From wikipedia - Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd. v West...

From wikipedia -
Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd. v West Bromwich Building Society[1997] UKHL 28 is a frequently-cited English contract law case which laid down that a contextual approach must be taken to the interpretation of contracts.

Lord Hoffmann set out five principles, so that contract should be construed according to:

1. What a reasonable person having all the background knowledge would have understood

2. Where the background includes anything in the 'matrix of fact' that could affect the language's meaning

3. But excluding prior negotiations, for the policy of reducing litigation

4. Where meaning of words is not to be deduced literally, but contextually

5. On the presumption that people do not easily make linguistic mistakes

I'd take a guess that we may be using his expertise in point 1 and point 4? I wonder if an international court, ruling on the law of Senegal, can cite English contract law?