Legal

Alex Delin is a construction partner at law firm Irwin Mitchell A recent decision from the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) in VMA Services Ltd v Project One London Ltd [2025] EWHC 1815 offers a timely reminder to contractors about the importance of payment notices and the jurisdiction conferred on…

Catrice Gayer and James Doe are partners at law firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer The outcome of a construction dispute often turns on expert evidence. It follows that finding and selecting the right expert has become one of the most important decisions parties can make in a dispute. And as…

Emma Bowles is a tax partner at accountancy and advisory firm JS In the construction industry, where succession planning and long-term continuity can often be difficult to achieve, employee-ownership trusts (EOTs) have emerged as a potential alternative to traditional exit strategies. While EOTs offer significant tax and legacy benefits, construction…

As a pre-action legal letter is sent to the MoJ, CN asks if project bank account agreements are worth the paper they’re written on

Claire Atkins is a partner in the construction team at law firm Broadfield Like many, I would feel a moment of joy on seeing nesting falcons or bats in their natural habitat. However, the thought of protected wildlife on a construction site makes my heart sink for the developer.  Under…

Penny Rinta-Suksi is a partner at law firm Blake Morgan If the government’s latest Spending Review is anything to go by, the momentum behind the next generation of public-private partnerships (PPPs) is showing no signs of slowing.   “Those of us who provide legal advice on PFIs see the same mistakes…

Bill Barton is a director at Barton Legal It’s no secret that British contractors have faced a turbulent time of late. There are a number of reasons for that, not least the same high interest rates and general economic sluggishness that are impacting businesses all across the UK. Those challenges…

Rob Driscoll is the director of legal and business at the Electrical Contractors’ Association The government’s latest proposals to tackle late payments represent the most ambitious legislative overhaul in over a century. For the construction industry, where withheld retentions, long payment terms and cascading insolvencies are routine, this could be…

Peter Stockill is a partner and head of construction advisory and dispute resolution at law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper  Those involved in administering payments under construction contracts know all too well that, in the absence of a payment or pay-less notice, an application for payment may give rise to a…

Jonathan Carrington is a senior associate at law firm RPC The Supreme Court’s May judgment in URS Corporation Ltd vs BDW Trading Ltd marks a landmark moment for construction liability in the UK. It may increase the risk of future negligence, Defective Premises Act (DPA) and contribution claims – even…