Challenging times

Our regular alternative dispute resolution article comes from Kirsti Olson and Alex Wendelken-Dickson of Dentons UK and Middle East LLP who look at court attitudes to poorly founded challenges to adjudication decisions.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

Legal terms explained: Uniform rules for demand guarantees

The Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees (URDG) are a codified set of contractual rules published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) which govern demand guarantees and counter-guarantees.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

Emergency Arbitration: How can this international concept be applied to UK construction?

Guest Editor Mike Waring of Knights suggests proposed new emergency arbitration procedures could help the UK maintain its reputation as a leading arbitration jurisdiction. Although such procedures are regarded as crucial internationally, they are not covered by the Arbitration Act 1996.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

Reports from the courts: November 2024

Our regular round up of the court decisions of most interest to construction comes from Andrew Croft, Ben Spannuth and Daniela Miklova of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP who examine a judgment supporting the Scottish law position that an adjudicator’s decision as to liability for their fees cannot be challenged, even if the adjudicator’s decision is later reversed; and another that serves as a reminder that parties are under a duty to mitigate their losses, so only reasonable costs should be incurred owing to another party’s alleged breach, and parties must be able to evidence that such costs have been reasonably incurred.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

Reports highlight causes of disputes and cost failures

Our latest Analysis series article looks at two recent reports that highlight causes of disputes and management failures on projects. Causes are reasonably easy to pinpoint; solutions remain elusive.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

Construction Law Guide to: EPC Contracts

The latest in our CL Guides series comes from Joanne Bennett and Daniel Warren of DLA Piper UK LLP who look at what EPC contracts involve.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

JCT Design and Build 24: Ground condition risk allocation

Michael Allan of Pinsent Masons LLP examines the JCT Design and Build contract treatment of ground conditions risk. Additional provisions and reliefs have been introduced in the 2024 revision to deal with asbestos, contamination and unexploded ordnance.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail – mitigating the risk of contractor insolvency

Andrea Leigh of Trowers & Hamlins LLP looks at what can be done to protect against the worst impacts of contractor insolvency. Project Bank Accounts and alliancing contracts are key measures that offer protection to the supply chain.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

Adjudication and collateral warranties

Doug Wass of Macfarlanes looks at the recent Supreme Court decision on whether collateral warranties are to be seen as construction contracts under the Construction Act. The decision brings certainty to what was a confused picture.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

Adjudication enforcement: let’s set-off again!

Karen Gough of 39 Essex Chambers warns that set-off is very unlikely to succeed as a defence to adjudication enforcement proceedings. Recent court decisions show that applications that undermine the prompt payment obligation in the Construction Act may be technically permissible, but will not succeed.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.