Construction Law: January/February 2018

Editor’s comment
Carillion carnage masks PFI malaise

Editor Nick Barrett says the collapse of Carillion may have taken attention away from a highly critical report on the Private Finance Initiative from the National Audit Office that could have even greater long-term implications for construction procurement.

News
Our regular news round up focusses on the launch of updated versions of FIDIC’s ‘Rainbow Suite’ of contracts; an attack on the government’s Construction Supply Chain Payment Charter; and the launch of investigations into the collapse of Carillion.

Legal terms explained
Ibaad Hakim
and Michael Mendelblat of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP explain what is meant by knock-for-knock indemnities.

Guest editor
Rise in corruption and bribery prosecutions
Guest editor Laura Lintott of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP discusses the increasing number of prosecutions related to bribery and corruption. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is becoming increasingly focussed on such cases, and construction companies should take great care to comply with anti-corruption legislation, she warns.

Legislation state of play table
Our regular round up of the progress of legislation affecting construction as it passes through the UK and EC legislative systems comes from Clyde & Co. Ana Bonnington comments on the Autumn 2017 Budget.

Reports from the courts
In our latest review of the court decisions of most interest to construction Andrew Croft and Simii Sivapalan of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP look at one that highlights the danger of conflicting and complicated drafting in contracts; and another that confirms the need to serve a pay less notice under the HGCRA applies to final or termination accounts as well as to interim payments.

Contracts monitor
An essential read for tendering
Contracts monitor Michael Phipps, Principal of Thurston Consultants, continues his review of JCT’s Practice Note on Tendering. A glance at even a summary of its contents might prompt reconsideration of tendering procedures, he says.

CL guides
Guide to Brexit: Article 50 and withdrawal from the EU
Rachel Chaplin of DLA Piper looks at the potential impact of Brexit related changes in the latest in DLA Piper’s series of Construction Guides. Contractors look more at risk from a change in circumstances as a result of Brexit than employers, she warns.

Annual review
Construction Act changes loom in 2018
In this review of the main events of 2017 James Doe and Emma Kurtovich of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP focus on key developments in issues such as extensions of time and concurrent delay. Looking ahead, as well as litigation arising from the Grenfell Tower disaster, they expect a continued emphasis on increasing transparency and news of possible HGCRA 1996 changes.

Review of 2017 in Scotland
Shona Frame and Siân McNiff of CMS review the highlights in Scotland of 2017, an eventful year with developments that will be felt in 2018 and beyond. Key events included legislation that revolutionised third party rights.

Contracts
No absolute rights governing certificates
Jennifer Jones of Atkin Chambers examines the law surrounding conclusive evidence clauses, which often pass unnoticed – until it is too late. Make careful note of any obligatory time periods that might expire, she advises.

Insurance
Latent disease in employers’ liability claims
Insurance expert John D Wright of JD Risk Associates explains how latent disease is treated in employers’ liability policies. The basis on which policies is written is ‘cause arising’ which has created long-standing problems.

Adjudication
Serial adjudications – who bears the cost?
Vijay Bange of Trowers & Hamlins LLP predicts a growing number of challenges to adjudications following recent court decisions, especially where there is evidence of ‘adjudication shopping’ or adjudications being abandoned for no good reason.

Alternative dispute resolution
Adjudication enforcement decisions
In the latest article of our regular alternative dispute resolution series article Richard Kniveton of Clyde & Co examines the implications of two recent adjudication enforcement decisions.

Construction Law: December 2017

Editor’s comment
More adjudicators needed
The costs of adjudication are under scrutiny in a government consultation, but editor Nick Barrett says rising costs do not justify more use of inexperienced and therefore cheaper adjudicators – yet.

News
Our regular news round up focusses on new research into adjudication fees; new rules for leniency applications from cartels; and a report on the impact of retentions on the industry.

Legal terms explained
Summary judgment is explained by Philip Parrott and Michael Mendelblat of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.

