Ruling confirms Building Safety Act’s impact on retrospective defect claims – OUT-LAW.com

‘A new ruling has highlighted how claims concerning building defects that would otherwise be time-barred can still be raised under the 2022 Building Safety Act, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th July 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Construction disputes and FIDIC: how the 1999 Red Book deals with disputes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 3rd, 2023 in arbitration, construction industry, contracts, dispute resolution, news by sally

‘The 1999 FIDIC Red Book of standard form construction contracts introduced the dispute adjudication board (DAB) as part of a contract-specific tiered dispute resolution process.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 3rd July 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Challenging CVAs as a creditor – Local Government Lawyer

‘Karen Morean and William O’Brien outline how creditor local authorities can challenge a company voluntary arrangement.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Dispute escalation clauses: lessons from the Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer

‘Nick McQueen and Inam Hasan highlight important lessons to learn from a recent Court of Appeal case in the construction sector on the enforceability and effect of dispute escalation clauses.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Dispute escalation clauses: lessons from the Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer

‘Nick McQueen and Inam Hasan highlight important lessons to learn from a recent Court of Appeal case in the construction sector on the enforceability and effect of dispute escalation clauses.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Michael Gove launches independent investigation into Teesworks freeport – The Independent

Posted May 25th, 2023 in auditors, construction industry, corruption, local government, news by sally

‘The Government will open an investigation into accusations of wrongdoing at the UK’s largest freeport.’

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The Independent, 24th May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Steven Gee KC – British Tax Review – R. (on the application of Cobalt Data Centre 2 LLP) v HMRC: a Cobalt white elephant – Monckton Chambers

‘Section 298(1) of the Capital Allowances Act 2001 (CAA 2001) offered taxpayers Enterprise Zone allowances (EZAs) as an inducement to taking on the financial risks of newbuild industrial developments in disadvantaged areas, without a tenant. It extended their availability for a further 10 years after expiry of the 10-year life of an enterprise zone (EZ), provided that the qualifying “expenditure is incurred under a contract entered into within” the first 10 years (“the proviso”). According to the Court of Appeal1 changes made to a development, resulted in two building contracts with the claimed expenditure incurred under the second, being a “separate” contract

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Monckton Chambers, 22nd March 2023

Source: www.monckton.com

On account payment wasn’t exercising an adjudicator’s lien – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted March 17th, 2023 in construction industry, dispute resolution, enforcement, injunctions, news by sally

‘Earlier this year I wrote about the judgment in Nicholas James Care Homes Ltd v Liberty Homes (Kent) Ltd, where O’Farrell J continued an interim freezing injunction that had been granted a month or so earlier. As I said at the time, while I wouldn’t ordinarily be interested in an injunction application, I wrote about it because one of the contractor’s defences to enforcement of the adjudicator’s decision focused on the adjudicator’s request for on account payments for his fees.

Fast forward six months and the case has been back before the TCC judges (also called Nicholas James Care Homes Ltd v Liberty Homes (Kent) Ltd). This time it was in front of Recorder Andrew Singer KC (sitting as a High Court judge), who was asked to look at the payment point as part of the enforcement application. He held that the adjudicator had not exercised a lien before issuing his decision.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 15th March 2023

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Building safety gateway regime – frequently asked questions – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted March 10th, 2023 in building law, construction industry, consultations, news by sally

‘One of the major changes to the regulation of the design and construction of “higher-risk buildings” is the introduction of the gateway regime.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 8th March 2023

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Limits on when you can adjudicate – Practical Law: Construction Blog

‘I can’t say that I recall Dyson LJ’s judgment in Connex South Eastern Ltd v MJ Building Services Group being handed down back in 2005 but I do know it is the case that told us that the phrase “at any time” means exactly that. It’s like Ronseal’s famous phrase, “Does exactly what it says on the tin”. With the Court of Appeal giving the words their literal and ordinary meaning, it was plain speaking at its best! It has also meant that for as long as I can remember, we have all assumed that there is no time limit on when a party can start an adjudication. (In Connex, the court was dealing with a situation where the notice of adjudication was issued after practical completion and after repudiation of the contract.) Consequently, the only limitations (if there are any) are the ones we find in the Limitation Act 1980, which doesn’t prevent a party from starting an adjudication but may provide the responding party with a defence (if taken), which means the adjudicator’s decision will be in their favour. (The same applies in court proceedings and, if the defence is successful, the claim may be struck out.) If this is all so well-established, you might wonder why I’m bothering to mention it. The answer is, because of HHJ Russen KC’s judgment in LJR Interiors Ltd v Cooper Construction Ltd, which he handed down last month.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog , 14th February 2023

