When Does an Adjudicator’s Error Amount to a Breach of Natural Justice?

One of the few grounds available for resisting the enforcement of an adjudicator’s decision is a claim of breach of the rules of natural justice. In the case of JJ Rhatigan & Co (UK) Limited (“Rhatigan”) v Rosemary Lodge Developments […]

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Adjudication Enforcement – Fraud and Stays of Execution

In the most recent instalment of proceedings between Grandlane Developments Limited (“Grandlane”) and Skymist Holdings Limited (“Skymist”), following its unsuccessful challenge as to the validity of the adjudicator’s appointment, Skymist sought to resist enforcement of the adjudicator’s decision on the […]

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Resisting Enforcement of an Adjudicator’s Decision – The Fraud Defence

Attempts to resist enforcement of adjudication decisions by alleging they were procured by fraud are becoming more common, PBS Energo A.S v Bester Generacion UK Limited [2019] was “one of those rare adjudication cases” whereby the defence was successful and […]

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Are You Adjudicating Against the Right Party?

It is an established principle that an adjudicator does not have jurisdiction in respect of a dispute referred against an entity which was not a party to the contract. However, the recent case of Gerard Ferns & Kerry-Ann Ferns v Keith […]

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Life after S&T v Grove; TCC Guidance on ‘Smash and Grab’

In M Davenport Builders Ltd v Greer & Anor [2019], one of the first cases to consider the enforcement of a ‘smash and grab’ adjudication since the Court of Appeal’s landmark ruling in S&T(UK) Ltd v Grove Developments Ltd [2018], […]

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Is Challenging an Adjudicator’s Decision by Using Enforcement Proceedings an Abuse of Process?

The courts have adopted a swift approach to adjudication enforcement. However, in the recent case of Amey LG Limited (“ALG”) v Amey Birmingham Highways Limited (“ABHL”), ALG sought to use that same process to have an adjudicator’s decision declared a […]

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Adjudication and Insolvency

In the case of Michael J Lonsdale (Electrical) Limited v Bresco Electrical Services Limited (in liquidation), the Technology and Construction Court (“TCC”) provided an unequivocal statement that a company in liquidation could not refer a dispute to adjudication. However, in […]

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‘Blowing Hot and Cold’: Adjudicators’ Jurisdiction and the Principle of Approbation and Reprobation

If the wrong route to the appointment of an adjudicator has been taken, the adjudicator will not have jurisdiction. However, a party cannot approbate and reprobate, or ‘blow hot and cold’, in relation to the validity of an adjudicator’s decision. […]

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Adjudication, Fraud and Stays of Execution

The Court of Appeal has endorsed a first instance decision by the Technology and Construction Court (“TCC”) granting a stay of execution on new grounds. In the context of adjudication enforcement, the leading guidance is set out in the case […]

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“Smash and Grab” Adjudications – S&T v Grove: The Appeal

In February this year, Coulson J, as he then was, handed down judgment from the Technology and Construction Court (“TCC”) in the case of Grove Developments Limited (“Grove”) v S&T (UK) Limited (“S&T”). His decision threw significant doubt on the […]

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