Guest editor
Remember: always read the contract
Guest editor Michael Sharp of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP says a recent Supreme Court warning to always read the contract should be taken to heart by lawyers as well as signatories to contracts. Parties are free to allocate risk as they see fit, and the courts will uphold such clauses.

Legislation state of play table
Clyde & Co present our regular round up of the progress of legislation affecting construction as it passes through the UK and EC legislative systems. Ian Boyle provides a commentary on the interim National Infrastructure Assessment.

Reports from the courts
Our regular round up of the court cases of most interest to construction comes from Andrew Croft and Simii Sivapalan of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP and focuses on a case highlighting that a high burden of proof of oppressive and unreasonable behaviour will be needed to obtain injunctive relief on those grounds in adjudication.

Contracts monitor
Guidance Notes seldom read
Our contracts monitor Michael Phipps, Principal of Thurston Consultants, concludes his scrutiny of the JCT’s Repair and Maintenance Contract (Commercial) 2016 with a warning that contracts must be read as they change to reflect new legislation and insurance practice.

CL guides
Guide to defects provisions in contracts
Sarah Nunnery-Jones of DLA Piper continues our Construction Law Guides series with a look at defects provisions in the main contract forms.

Contracts
NEC4 increases consultants’ risk
Will Buckby and Andrew Croft of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP examine the new NEC4 Professional Services Contract and find the changes from the previous contract to be more than simply an evolution. Consultants face increased potential risk, they warn.

Private finance
Bringing existing PFI contracts back in-house
Private finance initiative contracts came under threat during the party-political conference season. Davinia Cowden of CMS details the practical problems that would be faced in bringing them back into public ownership.

Exemption clauses
Exemption clauses, risk allocation and ordinary language
Joanne Maclean and Suriya Edwards of Geldards LLP analyse a recent case that underlines the courts’ support for clauses in contracts that are negotiated between parties of equal bargaining power.

Duty of care
The Bolam test and Montgomery in construction
David Pliener of Hardwicke examines a court ruling in a healthcare industry dispute that has potential implications for the duty of care owed by professionals in construction. A construction test case is inevitable soon, he warns.

Insurance
Contractors’ product liability
Insurance expert John D Wright of JD Risk Associates details what is covered under contractors’ product liability policies. Cover for damage to the product itself is usually excluded, but separate cover is available.

Alternative dispute resolution
NEC4 – embracing ADR?
Russell Banfi of Clyde & Co analyses some little reported features of the new NEC4 suite of contracts relating to dispute resolution and avoidance in our latest alternative dispute resolution series. Some new issues are raised, he argues.

Construction Law November 2017

Editor’s comment
No end in sight to procurement woes
Editor Nick Barrett looks at the latest report slamming public sector procurement incompetence, this time from the government’s own public spending watchdog the National Audit Office. Yet another report is threatened.

News
Our regular news round up focuses on another damning report on public sector procurement failures relating to the UK’s nuclear power station clean up programme; launch of a survey on arbitration; and a government consultation on retentions.

Legal terms explained
Ann Levin and Rebecca Scanlon of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP explain the meaning of predictive coding, a software tool used to prioritise the review of documents for disclosure exercises by likelihood of relevance.

Guest editor
Courts take hard line on fitness for purpose obligations
Guest editor Ben Goffin of DLA Piper LLP says onerous obligations are placed on contractors involved in offshore wind and solar power projects, and warns that they can be easily overlooked within a mass of technical requirement documents. A recent case provides a salutary warning.

Legislation state of play table
Clyde & Co compile our regular update on the progress of legislation affecting construction as it passes through the UK and EC legislative systems. Ana Bonnington and Jamie Calvy comment on safety measures in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Reports from the courts
Our regular round up of court decisions of most interest to construction comes from Andrew Croft and Simii Sivapalan of Beale & Company LLP who focus on the first judgment concerning building information modelling; and an overturning of an adjudicator’s decision that shows the courts are reluctant to hold terms in a contract void for uncertainty.

Contracts monitor
Warning over public liability
Our contracts monitor Michael Phipps, Principal of Thurston Consultants, continues his scrutiny of JCT’s Repair and Maintenance Contract (Commercial) 2016, drawing attention to the changes from the previous edition (RM11).

