Latest Dispute Resolution News
1 Jun 2021Dispute ResolutionNo win no fee adjudication: Is the current cost of adjudication too high?
There is no doubt about it, adjudication is simply no longer the quick D.I.Y. process that Parliament intended it would be when the original Act was introduced in May 1998. 23 years of legal and practice developments have undoubtedly morphed the process into one which is now, in our view, more like fast-track arbitration. There is also no doubt that these developments have taken their toll and frightened off many a potential claimant from pursuing a resolution of a dispute through the adjudication process.
13 May 2021Dispute ResolutionContractual risk due to Covid-19: Managing your entitlement under NEC4
Our industry has been dealing with the impact of Covid-19 for well over 12 months now. Throughout this period, and notwithstanding the many challenges faced, the UK construction industry has been like a beacon of light in its response to the pandemic. Now that the dust has begun to settle, I feel now is the ideal time to reflect on the lessons learnt over the past 12 months and to review the contractual risk of Covid-19 going forward.
26 Apr 2021Dispute ResolutionInsolvent Claimants and the right to adjudicate in Construction Contracts
In September 2010 the Society of Construction Law published a paper called Using Adjudication to Resolve Disputes when one of the Parties is Insolvent (D112). Those of you with long memories may recall that I was the author of that paper. I wrote the paper out of academic interest and because at the time my firm was acting for a significant number of Administrators and Liquidators of claimant companies in disputes where Respondents were effectively taking advantage of our client’s insolvent status to deny our clients the right to payment of sums properly due to them.
22 Apr 2021Dispute ResolutionRefuse to mediate? Don’t be surprised by the consequences!
Unless you have been living in a distant galaxy and have only just arrived on planet Earth you will know that there is a long history of reported cases in which parties, who have refused to engage in mediation without a very good reason indeed, have been routinely punished by the courts when it comes to dealing with costs. To be clear, having a very strong belief in the merits of your case is simply not a good enough reason to refuse to mediate.
20 May 2020Dispute ResolutionA Brave New World – Video Mediation
As the UK begins its slow journey back to work and becomes accustomed to living and working in a Covid-19 present world, it is no surprise that there has been a surge in disputes and companies looking for restructuring advice.
20 Mar 2020Dispute ResolutionAdjudicators and Allegations of Fraud
Allegations of fraud are not an unusual occurrence during adjudication proceedings. An allegation might be made that a party has fabricated a document, forged a signature, deliberately overstated an application for payment or even arranged for a house break-in, in order to steal key documents that an opponent may intend to rely upon. The list goes on.
16 Apr 2019Dispute ResolutionAdjudicator slips, errors and cock-ups!
I have yet to meet an infallible human being. As all adjudicators are either male, female or gender-neutral human beings (there are no known aliens practising – despite rumours to the contrary) we are all prone to the human condition of making slips, errors and mistakes from time to time. Who was it who said “a man who never made mistakes never made anything” and “to err is human”?
1 Mar 2019Dispute ResolutionGrenfell Tower Fire
The Law of Unintended Consequences - Professional Indemnity Insurance Claims and Rising Premiums
13 Feb 2019Dispute ResolutionInsolvent Claimants and Adjudication - A Court of Appeal Update
On 24 January 2019 the Court of Appeal handed down an important judgement covering two appeals arising from judgements made in the Technology and Construction Court Division of the High Court (“TCC”).
22 Jan 2019Dispute ResolutionFinancing UK construction – Earthquakes and tidal waves
A small earthquake hit the British construction industry on New Year’s Eve. Nobody seems to have noticed but a tidal wave is about to hit the UK construction sector in 2019 (and beyond) as a result of this major event. What am I referring to?
19 Dec 2018Dispute ResolutionDon’t Shoot the Messenger Guidance on the Drafting of Expert Reports
Don’t Shoot the Messenger
Guidance on the Drafting of Expert Reports
3 Sep 2018Dispute ResolutionShifting Risk and Liability in Concurrent Delay
If my 33 years' experience of construction projects and receding hairlines has taught me anything, it is that it is rare for a construction project to finish on its planned completion date. Late completion invariably means that both the Employer and the Contractor will incur additional costs and neither will be happy.
