Definition

Hell or high water clause (Ro.: clauză de impreviziune, Fr.: clause 'advienne que pourra', n.f., Cz.: doložka neumožňující výjimku z vyšší moci) (See also: force majeure, hardship clause, lease) = a clause inserted in a contract, usually a lease contract, that forces one of the parties to perform their obligation, no matter the difficulties they encounter, making the contract non-cancelable in the case of impossibility as a legal factor. 

 

Useful links

Legislation

http://www.unidroit.org/english/documents/2005/study59a/s-59a-01-e.pdf - Key issues raised by the preparation of a model law on leasing, Unidroit

Organisations and associations

http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publishing/antitrust_source/Apr09_Tucker4_28f.authcheckdam.pdf - Tucker, Darren S., Yingling, Kevin L., 2009, Antitrust Risk-Shifting Provisions in Merger Agreements after the Financial Collapse, American Bar Association (USA)

Online Publications

http://www.cooley.com/files/tbl_s5SiteRepository/FileUpload21/182/A-BGraynor.pdf - Graynor, Barry A., 1999, Are hell or high water clauses and waiver of defense clauses enforceable?, Business Law News

http://www.cooley.com/files/tbl_s5SiteRepository/FileUpload21/127/A-2003-Graynor-hell_or_1.pdf - Graynor, Barry A., 2003, Hell or high water clauses: make them work for you, Business Law News

http://www.monitordaily.com/article-posts/hell-high-water-clause-attack/ - Alper, Andrew K., 2008, Hell or High Water Clause Comes under Attack, Monitor Daily

http://www.mondaq.com/x/99498/Marine+Shipping/Has+the+Hell+or+High+Water+Clause+Lost+its+Appeal – Zik, Zohar, 2010, UK: Has the 'Hell or High Water' Clause Lost its Appeal?, Mondaq 

http://www.srz.com/files/News/d660967e-3909-490a-adc2-602a6c148a47/Presentation/NewsAttachment/248e2a23-fa1f-4a66-94c3-a9d54b4997c1/filesfilesDusch_LJN%20EquipmentLeasing_March2007.pdf – Dusch, Raymond W., Frohman, Marc L., 2007, Are 'Hell or High Water' and 'Waiver of Defenses' Clauses Enforceable in Contracts for Future Services?, LJN's Equipment Leasing Newsletter

http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=74060537-4ba6-4df3-93d7-551570f34bb4 – Winter, Charlotte, Berwick, Claire, 2012, 'Hell and high water' provisions - has the storm abated?, Lexology

http://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3515&context=clr – Breslauer, Peter, 1992, Finance Lease Hell or High Water Clause and Third Party Beneficiary Theory in Article 2A of the Uniform Commercial Code, Cornell Law Review

http://www.legalweeklaw.com/abstract/-hell-water-clause-contractual-estoppel-argument-prevails-airline-battle-16949 – 2013, 'Hell or high water clause': contractual estoppel argument prevails in airline battle, Legal Week Law

http://www.wzlegal.com/Resources/file8.html - Zucker, Scott I., 1996, High or Hell Water Clauses: Understanding Equipment Finance Leases

http://www.bakerdonelson.com/attempting-to-avoid-the-hell-or-high-water-clause-by-alleging-fraudulent-inducement-01-01-2007/ - Weinberg, Ken, 2007, Attempting to avoid the Hell or High Water Clause by alleging Fraudulent Inducement, Baker Donelson

Publications

Brunner, Christoph, 2009, Force Majeure and Hardship Under General Contract Principles: Exemption for Non-performance in International Arbitration, The Netherlands, Kluwer Law International, p. 119

Hoffman, Scott L., 2007, The Law and Business of International Project Finance: A Resource for Governments, Sponsors, Lawyers, and Project Participants, 3rd ed., Cambridge University Press, p.118

Kravitt, Jason H.P., Brown, Mayer LLP, 2013, Securitization of financial assets, 3rd ed., New York, Wolters Kluwer, p. 199

 

By Ana Pintea