CL guides
CL Guide to Procurement
Peter Lowe of DLA Piper continues our Construction Law Guides series with a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the main procurement routes used in the UK.

Legislation
Time to amend the Construction Act
Barrister Marion Rich, Director of Legal and Contractual Affairs at the British Constructional Steelwork Association, says it is time to amend the Construction Act to remove its exclusions. At least one of them is unnecessary and discriminatory, she argues.

Design
Contradictory design duties
The inherent conflict between design standards and performance obligations has been highlighted in a recent Supreme Court judgment. Michael Sergeant of HFW considers the relevance of the long-running Højgaard v E.ON dispute and its relevance in interpreting contracts with conflicting design requirements.

Delay and disruption
Taking the measured mile
Mathias Cheung, barrister at Atkin Chambers, analyses the new edition of the SCL Delay and Disruption Protocol which is gaining wide acceptance. Guidance on concurrent delay might not be consistent with the TCC’s approach, he cautions.

Insurance
The co-insurance conundrum
Marie-Therese Groarke of Withers examines a Supreme Court case that might lead to changes in insurance market practice and construction contracts regarding co-insurance. A key conclusion is that express language in contracts is preferable to being silent on key issues such as liability.

The Insurance Act 2015 – better for policyholders?
Insurance expert John D Wright of JD Risk Associates reviews the impact so far of the 2015 Insurance Act, which has placed new burdens on brokers. The Act will influence specific claim situations in ways that are not yet fully clear, he warns.

Alternative dispute resolution
Getting to know your own contract
In our latest alternative dispute resolution series article Tim Axtmann of Clyde & Co warns adjudicators that their agreements may upset their rights under late payments legislation.

Construction Law October 2017

Editor’s comment
Big battalions battle looming?
A new report says the UK is putting too much into ever larger public procurement packages. Editor Nick Barrett says the report comes out strongly on the side of smaller suppliers.

News
Our news round up this month highlights launch of a new procedure for disputing invoices raised under HSE’s fee for intervention cost recovery scheme; a survey showing the scale of late payment problems in Scotland; and calls for harsher penalties for modern slavery offences.

Legal terms explained
Karan Talwar and Michael Mendelblat of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP explain liquidated damages.

Guest editor
The dearest things in life might be free!
Guest editor Nicholas Maciolek of Atkin Chambers says that a recent court decision that attracted comment on duty of care issues missed the point. The case was more interesting because of what it says about the scope of a professional’s duty in negligence, he argues.

Legislation state of play table
Our regular update on the progress of legislation affecting construction as it passes through the UK and EC legislative systems from Clyde & Co. Lois Putnam and George Bazinas of Clyde & Co comment on the Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s annual report on major projects.

Reports from the courts
In our regular round up of the court decisions of most significance to construction Andrew Croft and Simii Sivapalan of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP examine a case concerning exemption clauses that went to the appeal court; and another highlighting that contractors need to act quickly to submit extension of time claims.

Contracts monitor
Legislation leads to contract complexity
Contracts monitor Michael Phipps, Principal of Thurston Consultants, continues his scrutiny of the JCT Repair and Maintenance Contract, focussing on its tendering aspects. Legislative changes mean the contract is more complex than before, with no fewer than 27 terms needing definitions compared to ten previously.

CL guides
CL Guide to: Time in construction contracts
Rachel Chaplin of DLA Piper examines the operation of time in contracts in the latest of our guides to construction law series. Operating the contractual machinery correctly is crucial to the success of time related claims.

Contracts
NEC4 and PPC2000: alliance contract options and legal principles
Professor David Mosey and Jessica Twombley of King’s College London Centre of Construction Law and Dispute Resolution take a critical look at the NEC4 draft project alliance contract. They advise clarification in places to avoid disputes arising from differing interpretations.

Insurance
No cover for actions deemed criminal
Insurance expert John D Wright of JD Risk Associates says liability insurance will be under the spotlight following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Heavy fines and imprisonments could be handed out by the courts.

