Define: Warrant of arrest
A warrant of arrest is a court-issued order directing law enforcement to arrest a named individual connected to a specific offence. In contracts, the term typically appears in compliance, risk, or eligibility clauses that require parties to disclose, monitor, or address any outstanding warrant affecting a signatory, employee, director, or beneficial owner.
Legal accuracy standard set & glossary spot-checked by Imad Mohammed Nazar , Skadden-trained M&A lawyer, Legal Engineer at GenieAI
What Warrant of arrest Means in a Contract
A warrant of arrest is not itself a contractual instrument; it is a formal order issued by a court authorizing law enforcement to detain a named person suspected or accused of an offence. When this term appears within a contract, it usually functions as a triggering event or disclosure obligation rather than a right or duty exchanged between the parties. For example, a party may be required to notify the other if a director, employee, or key individual becomes subject to a warrant of arrest, since this could affect the party's ability to perform its obligations, hold a license, or remain in good standing.
Because a warrant of arrest reflects state action against an individual, contracts rarely attempt to define or create one. Instead, drafters reference the concept to establish conditions for termination, suspension, indemnification, or heightened scrutiny. This is particularly relevant in agreements involving trust, fiduciary duties, or regulated activity, where the personal conduct of an officer or representative can have direct consequences for the contracting entity.
In practice, the term signals a compliance checkpoint. A Relevant Circumstances
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