Category: Legal
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Building Safety Levy Q&A: everything construction needs to know
In this Q&A, Simon Lewis and Michelle Essen set out some important information about the levy so construction can get to grips with it before its implementation in autumn 2026. (Image: Erix2005 via Dreamstime.com) So much has been said about the levy these past few years – can you summarise the current position? Following this,…
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JCT updates ‘may catch out the unaware’
With JCT 2016 due to be taken out of print next year, experts are urging users of the suite to understand changes in the 2024 contract. The subject was discussed at a CIOB Midlands CPD event focused on two key topics shaping the future of construction: JCT 2024 contracts and the Building Safety Act. A…
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How construction is incorporating ESG into contracts
Ahead of World Environment Day on 5 June, Amy Hodge and Ciara Fieldsend explore how ESG clauses are becoming more common in construction contracts, and share some examples of their use. (Image: Dzmitry Auramchik via Dreamstime.com/AI-generated) Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations are increasingly important in the construction industry. As laws and client expectations evolve,…
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‘How can I fight a wrong adjudication award?’
This month’s contract clinic question comes from a contractor on the sharp end of an adjudication award over a cladding remediation project. Nicholas Zeolla sets out the options for contesting an adjudication. The question: Help – I have received a (wrong) adjudication award against my construction company as a result of a dispute over costs…
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what you should know about the URS v BDW ruling
Tim Hillier and Olivia Jenkins explore the impact of the recent landmark building safety Supreme Court judgment in URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd. (Image: Andrew Howson via Dreamstime.com) Although the judgment did not decide the outcome of BDW’s underlying claim for the recovery of losses from URS, it nonetheless provides useful guidance regarding…
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‘Should we worry about Middle East contract law?’
Building relationships, rooted in respect for family values and friendship, is a vital part of business interaction. In the construction sector, the contract is often viewed as a secondary tool, referred to as a last resort. Therefore, it’s common for claims related to time extensions or payments to be resolved through negotiation, often near project…
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On WhatsApp contracts and the validity of payment applications
The Court held that the informal WhatsApp conversation constituted formal acceptance of Fincham’s quotation, forming an agreement. As this was a commercial transaction, the intention to create legal relations was presumed, thus confirming that a formal contract had been formed. View the original article and our Inspiration here
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What’s in the Construction Products Reform Green Paper?
Simon Lewis and Michelle Essen review key points of the government’s consultation on its proposals for the reform of the construction products regime. (Image: Sergeevspb via Dreamstime) This 158-page Green Paper lays out the enormous complexity of our current system and the largescale changes proposed to transform the industry. It also poses 58 questions to…
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Everything contractors should know about RIDDOR
In one case, an employee was clearing a site for a new house when the 1.7-tonne excavator he was using tipped over and crushed his leg. His employer neither investigated the incident, nor reported it to the HSE. Eight months later, the employee sadly lost his leg and complained to the HSE. The employer was…
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Four ways construction can navigate Trump’s tariffs
Uncertainty is usually a cause for concern in construction. However, it is nothing new to the UK market. Recent years have seen Brexit, covid, war in Ukraine and more. The effects of the tariffs are likely to be another in a long line of challenges affecting the supply chain. The industry has proven itself to…