Arbitration
Courts prove ready to review arbitral awards
Vijay K Bange and Tanya Chadha of Trowers & Hamlins LLP analyse a case that provides the first example in construction of a successful challenge under the Arbitration Act 1996 on the basis of fraudulent misconduct.

Contract management
Belt and road projects – legal issues when East meets West
Barrister Mathias Cheung of Atkin Chambers outlines the opportunities and potential legal issues presented by China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative. Proper pre-contractual preparations and contract management are essential for success.

Warranties
Collateral warranties: key issues
The key issues surrounding collateral warranties are examined from the viewpoint of their potential beneficiaries, by Shaun Tame, Counsel, Dentons.

Alternative dispute resolution
Mediation – a change in thinking?
In our latest alternative dispute resolution series article Chris Kerr of Clyde & Co reviews a court decision that shows a refusal to engage in mediation will not always trigger cost sanctions.

Construction Law August/September 2017

Editor’s comment
New risk assessment attitude rings changes
Construction has responded positively to calls for a cross-industry response to the Grenfell Tower disaster. Editor Nick Barrett also sees growing support for calls to reintroduce a clerk of works type function as new attitudes to risk management take hold.

News
Our news round up focusses on new guidance from the TCC on public procurement related cases; new consultation on corporate manslaughter sentencing; and the rising level of health and safety fines.

Legal terms explained
Olivia Liang and Michael Mendelblat of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP explain what is meant by estoppel.

Guest editor
Consequential losses and exclusion clauses
Guest editor Jane Fender-Allison of CMS examines a change in the wind around consequential losses and exclusion clauses. She argues that a number of recent cases have opened the door to a more straightforward and commercial approach.

Legislation state of play table
Clyde & Co provide our regular round up of the progress of legislation as it makes its way through the UK and EC legislative systems. Alexander Ghandi and Emily Morris discuss the briefing paper on Planning for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

Reports from the courts
Our regular round up court cases of most interest to construction from Andrew Croft and Nadir Hasan of Beale & Company LLP includes a decision in which the slip rule proved crucial; and one where the court supported the view that an insured’s policy is not disclosable.

Contracts monitor
New contract gets on the case
Our contracts monitor Michael Phipps, Principal of Thurston Consultants, casts his eye over the JCT Repair and Maintenance Contract (Commercial) 2016. The contract warns that specialist insurance advice should be sought.

CL guides
CL Guide to: Price and payment
Clare Rushton reviews the main ways in which price and payment are dealt with in construction contracts in the latest of our Guides from DLA Piper.

Contracts
NEC4: A collaborative challenge to project management
Former NEC drafting panel adviser Tony Backler and Stephen Woodward of Resolex examine the newly launched NEC4 which aims to help bring construction procurement into the 21st Century. Alliancing and risk management are key themes of the new contract.

Legislation
Health and safety – the need to go above and beyond
High fines and prison sentences for health and safety breaches are becoming more common. Helen Bowdren and Gurbinder Grewal of Dentons consider the new challenges facing construction.

Arbitration
Has the sun set on South Africa’s arbitration ambitions?
Kemi Adekoya and Michael Mendelblat of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP look at the new Arbitration Bill recently introduced to the South African Parliament that will apply to international arbitrations, which should increase its appeal as an arbitration venue.

Payments
Getting your own back
Louis Zvesper of Hardwicke analyses a recent case that highlights the risk of over-payments not being returned to the out of pocket by the courts, and highlights some of the situations in which this can happen.

Insurance
Correct claims are crucial
Insurance expert John D Wright of JD Risk Associates warns that correct procedure must be followed in making claims under insurance policies – but many claimants fail to even notify their insurer that a claim has arisen.

Alternative dispute resolution
Don’t slip on the ‘slip rule’
Our latest alternative dispute resolution series article, from Jamie Calvy of Clyde & Co LLP, urges caution when using the slip rule if an adjudicator’s decision is to be challenged.

