Government gives industry deadline of early March 2022 to agree to a plan of action to remediate unsafe cladding

Since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, the Government has taken a number of steps aimed at addressing the building safety and cladding crisis. Those steps have included provision for financial contributions to remedying unsafe cladding through the ACM cladding […]

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Entitlement to Liquidated Damages Lost After Alleged Verbal Agreement

In the case of Mansion Place Limited v Fox Industrial Services Limited [2021], the TCC considered an alleged verbal agreement between parties and its impact on future claims. Background In February 2020, Mansion Place Limited (“MPL”) engaged Fox Industrial Services […]

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Terms and Conditions: Formation, Incorporation and Invalidity

In Blu-Sky Solutions Limited -v- Be Caring Limited [2021], the Commercial Court considered contract formation, incorporation of terms and conditions, and invalidity of onerous provisions. Contractual Background: Blu-Sky Solutions Limited (the “Claimant”), a supplier of telecommunication services, claimed c£180,000 from […]

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Validity of Payment Notices and Severability of Adjudication Decisions

In the recent case of Downs Road Development LLP -v- Laxmanbhai Construction (UK) Limited [2021], the TCC considered issues concerning the validity of payment notices, as well as questions of natural justice and the severability of adjudication decisions.  Background Downs […]

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Employer Entitled to Full Liquidated Damages Despite Having Taken Possession of Majority of Works

In the recent case of Eco World – Ballymore Embassy Gardens Company Ltd v Dobler UK Ltd [2021] EWHC 2207 (TCC), the TCC considered the construction and enforceability of a liquidated damages clause where the employer had taken partial possession […]

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Supreme Court Decide That Liquidated Damages Accrue Up Until Termination of the Contract Whereby Works Never Completed

On Friday, the Supreme Court handed down its judgment in Triple Point Technology, Inc v PTT Public Company Ltd [2021] UKSC 29, unanimously overturning the Court of Appeal’s earlier decision relating to liquidated damages (“LADs”) where a contract has been […]

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Building Safety Bill 2021: Retrospective extension of limitation period under the Defective Premises Act 1972

The Building Safety Bill 2021 (the “Bill”) proposes to expand the limitation period for property owners to bring a claim for defective works from six years to fifteen years. This legislation, if passed in its current form, would apply retrospectively, […]

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Proceed With Care – Entirety of Defendant’s Expert Technical Evidence Excluded by the TCC due to Non-Compliances

In the recent case of Dana UK AXLE Ltd -v- Freudenberg FST GMBH [2021] EWHC 1413 (TCC), the TCC considered an application to exclude technical expert evidence mid-way through a trial. Background On 5 May 2021, a trial commenced in […]

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Materials Shortage at ‘Crisis Level’ – How Can Companies Protect Themselves?

In March 2021, the Construction Leadership Council issued a warning to the UK construction industry that the ensuing months would see a significant and widespread shortage in key building materials. That prediction is now very much a reality, and its […]

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Excluding Liability for Deliberate Breach – Is Special Wording Required?

In the recent case of Mott Macdonald Ltd v Trant Engineering Ltd [2021] EWHC 754 the TCC considered whether an exclusion clause required exceptional wording in order to exclude liability for fundamental, deliberate and wilful breaches. Background Trant Engineering Limited […]

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