Building Contract Claims and Disputes

This book examines the causes of disputes and claims and offers guidance on achieving agreement. This new edition has been brought up to date with regard to changes in contract condition and the coverage of claims has been expanded.

The second edition of Building Contract Claims and Disputes (first published as Building Contract Disputes) provides a study of the causes of contractual disputes, particularly of claims in construction projects and of how they can be resolved successfully. It examines contracts, decisions, documentation and project operation from the points of view of clients, contractors, subcontractors and professional advisers. Readers in practice will find this book an invaluable and comprehensive reference. Those taking professional examinations or degree and postgraduate courses will also benefit greatly from it.

The book explains the background, preparation and settlement of claims, with negotiation and dispute resolution from mediation to adjudication, arbitration and legal proceedings. The interrelations of variations, extension of time and loss and expense are considered. Three specially structured case studies of construction projects illustrate and apply the principles to detailed practical situations. This edition deals with a considerably expanded range of contracts, including JCT, GC/Works/1, design and build, minor works, ICE and innovative NEC. It covers recent legal rulings and changes in the law and contract forms, as well as parts of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and the Arbitration Act 1996.