This book presents a collection of current thinking on the central themes of contract formation and parties. The eighth volume in the Oxford-Norton Rose Law series the chapters originate from papers presented at the colloquium held in September 2009. The Oxford-Norton Rose Law colloquia bring together practitioners and academics to examine and discuss an area of commercial law central to both communities.The book begins with an introduction by the editors which draws out the central features of the discussions at the colloquium and includes a foreword by Lord Justice Longmore. It is then structured around these two primary themes of the colloquium and includes contributions from eminent academics.