Construction Law: July 2017

Editor’s comment
Time to refocus on quality
Editor Nick Barrett argues for a cross industry approach to analysing what has happened to the construction industry’s approach to quality, called into question by disasters in London and Edinburgh.

News
Our regular news round up focuses on the fallout from the Grenfell Tower disaster; launch of the NEC4 contracts; and more schools defects revealed in Edinburgh.

Legal terms explained
Frustration and force majeure are explained by Emma Kurtovich and Michael Mendelblat of Herbert Smith Freehills.

Guest editor
Judges backing off common sense approach?
Guest editor Vijay Bange of Trowers & Hamlins LLP views the courts’ attitude to interpreting contracts. The commercial common sense versus literal interpretation of words used conflict is unresolved, he says.

Legislation state of play table
Our regular update of the progress of legislation as it passes through the UK and EC legislative systems is provided by Clyde & Co, with a commentary on new payment practices legislation from Richard Kniveton and Ana Bonnington.

Reports from the courts
Our regular review of cases of most importance to construction comes from Andrew Croft and Simii Sivapalan of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP, including one highlighting the potential dangers of giving ad hoc and free advice as a business development initiative; and another showing how a widely drafted limit of liability clause may still be reasonable and therefore enforceable under unfair contract terms legislation.

Contracts monitor
Digitising benefits not fully realised
Our contracts monitor Michael Phipps, Principal of Thurston Consultants, continues his scrutiny of the JCT Minor Works Building Contract. Some 35 years since JCT Forms were first digitised, full advantage has not yet been taken of the wide range of searches which digitising permits, he says.

CL guides
CL Guide to: adjudication
Michael Tomlinson of DLA Piper presents the latest in our Construction Law guides series, explaining how the adjudication regime works. A useful checklist is provided to help steer through what can be a tricky course.

Legislation
The legal challenges of Brexit for construction projects
Brexit poses particular challenges for those drafting and negotiating contracts for construction projects in the UK, explain Peter Kitson and Mark Fletcher of Russell-Cooke LLP in this overview of the risks.

Adjudication
Adjudicator not bound to accept answers
Stephen Radcliffe of Walker Morris LLP reviews a recent case dealing with jurisdiction and natural justice arguments, in which the court also commented on serial adjudications, severance of decisions, and the use of ‘catch all’ provisions in notices of adjudication and referral notices.

Contracts
PSA 2017: striking the right balance?
Jennifer Badham of Withers LLP looks at the ACE Professional Services Agreement from an employer’s perspective. The new version doesn’t go far enough to strike a balance between the interests of consultants and their clients and funders, she concludes.

Minimum acceptable performance levels
Failing to meet performance related criteria can lead to termination of contracts, so clauses need careful drafting, and reading. Suriya Edwards of Geldards LLP reports on a case that offers a guide to how the courts will interpret contracts containing performance clauses.

Insurance
When is damage not a defect?
Insurance expert John D Wright of JD Risk Associates explains the cover available for defects, which insurance companies as a rule do not feel they should be liable for. Claims can be affected by details of what is insured damage and what is a defect.

Alternative dispute resolution
Injustice not to be simply assumed
In our latest alternative dispute resolution series article Rupert Coldwell of Clyde & Co examines an attempt to remove arbitrators for allegedly failing to properly conduct proceedings.

Construction Law: June 2017

Editor’s comment    
Construction and lawyers face same wave of change
Collaboration and innovation are regarded as essential for improving construction performance, but they might not be enough. Editor Nick Barrett reports on warnings technological changes will force even more sweeping changes across all industries.

News 
Our news round up this month features a trial for Integrated Project Insurance; a survey showing that fines for health and safety breaches have doubled; and imprisonment for three company directors following the death of a worker.

Legal terms explained
James Doe and Philip Parrott of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP explain what is meant by the term material breach.

Guest editor
FAC-1: £9.5 billion in its first year
Guest editor Professor David Mosey of King’s College London Centre of Construction Law reports on the first year of use of the FAC-1 Framework Alliance Contract. A major success has been its adoption by the Crown Commercial Service on its £2.8 billion national frameworks of project managers and architects.

