One of the contract traps for anyone providing construction works is a fitness for purpose obligation. This type of strict liability output obligation is rarely expressly included in a construction contract* (one of the arguments being that it is not covered by standard insurances). However… Fit for furpose Whenever I
In the first of series of 3 posts, Susannah Lee, an expert disputes solicitor, looks at how clarity in your contract can help avoid disputes – which cause long term damage to your skilfully nurtured business relationships. Construction projects are prone to disputes because of their technical, procedural and managerial
Although we have had enforceable contracts in English law for 150+ years, the process by which they are formed remains something of a mystery. Our contract processes have been called ‘haphazard’, our approach ‘cavalier’, and we get stuck in endless games of email contract tennis. One way to resolve some
Rather than making resolutions to do meaningless stuff, this tips sheet introduces my top 10 things to stop doing and one key thing to start doing. Read the full edition here » One thing you could start to do in 2018 is to learn to embrace failure… Change is a
In his Forbes article (the Most Valuable Business Commodity: Trust), David Williams proposed that trust within an organisation existed when 9 behaviours or actions were evident. Six of these apply directly to the construction supply network. The behaviours are signs of an emotionally intelligent project team. Behaviours to reinforce Be
In EQ in Contracts I asked whether any contracts refer to the need for a good standard of emotional intelligence (EQ) for the parties. Good EQ is critical to meet the demands of the construction industry. Elizabeth Kavanagh, head of research and innovation at Stride Treglown, emailed to say that
The construction industry is not known for the simplicity of its projects. And it certainly isn’t known for the simplicity of the documents which describe those projects – technical specifications and legal conditions are long, complex and hard to understand. The recent Robin Rigg windfarm case provides a stark warning
Dy Lynda Shaw in her book Your Brain is Boss says: So often we do not see or hear accurately what someone is trying to communicate, because we get the gist and fill in the gaps according to our own experience and perception so far. You may recognise some of
Weirdly, avoiding disputes does not seem to be a key factor driving the drafting of contracts (although PPC2000 might be an exception). However, given the rising cost and time involved in resolving disputes, as well as the damage to reputations and the sustainability of a company, it should be. My
What is a watertight contract? In my view it is like the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow – we’d all like it to exist, but it doesn’t. Recent examples like Pimlico plumbers, Uber and Oakhurst diary have shown how so-called watertight contracts have been leaking at