Contract interpretation: part 1: contract interpretation

This chapter covers the very broad area of the interpretation of commercial contracts. The principles of contractual interpretation are essentially methodological: how are the rights and obligations arising from the contractual relationship to be ascertained? This chapter examines the process of identifying the make up of contracts (single document, multiple documents, oral representations, incorporation by reference); attaching meaning to the terms of the contract; and filling in gaps of a contract (supplementation). A separate part is dedicated to merger clauses (that is, entire agreement or final integration), which are found in almost all written contracts.