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.

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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.

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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.

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Mediation – an introduction

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

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New and proposed legislation: State of play table 218

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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Fixing the housing market

On 7 February 2017, the government published a White Paper entitled ‘Fixing our Broken Housing Market’. The ‘Housing Crisis’ is a pertinent political issue with both major parties taking the view that the housing market does not currently support the average individual. For example, in the South-East of England in 2015, while average house prices rose by £29,000, average income in the region was only £24,542. The White Paper therefore sets out a comprehensive reform package to increase housing supply and halt the decline in housing affordability.

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Legal terms explained: the prevention principle

‘The essence of the prevention principle is that the promisee cannot insist upon the performance of an obligation which he has prevented the promisor from performing’ (see Multiplex Constructions (UK) Ltd v Honeywell Control Systems Ltd (No 2) [2007] BLR 195).

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Out with the old normal – in with the new?

Commercial excellence is to be the ‘new normal’ in public sector procurement, Sir Jeremy Heywood, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, has said in a blog on the civil service website.   

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Construction site manager guilty of manslaughter

A project manager has been found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence after a woman walking past a London building site was killed when three large window frames fell on her.

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Contractor fined following dumper death

Laing O’Rourke Construction has been fined £800,000 after 38 year old employee Philip Griffiths was crushed and killed by a dumper truck at Heathrow Airport in October 2014.

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