Introduction

Blown budgets, shifting designs, and supply-chain issues are almost inevitable on a building site – but they don’t have to derail the whole project. From the first tender to the final Code Compliance Certificate, our team can provide legal advice and guidance on the necessary documentation, legal considerations and options for resolving disputes. Whether you are a developer, principal, contractor, or subcontractor, we can help you lock in watertight contracts, keep cash flowing, and resolve problems before they affect your margin or delay progression of a project.

 

Practical Construction & Building Law Advice

Issues on a construction site can have a detrimental impact on cashflow and quickly cause delay. We can advise you on some of the legal considerations and options and provide clear, workable steps that protect your project and bottom line.

 

Nail the Contract Before Work Starts

A solid contract is the best insurance you can buy. We can assist with drafting and reviewing standard form contracts, Master Builders, and bespoke design-build agreements, making sure payment schedules, risk allocation, and liability caps are fit for purpose.

 

Payment Claims, Schedules & Retentions

Cash flow keeps a site alive and work progressing. We can prepare payment claims that meet Construction Contracts Act (CCA) requirements and enforce payment if payment schedules are not issued within the required time period. If the payer still won’t pay, we can assist with preparing and filing adjudication applications or statutory demands (if appropriate) to unlock funds – including retentions.

 

Variations, Delays & Extension-of-Time Claims

Late engineer instructions, weather hold-ups, or supply-chain shortages can have a detrimental impact on work programmes. We can advise on and assist with resolving disputes around variations, extension of time claims and liquidated-damages claims.

 

Defects, Warranties & Code Compliance

Leaky cladding, concrete cracks and other post-completion defects can affect reputations and profit margins. We can assist with coordinating expert reports and negotiate remediation plans or cash settlements in those situations, including via negotiation or mediation. Where a negotiated settlement cannot be reached, we can assist with bringing court proceedings to pursue damages claims and enforcement orders.

 

Health & Safety

A serious-harm incident can shut down a site overnight. We can guide you through WorkSafe notifications, site-safe evidence preservation, and director due-diligence obligations to prevent any issues from escalating.

 

Dispute Resolution That Works

Adjudication under the CCA is quick but rough-and-ready. We use mediation, expert determination, and without-prejudice negotiations to settle disputes early. When litigation is inevitable, our experienced lawyers can assist with preparing and filing urgent injunctions and other court applications as appropriate, or otherwise defending them – always balancing the legal merits of a claim or defence against commercial considerations and risk.

 

Why Choose Harris Tate?

• Plain-English advice: No legal jargon—just actionable steps.
• Tight timeframes? We can move with the build programme where needed.
• Knowledgeable and experienced team.

 

Let’s Build Certainty

Don’t let construction disputes erode your margin. Talk to Harris Tate today for pragmatic, commercial legal advice and support that keeps your project, cash flow, and reputation on track.