Ground-breaking decision from the Supreme Court: Liquidators can adjudicate
June 2020
Bresco Electrical Services Ltd (In Liquidation) (Appellant/Cross-Respondent) v Michael J Lonsdale (Electrical) Ltd (Respondent/Cross-Appellant) [2020] UKSC 25 allowed Bresco’s appeal against the Court of Appeal decision. It is a major breakthrough in that it will allow administrators and liquidators to recover debts owed to insolvent companies by adjudication and resolved the ‘incompatible’ relationship between two statutory regimes, the adjudication regime for construction disputes and a rule of insolvency law called insolvency set-off. This decision could not have come at a better time, since the recent Covid-19 impact on the construction industry may cause many more insolvencies in the future.
Adjudicating during the Covid-19 pandemic
April 2020
The Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (Construction Act 1996) introduced a statutory right for parties to a construction contract to refer their disputes to adjudication.
COVID-19: Impact from the Government lockdown on Construction Projects and the Industry: – Force Majeur or Frustration?
March 2020
Boris Johnson has placed the country in lockdown and the government’s instructions not to travel unless your journey is absolutely essential are part of new measures to fight the spread of the coronavirus by staying at home. However, despite the minister for Cabinet Office, Michael Gove, saying that it was fine for construction sites to remain open, we saw that one of the major contractors, Multiplex has shut down its sites immediately. It is a matter of time before other contractors would follow suit and this will have a major impact for all stakeholders in supply chains. So, what impact will this have on parties to building and construction contracts?
Price fixing laws widely misunderstood within construction sector
February 2020
New research suggests that three out of ten construction companies believe there is nothing wrong with price fixing.
Construction contracts show healthy increase at the start of 2020
February 2020
Latest figures suggest that the construction industry is experiencing a healthy upturn in contracts in recent weeks.
Changes to holiday pay rules – how will they affect your construction business?
February 2020
The rules on how employers calculate holiday pay for some construction workers is set to change, with new regulations coming into effect in April 2020.
Government announces plans to strengthen construction safety regulations
November 2019
The Government has confirmed that it intends to press ahead with a raft of new legislation designed to improve building safety standards.
2020 a decisive year for digitisation in the construction industry – new report claims
September 2019
A new report claims that the construction industry is on the verge of a major digital transformation opportunity.
Construction firm fined after worker killed by excavator
September 2019
A construction company has been fined and one of its employees sentenced after a worker was struck by an excavator and died from his injuries.
Mental health concerns amongst workers at UK’s largest construction site revealed
September 2019
A construction union has revealed concerns about the mental health of construction workers at Hinkley Point nuclear power station, the UK’s largest construction project.