James Sherratt and Farhan Farani of Farani Taylor Solicitors successfully represented Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIA) in an appeal to the Court of Appeal in England and Wales, overturning a 2017 High Court ruling. The High Court had previously found that PIA exercised economic duress when terminating a contract with a supplier. The supplier argued that PIA’s actions amounted to unlawful pressure, rendering the termination invalid.
In a key decision, the Court of Appeal disagreed, ruling that PIA had acted within its contractual rights and had not engaged in economic duress. This landmark judgment sets a significant precedent in contract law, clarifying that economic duress requires clear evidence of undue pressure beyond financial leverage. The ruling is crucial for businesses, providing guidance on when economic duress claims may be valid in future contractual disputes.
For Farani Taylor Solicitors, this win demonstrates their expertise in complex commercial litigation and their ability to secure favourable outcomes for clients. The judgment offers a clearer legal framework for handling economic duress claims and strengthens PIA’s position in future contract-related matters.