Legislation state of play table
Our regular update of the progress of legislation as it passes through the UK and EC legislative systems is provided by Clyde & Co, with a commentary on the recent Nuclear Decommissioning Authority case by George Bazinas and Alexander Ghandi.

Reports from the courts
Our regular round up of the court cases of most interest to construction, by Simii Sivapalan and Andrew Croft of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP, looks at a decision shedding light on how the courts interpret the NEC3 ‘mutual trust and cooperation’ obligations; and another highlighting the perils of lengthy and document heavy contracts.

Contracts monitor
Termination a major complexity on minor works
Contracts monitor Michael Phipps, Principal of Thurston Consultants, continues to scrutinise the JCT Minor Works contract, particularly its insurance provisions. Not all defined terms being used are found in the definitions list.

CL guides
CL Guide to: Letters of intent 
Jennie Price of DLA Piper presents the latest of our ‘nuts and bolts’ guides to construction law, explaining how letters of intent work and pitfalls to watch out for.

Contracts
Introducing NEC4 – what changes are proposed?
Anthony Albertini and Emily Morris of Clyde & Co LLP take an early look at the promised changes that NEC4 will contain. Will an over reliance on Z-clauses be ended?

Modern slavery
Transparency and the Modern Slavery Act 2015
Larger companies now need to publish annual statements about their anti-human slavery policies. Suriya Edwards of Geldards explains what has to be done to avoid falling foul of the modern slavery legislation.

Termination
Termination for convenience seldom a two-way street
Marie-Therese Groarke of Withers examines case law relating to ‘termination for convenience’ clauses, which are increasingly being used as nervousness caused by volatility induced by Brexit and falling oil prices grows.

Variations
Valuing variations in the Middle East
Andrew Jones of Dentons warns that contractual rates that overstate the value of contract items can come back to haunt contractors, as some are finding against a background of falling demand in the Middle East.

Insurance
Plant hire imposes onerous conditions
Insurance expert John D Wright of JD Risk Associates warns of the possible insurance problems faced when covering risk of damage and theft to hired plant. More than one policy might have to be in place, he warns.

Alternative dispute resolution
How not to resist enforcement of an adjudicator’s decision
In our latest alternative dispute resolution series article Nathanial Horrocks-Burns of Clyde & Co analyses a TCC case that can be taken as a guide on how not to challenge an adjudicator’s decision.

Construction Law: May 2017

Editor’s comment    
Procurement off the rails
Editor Nick Barrett say the HS2 conflicts of interest controversy suggests that the UK’s procurement problems extend well beyond the usual civil service whipping boys.

News
This month’s news round up focusses on further developments in the Edinburgh school building scandal; a survey alleging a disconnect between law firms and their clients; and a report suggesting employees would not report unethical business behaviour because of career fears.

Legal terms explained
Ann Levin and Kemi Adekoya of Herbert Smith Freehills explain on demand and conditional performance bonds.

Guest editor
Keep calm and carry-on
Guest editor Darryl Royce of Atkin Chambers says the position relating to debt recovery costs in adjudication remains unclear despite a court ruling that many seem to think has brought clarity.

Legislation state of play table
Our regular update of the progress of legislation as it passes through the UK and EC legislative systems comes from Clyde & Co. Jamie Calvy and Emily Morris provide a commentary on the Budget.

Reports from the courts
Our regular review of the cases of most interest to construction from Andrew Croft and Simii Sivapalan of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP focuses on a ruling that highlights the importance of keeping an eye on limitation periods when counterclaims may be likely; and one that underlines the importance of issuing payment and/or pay less notices in time.

Contracts monitor
Consistent wording hard to achieve
Contracts monitor Michael Phipps, Principal of Thurston Consultants, scrutinises the insurance provisions of the JCT Minor Works Building Contract. Keeping insurers abreast of changes to wordings of clauses is essential, he cautions.

CL guides
CL Guide to: Two stage tenders
In the latest of our ‘nuts and bolts’ guides Rachel Chaplin of DLA Piper explains how two stage tendering works. A key benefit of this approach is early contractor involvement, but there are also potential drawbacks.

