June 3, 2026
Understanding contractual obligations, assessing counterparties and managing legal risks before a deal is signed are becoming increasingly important in today's volatile trading environment, as companies seek to strengthen their ability to navigate commercial disputes and market disruptions.
Led by Jonathan Waters, General Counsel and Company Secretary of GAFTA, the session focused on practical steps companies can take to reduce contractual and financial risk, emphasizing that even the strongest contract cannot guarantee performance if a counterparty lacks the resources or willingness to fulfill its obligations.
Waters stressed the importance of thorough due diligence, including verifying the correct legal identity of trading partners, understanding contract terms and assessing enforcement risks before entering into agreements.
The workshop also examined force majeure, with Waters noting that while geopolitical disruptions and trade tensions are generating renewed interest in the topic, successfully invoking force majeure remains challenging and depends on strict contractual requirements being met.
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Risk management / counterparty risk / force majeure / arbitration / trade contracts / due diligence
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