Fenwick Elliott Solicitors updates
Are milestone payments an adequate payment mechanism in construction contracts?
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 03 February 2020
The Court of Appeal recently considered whether milestone payments in a construction contract constituted an adequate mechanism for payment in terms of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, as amended. The decision is a helpful reminder that where standard payment terms are replaced by bespoke amendments as to stage or milestone payments, it is imperative to ensure that they are properly drafted.
Amey LG Ltd v Aggregate Industries UK Ltd
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 20 January 2020
A court recently considered the entirety of a building material supplier's actions – including its refusal to sign a draft deed and assertions that its terms were unacceptable – and deemed it impossible to see the conduct as an agreement of the totality of the draft deed's terms. The court further held that the main contractor's conduct had not amounted to an agreement to abandon some terms of the draft deed while accepting that the others had contractual effect.
TeCSA launches LVDs adjudication service
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 05 August 2019
The Technology and Construction Solicitors' Association recently launched a low-value disputes (LVDs) adjudication service, which is being run on a pilot basis until November 2019. The LVDs service aims to give parties that wish to refer disputes for fixed amounts of up to £100,000 (excluding value added tax and interest) to adjudication greater certainty as to the costs involved.
Breaking ground: technology in construction
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 20 May 2019
The continuing development of robotics and AI is a potential game changer for the construction industry and may help to resolve (or at least improve) skills shortages and poor productivity rates. However, this technological future will also bring new risk profiles to construction contracts and additional contractual provisions to deal with matters such as IP rights, data protection, confidentiality, health and safety and cyber risk. Perhaps the real question is how this technology will develop and what its impact will be onsite.
AI and construction law: an essential and inevitable partnership
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 11 February 2019
In light of the discussion and hype surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), this article considers AI and construction law in the context of risk and contract management, as well as a number of existing technologies which could assist in this respect. With greater collaboration between lawyers and clients, AI can bring greater efficiencies and efficacies to contract generation, review, analysis and management processes.
How the 2017 FIDIC contract deals with time
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 29 October 2018
In 2017 the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) finally unveiled the Second Edition of the 1999 Rainbow Suite, Red, Yellow and Silver Books. This article examines how the FIDIC form deals with time and includes an appendix detailing the changes made to Clause 8, the primary clause which deals with time or 'Commencement, Delays and Suspension' from the original 1999 contract.
Know your position: an overview of the role of the certifier
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 13 August 2018
Certifiers hold a key role in construction contracts. Certificates, statements and decisions issued by certifiers can have a huge impact on cash flow. Their actions can also provide a recipe for disputes where the certifier is viewed as, or is, one-sided or biased. So, what are the basic laws governing certification and what can be done when something goes wrong in the process?
Victory House General Partner Ltd v RGB P&C Ltd
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 18 June 2018
An application was recently made to restrain notice being given of a winding-up petition which sought payment of some £820,000 following an adjudicator's decision in respect of goods supplied and services rendered for the development and conversion of Victory House. The adjudicator had rejected Victory House's argument that it was not liable to pay the sum identified in the interim application because the parties had entered into a memorandum of understanding which provided for other payments to be made.
Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd v Sarens (UK) Ltd
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 21 May 2018
CBUK and Sarens recently sought a determination, following an adjudicator's decision, of a dispute over the terms and interpretation of a subcontract. Sarens had been engaged by CBUK to provide cranes and other equipment for the installation of six bridges along the M6 link road. CBUK had been engaged as subcontractor to Costain under a modified NEC3 contract. The dispute was about what, if anything, CBUK and Sarens had agreed about the provision of liquidated damages.
Gosvenor London Ltd v Aygun Aluminium UK Ltd
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 14 May 2018
After Gosvenor agreed to perform certain cladding works for Aygun, disputes arose and Gosvenor applied to enforce an adjudicator's decision. Aygun accepted that adjudicators' decisions will be enforced by the courts, regardless of errors of fact or law, but alleged fraud on the part of Gosvenor, stating that "a substantial proportion" of the adjudication award had been based on sums which were fraudulently invoiced. However, no allegations of fraud had been raised in the adjudication proceedings.
Complying with instructions: Oil States Industries (UK) Ltd v Lagan Building Contractors Ltd
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 30 April 2018
In 2014 OSI and Lagan entered into a contract for the design and construction of a new production facility. During the course of the contract, OSI's agent issued certain instructions and in July 2016 OSI gave notice to Lagan that it was in default in failing to comply with four of these instructions. OSI said that Lagan did not remedy the default and accordingly gave notice of termination. In a preliminary hearing, Lagan held that two of the contract instructions had been invalid.
Claims for overhead and profit: Fluor Ltd v Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co, Ltd
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 23 April 2018
In a recent judgment in an ongoing dispute about the quality of steel monopiles at an offshore wind farm, a judge had to consider claims for overhead and profit. The plaintiff had claimed a percentage for overheads at a rate of 4%, which the judge was reluctant to accept. While the judge suspected that the plaintiff may well have incurred increased overhead costs as a result of breaches of contract, he was not prepared "to pluck a figure out of the air".
Who owns those goods? Unpicking the mess in a construction context
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 02 April 2018
The insolvency of Carillion has placed into sharp relief the difficulties faced by those both up and down the contractual chain for a construction project when one part of that chain becomes insolvent and the ultimate supplier of goods and materials on site has not been paid. There are a number of key considerations parties need to bear in mind if they are unfortunate enough to be faced with a Carillion-type situation and need an answer to the question: who owns those goods?
Is this the end of 'smash and grab' adjudications?
Fenwick Elliott Solicitors- Construction
- United Kingdom
- 12 March 2018
A recent judgment has provided an important clarification in relation to the issue of 'smash and grab' adjudications and will likely be welcomed by the construction industry. Contrary to previous judgments, the court held that it is possible for a paying party to adjudicate on the 'true value' of an interim application in circumstances where no payment or pay less notices were given and there has been a successful smash and grab adjudication.