Collaboration
Collaborative consulting  
Three new forms of professional services contract have been published in the early months of 2017, by the ACE, the IChemE and FIDIC. All seek to promote collaborative ways of working, as Tom Pemberton of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP explains.

Procurement
Teething problems with Scottish public procurement
After a year of life under the new Scottish public procurement rules Graeme Young and Helen Fyfe of CMS Cameron McKenna LLP examine how they are bedding in. The goal of a quicker and simpler tendering process is still to be achieved, they find.

Arbitration
More transparency in arbitration
Raid Abu-Manneh, Juliana Castillo and Rachael O’Grady of Mayer Brown examine the new ICC Rules 2017 and explain their potential impact on construction arbitrations. More transparency is promised, which could be of benefit.

Contracts
Is NEC Option X.15 fit for purpose?
NEC reverses the normal burden of proof for defects, placing the onus on the contractor to prove that his design was not defective. Max Wieliczko and Katherine Doran of Holman Fenwick Willan LLP ask whether NEC’s ‘reasonable skill and care’ contractors’ design option is really fit for purpose.

Insurance
Joint names clauses create own problems
Insurance expert John D Wright of JD Risk Associates reviews the development of joint names insurance clauses in construction contracts, noting that they have not prevented disputes reaching the courts. Who bears the risks in any given situation continues to be a question not always easily answered.

Alternative dispute resolution
Security and arbitral awards
In our latest alternative dispute resolution series article David Owens and Rebecca Evans of Clyde & Co LLP report on a Supreme Court ruling on a very long running dispute that provides clarity on aspects of the arbitration enforcement regime.

Construction Law: April 2017

Editor’s comment    
Out with the old normal – in with the new? 
Editor Nick Barrett says evidence that government efforts to improve procurement are working should be welcomed; but old Whitehall practices might yet scupper their efforts.

News
Our news round up includes launch of a new suite of contracts including a Professional Services Agreement; a warning that government procurement reforms might fail if ministerial attention wavers; and a £100 million compensation bill arising from a botched nuclear procurement.

Legal terms explained  
James Doe and Emma Kurtovich of Herbert Smith Freehills explain what is meant by the prevention principle.

Guest editor
Latent Damage Act 1986 – time for reform
Guest editor Marie-Therese Groarke of Withers argues that the Latent Damage Act is largely redundant in most negligence cases involving latent defects, and either it or the law relating to economic loss is in need of reform.

Legislation state of play table
Our regular update of the progress of legislation as it passes through the UK and EC legislative systems comes from Clyde & Co. Richard Kniveton and Tim Saxon comment on the recent housing White Paper.

Reports from the courts 
Our regular round up of the court decisions of most interest to construction from Andrew Croft and Simii Sivapalan of Beale & Company LLP includes a decision highlighting that payment notices need to be free from ambiguity; and another confirming a trend for courts to adopt a common sense approach to liability limiting clauses.

Contracts monitor
Valuation no invite to creative thinking
Our contracts monitor Michael Phipps, Principal of Thurston Consultants, continues his scrutiny of the JCT Minor Works Building Contract, turning to the procedure for payment applications.

CL guides
CL Guide to: NEC3 (Part 2)
This second part of our guide to the NEC Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC), by Jon Gaskell, a Legal Director at DLA Piper, focusses on key aspects of core cll 6 to 9, together with the dispute resolution options, secondary option clauses and contract data.

Payments
Court expands on pay less issues
Andrew Croft and Stephen Jones of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP review how the courts view payment and pay less notices in the light of recent decisions. The overall picture will be looked at when considering whether a notice is valid, they argue.

A trump card for employers
In the second of our articles concerning pay less notices Suriya Edwards of Geldards LLP analyses a recent case that helps legitimise employer friendly contractual terms, highlighting how employers can use pay less notices to manage cash flow.

Forecast
Expected legal and litigation trends in 2017
Charlie Thompson of Hardwicke looks into the crystal ball to make some predictions about what the rest of 2017 might hold for the industry’s legal picture. Much uncertainty lies ahead in several key areas, he warns.

