About Construction Law
In construction, knowing the law is only part of the challenge. It’s also important to see things from a commercial perspective and understand the connection between the agreements you’re advising on and what happens on the ground – knowing when to push a point or let it go and enabling you to give your clients advice that they can work with. From design to build and beyond.
Issues in construction contracts
Applying statutory requirements when drafting and negotiating construction contracts throws up common problems and disputes. We cover HGCRA 1996 requirements plus other issues lke retention, set off, and escrow.
Construction disputes
In-depth guidance and precedent documents for enforcing and challenging the adjudicator’s decision. From correcting errors under the slip rule, to grounds for a jurisdictional challenge, this is the place to go.
Standard form construction contracts
We publish JCT 2016 contracts and FIDIC contracts, and have related schedules of amendments for key forms. See other schedules of amendments, practice notes, and checklists for forms including NEC, MF/1, ICC.
Commercial perspective
Understand the connection between the agreements you’re advising on and what happens on the ground. Know when to push a point or let it go, and give your clients advice they can work with from design to build and beyond.
Topics We Cover
Latest Construction News
Construction analysis: The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) released its much anticipated Target Cost Contract 2024 family on 25 June 2025. This is the...
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published a blog post on the four new guides to the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) 2024 contract...
This week's edition of Construction weekly highlights includes the release of the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) Target Cost Contract family, a House...
The Building Safety Act (BSA) Working Group has submitted proposed amendments to the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) Guide to address...
The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) has released the 2024 Target Cost Contract (TCC) family, along with the Tendering Practice Note 2024. Reference...
Latest Construction Practice Notes
Fire safety defect claims for construction lawyersThe events of the Grenfell Tower fire, which took place on 14 June 2017, are well-known. In the...
Party-appointed experts in international construction arbitrationInternational construction projects can be complex and involve many participants from...
Building and Fire Safety—the position in England, Scotland and WalesThis Practice Note sets out the differing positions on building and fire safety in...
Fire safety defect claims: practical considerationsThis Practice Note sets out practical points that those advising on fire safety defect claims may...
Minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES)—domestic tenants’ energy efficiency improvementsThis Practice Note considers the minimum energy efficiency...
Latest Construction Precedents
Precedent instructions or brief to counsel[IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE[BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS [OF ENGLAND AND WALES OR IN [insert...
Schedule of Amendments to JCT Standard Building Contract Without Quantities 2024The Contract comprises the completed Standard Building Contract...
Schedule of Amendments to JCT Standard Building Contract With Approximate Quantities 2024The Contract comprises the completed Standard Building...
Schedule of Amendments to JCT Intermediate Building Contract 2024Schedule of amendments to the jct intermediate building contract 2024The Contract...
Schedule of Amendments to JCT Intermediate Building Contract with contractor’s design 2024Schedule of amendments to the jct intermediate building...
Latest Construction Q&As
Featured Construction content
What are preliminaries in a construction contract?
What is a variation on a construction project?
What is a variation on a construction project?A variation (sometimes referred to as a change) is an alteration to the scope of work originally...
Time of the essence—construction contracts
Time of the essence—construction contractsWhat does time of the essence mean?Where time is 'of the essence' it means that the stated time for...
Product liability insurance for the construction industry
Product liability insurance for the construction industryThis Practice Note looks at product liability insurance from the perspective of those engaged...
What is the difference between termination, determination and a voided contract?
Escrow accounts and escrow agreements
Escrow accounts and escrow agreementsThis Practice Note examines why parties involved in a construction project may enter into an escrow agreement (or...
Scott Schedules in construction disputes
Scott Schedules in construction disputesScott Schedules are often very useful in construction disputes. They help to identify the key issues between...
Differences between adjudication and other forms of dispute resolution
Differences between adjudication and other forms of dispute resolutionThis Practice Note identifies some of the key differences between adjudication...
Concession contracts—materials and resources
Concession contracts—materials and resourcesA concession is a form of public private partnership (PPP). It is a long term contractual arrangement...
Professional indemnity insurance in construction projects
Professional indemnity insurance in construction projectsThis Practice Note looks at professional indemnity (PI) insurance in the context of...
What is the difference between joint insured, co-insured and composite insured?
Target cost contracts on construction projects
Target cost contracts on construction projectsWhat is a target cost contract?A target cost contract is a type of cost reimbursable contract under...
Defects liability period and rectification of defects
Defects liability period and rectification of defectsIt is common in construction projects for defects to manifest or appear in the works. Most...
Retention of payment in construction contracts
Retention of payment in construction contractsThe concept of a retention from interim payments is commonplace in commercial construction contracts,...
What is practical completion?
What is practical completion?Practical completion marks the end of the construction period of a project, when the works are 'finished' and the...
Quantum in construction claims
Quantum in construction claimsThis Practice Note looks at some of the key considerations that may need to be taken into account when a party to a...
Time at large in construction contracts
Time at large in construction contractsThis Practice Note examines the concept of ‘time at large’ in relation to the completion of works under a...
Sub-contractors' insurance
Sub-contractors' insuranceThis Practice Note looks at how sub-contractors’ liability is typically covered by insurance and considers:•difficulties...
Associated legal terms
NEC3/NEC4
The NEC contracts promote a collaborative approach and are suitable for procuring a range of works. The NEC3 suite was published in 2005—and a further edition followed in 2013. The NEC4 suite was published in June 2017.
Relevant Event
In the JCT form of contract, an event which entitles the contractor to an extension of time in which to complete the works.
Request for information (RFI)
A request by one party to a contract (generally, the contractor) to another party (typically, a consultant) for information in relation to a matter arising in connection with the contract—generally to clarify a technical matter in a contract document or for information that was incomplete when the contract was executed.
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