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Without prejudice privilege – guidance from the Privy Council – Practical Law: Construction Blog

‘I advise many clients involved in construction projects who are on the cusp of a dispute. While they take legal advice on the merits of their position, my clients usually continue to seek to reach an amicable solution with their counterparty through direct negotiation as well as continuing to liaise on a day to day basis to get the job finished. In this context, my clients regularly ask, “Should my email be without prejudice?”. Although the law in this area is relatively settled, the question continues to throw up difficulties. I have been involved with several cases where one party has attempted to put material before a judge or adjudicator that the other side says is inadmissible because it was made without prejudice. The recent Privy Council case of A&A v Petroleum Co of Trinidad & Tobago sheds some light on this perennial problem.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 7th February 2023

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Expert witness duties in construction disputes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 10th, 2023 in construction industry, dispute resolution, expert witnesses, news by sally

‘The growing complexity of construction and engineering disputes has led to an increased demand for the services of experts regarding various aspects of a typical legal proceeding.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 9th February 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Sudlows v Global Switch part deux: a significant judgment or one that turns on its facts? – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted February 6th, 2023 in construction industry, dispute resolution, enforcement, news by sally

‘Some years ago I wrote a number of blogs about the long-running legal battle between Gary Paice and Kim Springall (property developers) and MJ Harding (the building contractor). That really was the case that kept on giving, and I’m not sure we’ve had two parties provide such rich blog pickings since. However, I think there might be a favourite to take this most coveted of crowns in the form of the disputes between Sudlows Ltd (the contractor) and Global Switch Estates 1 Ltd (the employer). Although we are only on the second reported TCC enforcement judgment (some of you may recall I wrote about the last one in January 2021), they have had six adjudications and, given that it is clear from the latest judgment handed-down by Waksman J in December 2022 that the parties are still some £16.5 million apart, I suspect we may see more of them in the future.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 1st February 2023

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Gove admits ‘faulty’ guidance partly to blame for Grenfell fire – The Guardian

‘Michael Gove has admitted that “faulty and ambiguous” government guidance was partly responsible for the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The UK housing secretary said lax regulation allowed cladding firms to “put people in danger in order to make a profit”.’

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The Guardian, 29th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Special’ damages requiring prior knowledge of parties to construction contracts – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 16th, 2023 in construction industry, contracts, damages, news by sally

‘When a party breaches a term of a construction contract, the other party to the contract has the right to claim an award of damages.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th January 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

St James’s Oncology v Lendlease: the value of project-specific amendments to JCT contracts – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted January 13th, 2023 in construction industry, contracts, drafting, hospitals, indemnities, news by sally

‘The recent judgment of the TCC in St James’s Oncology SPC Ltd (Project Co) v Lendlease Construction (Europe) Ltd and another provides a fascinating commentary on the importance of drafting a building contract that is tailored to deliver the needs of the employer and the end-user.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog , 12th January 2023

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

“The end of the beginning: 2021 in construction law” – Atkin Chambers

Posted January 5th, 2023 in building law, chambers articles, construction industry, coronavirus, news by sally

‘Rupert Choat highlights standout developments in construction law over the last 12 months as we sought to emerge from the pandemic.’

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Atkin Chambers, 16th December 2022

Source: www.atkinchambers.com

Termination and suspension of construction contracts – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 9th, 2022 in construction industry, contracts, news by michael

‘Most construction contracts contain termination clauses which give parties the right to terminate in certain circumstances. Fewer construction contracts entitle a party to suspend the performance of its obligations.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 6th December 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Contractual construction: the Tension – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted December 2nd, 2022 in construction industry, contracts, interpretation, news by sally

‘When the courts are faced with questions of contractual construction there remains a tension in the approach they should take.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 2nd December 2022

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

The suitability of adjudication for multiparty disputes – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted November 25th, 2022 in construction industry, contracts, dispute resolution, news by sally

‘Earlier this year I acted as adjudicator in four related adjudications that ran simultaneously, and I thought it would be worthwhile sharing my experience as I think there are some interesting points for parties and their representatives who might be considering using adjudication for multiparty disputes.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog , 23rd November 2022

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com