Disputes

The complexity of   construction, engineering and process plant projects   often result in some form of disagreements between the parties. These could be between:

• Employer and Professional Team
• Employer and Contractor
• Contractor and Sub-contractor
• Employer/Contractor and Suppliers
• Funding Institution and any of the above

Typically these disputes will involve two main elements that are closely linked being time and money and may also involve allegations of defective works.

Our combined experience in this area is particularly rich and involves all manner of projects in all manner of work sectors and dispute values both domestically and internationally. We have worked on recovery or defence of claims ranging from a few thousand pounds (UK) to many millions. Whilst the numbers may vary the general principles remain the same. This experience has lead us to:

• Provide opinion on the merits of a particular claim or contractual terms a party proposes using
• Advise on suitable responses or defence to claim situations
• Advise on the format for the presentation of a claim and claim production itself
• Provide litigation support through technical input to our client's lawyers
• Write, submit and   conduct or   defend claims in Arbitration and Adjudication (statutory in the UK and contractual overseas)
• Provide negotiation services for our client representing or advising them in meetings
• Undertake mediations on behalf of our client

Within the UK parties who have entered into a Construction Contract will often adopt Adjudication as a means of settling the dispute. In some particular cases the use of Arbitration is more suitable although less common in the domestic dispute resolution environment. For projects where the client/funder/contractor are an overseas based organisation Arbitration is frequently the preferred dispute resolution process.

When a client requests our advice on a matter we will alway perform a conflict of interest check to ensure we are not currently advising the other party. For this reason we occassionally have to decline to provide advice on certain issues. 

Whatever the nature or value of the construction/engineering or process plant dispute you have to deal with please feel free to contact us using our Query form.