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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Challenges to Enforcement: No Breach of Natural Justice

This is the latest dispute between Vinci Construction UK Ltd (“Vinci”) and Beumer Group UK Ltd (“Beumer”) to arise out of a Sub-Contract concerning development works at Gatwick Airport. In this case, Beumer sought to resist enforcement of an adjudicator’s […]

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Can a Party Set-Off Against an Adjudicator’s Decision?

Disputes regarding set-off against an adjudicator’s award are rare in enforcement proceedings. However, in the recent case of MI Electrical Solutions Limited (“MI”) v Elements (Europe) Limited (“Elements”) the court considered this very point. The decision highlights the difficulties which […]

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Adjudication, Enforcement, Payment and Winding-Up Petitions

Adjudication, Enforcement, Payment and Winding-Up Petitions This update considers the case of Victory House General Partner Limited, Re a Company [2018] EWHC 1143 (Ch), in which an application to restrain a winding-up petition was made following an un-paid, and enforced, […]

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Adjudication Update

Is a clause which allows one party to the contract to nominate the adjudicator valid? Successfully challenging an adjudicator’s decision as a result of a breach of natural justice. Sprunt Limited v London Borough of Camden Bias in Adjudication is […]

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