How should I handle a trade show contract dispute where the organizer postponed the event and is refusing to honour my cancellation rights, claiming they no longer apply to the new date?

This is a contract interpretation dispute where the organizer's position conflicts with the plain language of your agreement. The member's contract stated cancellation rights apply if notice is given "more than 6 months prior to the event"—without qualification to the original date—yet the organizer is claiming the cancellation deadline was tied to the original event date and has already passed, even though the rescheduled event is 11 months away.

**Recommended approach:** - **Obtain a solicitor's letter** — Request a formal demand letter from a solicitor to the event organizer, citing the contract's explicit language and your position that postponement does not extinguish cancellation rights defined by the new event date. This often prompts payment without litigation. - **Review the full contract carefully** — Look for any clauses addressing force majeure, postponement, or cancellation rights in relation to date changes. The organizer's interpretation may lack contractual support. - **Document your position in writing** — Send a formal email to the organizer referencing the specific contract clause and your interpretation before escalating to legal action.

**Caveats:** - The cost and time of pursuing a solicitor's letter or legal action should be weighed against the refund amount at stake. - Litigation outcomes depend on how the contract is ultimately interpreted by a court, though the member's reading of the plain language appeared straightforward.