This Practice Note looks at a party’s entitlement to adjudicate, including how it arises (from a statutory, contractual and/or ad hoc right), when the right may be exercised and whether a dispute has arisen under a construction contract. It also considers assignment, novation and third party rights, the use of multiple adjudications and adjudication where the Referring party is in Liquidation.

For guidance on Requirements relating to the scope of a dispute, see Practice Note: Adjudication—is there a ‘dispute’? which covers whether a dispute has crystallised, is a single dispute (although it may involve multiple issues), is not the same or substantially the same dispute as one that has been determined previously in an adjudication, court or arbitral proceedings, and issues regarding settlement of Disputes.

For practical considerations to take into account before commencing an adjudication, see Checklist: Issues to consider before commencing an adjudication and Practice Note: The Notice of Adjudication.