Diversity
Pressure rises to increase diversity
How diverse is the construction industry as a workplace, ask Akin Akinbode, Sarah Beeby, Esther McDermott and Michael Wright of Dentons. Pressure is mounting to increase diversity with new regulations on gender pay in force from April 2017.

Insurance
Inherent defects insurance popularity growing
Inherent defects insurance has never been popular in the UK but, says insurance expert John D Wright of JD Risk Associates, the traditional view of it as just an onerous and unnecessary cost is changing.

Alternative dispute resolution
Mediation – an introduction
Our latest alternative dispute resolution article from Clyde & Co’s Christopher Leadbetter explains the benefits of mediation.

Construction Law: March 2017

Editor’s comment    
Matron could cure schools of scandal
Private finance has been given the all clear by the Construction of Edinburgh Schools inquiry but the entire UK construction industry’s quality assurance approach has been called into question, says Editor Nick Barrett.

News
Our regular news round up focuses on a survey showing major contractors are owed over £1bn in retentions; an inquiry into defective school buildings; and a survey showing that the level of health and safety fines of over £1m is rising dramatically.

Legal terms explained
Ann Levin and Michael Sharp of Herbert Smith Freehills explain concurrent delay.

Guest editor
Construction costs: a call to action
Guest editor Paul Lowe of Weightmans LLP, a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL), examines research that points the way towards reducing the errors that give rise to construction disputes. Losses from errors exceed the industry’s annual profits.

Legislation state of play table
Clyde & Co provide our regular update on the progress of legislation affecting construction as it passes through the UK and EC legislative systems. Lois Putnam and Alex Devereux comment on new government procurement guidance.

Reports from the courts
In our regular round up of the court decisions of most interest to construction Andrew Croft and Simii Sivapilan of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP report on a shipbuilding dispute where the court gave a wide interpretation to an exclusion of ‘consequential loss’; and another confirming that an adjudication on a failure to issue notices in relation to an interim payment will not prevent a party commencing a second adjudication in relation to the value of the works.

Contracts monitor
Wordy clauses need to be simplified
Our contracts monitor, Michael Phipps, Principal of Thurston Consultants, scrutinises the new JCT Minor Works Building Contract and welcomes some helpful changes. Some clauses remain longer than they need be, he argues.

CL guides
Construction Law Guide to: NEC3
In the first instalment of a two part article, our latest CL Guide, from Corinne McCarthy of DLA Piper LLP, looks at the NEC Engineering and Construction Contract.

Arbitration
Emergency arbitrators and expedited tribunals   
The unavailability of emergency relief has often been cited in the past as a drawback of arbitration. James Doe and Robin Wood of Herbert Smith Freehills report that emergency provisions are now available and working well.

Adjudication
Recovery of costs in adjudication – a missed opportunity?
Vijay Bange of Trowers & Hamlyns LLP reports on a court ruling that represents a conceptual shift from the previous established position for costs recovery under the Construction Act. An authoritative statement on the applicability of the Act to the recovery of a party’s costs in recovering a debt in adjudication is now needed.

Payments
Paying for your mistakes
Recent court rulings have highlighted the dangers of failing to issue pay less notices. Jennifer Badham of Withers reports on a case that provides at least some relief for paying parties who fail to issue notices on time at final account stage.

Procurement
Slow procurement might hinder new market
Cecily Davis and Zina Leseanu of Fieldfisher say the government’s new industrial strategy, which places construction at the heart of plans to reinvent the UK, will mean a new dawn for district heating projects. Here, they consider some of the procurement challenges that will arise.

Insurance
Damage to the works – loss of revenue
Insurance expert John D Wright of JD Risk Associates explains issues surrounding consequential losses, which contract works policies will specifically exclude.

Alternative dispute resolution
Promoting conflict avoidance
An industry wide clamour for collaborative working and conflict avoidance procedures is starting to be reflected in contracts, says Chris Kerr of Clyde & Co in our latest alternative dispute resolution series article.