The sanctity of contracts is commonly referenced in public discourse, but the reality is that contracts are often malleable documents open to renegotiation and sometimes even vitiation. To navigate the boundaries between enforcing an existing deal and permitting variation, contract law uses a series of basic tools including consideration and conscience. The efficacy of these legal tools will likely be tested by the black swan event of the coronavirus, explains Dr Dilan Thampapillai in this research seminar.