Reports from the courts: May 2017

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.

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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.

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Construction Law 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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New and proposed legislation: State of play table 219

This table, prepared by Clyde & Co, provides a regularly amended guide to new and proposed legislation that will affect the construction industry. In addition to EU Directives and UK legislation, the table includes notes highlighting discussion papers issued by both government and non-government organisations, and commentary on the latest developments.

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