no way affects the possibility of concluding a contract.”

The AGA Partners team successfully proved that the parties had actually agreed the washout agreement verbally through the broker. Furthermore, arbitrators confirmed the general position of English law that any person who represents a company may enter into a contract, regardless of his or her position in the company and the existence of formal labour relations.

The AGA Partners team was led by partner Iryna Moroz with support of senior associate Dmytro Koval.