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
The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2026, SI 2026/97 amend the Civil Procedure Rules 1998. Most provisions commence on 6 April 2026, with two...
The Scottish Government has published minutes from Building Safety Levy Expert Advisory Group meetings held on 4 November 2025 and 28 January 2026,...
The Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) has published a report by Currie & Brown, forecasting that global construction costs will rise by 2.4% in...
The Scottish Government has launched a consultation seeking views on measures to accelerate the build-out of homes on sites already identified for...
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published its UK Construction Monitor for Q4 2025, reporting that construction activity...
Latest Construction Practice Notes
Claims against consultants on construction projectsThis Practice Note looks at claims made against professional consultants (also known as...
Late payment penalties—PAYE, NICs and construction industry schemeThis Practice Note is about the penalty regime in the Finance Act 2009 (FA 2009) for...
NEC and JCT contracts comparedThis Practice Note examines some of the key areas where the NEC3 and NEC4 standard form construction contracts take a...
Environmental insurance—contractors and consultantsEnvironmental insurance is a useful way of managing environmental risks stemming from the work...
Loss and expense claims—practical tipsIt is important for both employers and contractors to know how to deal with loss and expense claims and to be...
Latest Construction Precedents
Letter of variation—construction projects[Headed paper of the employer]To: [insert name and address of recipient of letter]Date: [insert date]Dear...
Parent company guarantee from employerThis Guarantee is made the [insert date] day of [insert month] 20[insert year]Parties1[insert name] (Company No....
Schedule of Amendments to JCT Minor Works Building Contract with contractor’s design 2024Schedule of amendments to the jct minor works building...
Special Conditions: Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Form of Contract—Lump Sum Contracts, the Red Book, fifth edition (2013)Special...
JCT Intermediate Sub-Contract with sub–contractor’s design 2016—Form of Agreement and AmendmentsAgreement in relation to [insert brief details of the...
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
Availability Deductions and Service Credits (see also Performance Deductions)
Deductions made from the Unitary Charge if the facility is not Available.
Duty to warn
A duty to warn of inadequacies discovered in designs produced, or works carried out, by others. Such a duty may arise by way of an term'>implied term and/or in tort.
Irrevocable licence
A licence which cannot be revoked or cancelled—for example, a licence to use design documents over which the licensor has intellectual property rights.
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