"Force Majeure" translated literally from French means “superior force”. In common parlance, it is known as “Act of God”. In contracts, the phrase force majeure has generally been used to refer to circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the contracting parties that prevents performance of the contract. Generally, non-performance of a contract amounts to a breach of the contract but a force majeure event may excuse performance, depending on how it is drafted. This session will examine some examples of force majeure clauses and the scope, applicability and effect of these clauses. Case studies will be presented to show how the courts have dealt with force majeure clauses. The session will also introduce the doctrine of frustration in contracts and compare it with force majeure. This session is all the more pertinent in current times, with the Covid-19 pandemic still very much subsisting without any clear end to it in sight.