UK

Procurement

Tom Connolly

February 2003

A paper based on a talk given to a meeting of the Society of Construction Law in Sheffield on 24th September 2002.

The author explains that the adversarial nature of the construction industry causes inefficiency and clients who have tried ‘partnering’ have themselves experienced problems; as a result many organisations have been developing bespoke procurement strategies. He argues that whatever strategy is adopted its success will depend upon achieving the eight fundamentals which he sets out.

I Have No Direct Contract with the Wrongdoer

Anthony Speaight QC
February 2003
A paper based on a talk given to the Society of Construction Law and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in Birmingham on 7th November 2002.

In considering the answer to the question posed in the title, four provocative ideas are put forward: first, that there is not, or ought not to be, any difference between the duty of care owed by a professional and a contractor (they owe concurrent duties in tort);

Private Finance Initiative/Public Private Partnership: A Contractor's Perspective

Martin Lenihan
December 2002
A paper given to a meeting of the Society of Construction Law in London on 15th October 2002.

The paper looks at the commercial and legal aspects of PFI which are of particular concern to the contractor, and considers how the contractor's legal team attempts to manage risk when drafting, reviewing and negotiating PFI documentation. The origins of PFI contracts is explored.

The Impact of Construction Insurance on Risk Allocation

Michael Furmston
November 2002
A paper based on a talk given to a meeting of the Society of Construction Law in London on 2nd November 1999.

Professor Furmston considers the line of cases which have held that the express conditions about insurance in standard forms of contract have an effect on the liability of the parties to each other. He looks first at express insurance provisions which implicitly effect limitations of liability.

Playing with Fire and the Contribution Act: The House of Lords

Andrew Bartlett QC and Kim Franklin
November 2002
A paper given to a meeting of the Society of Construction Law in London on 10th September 2002.

Andrew Bartlett and Kim Franklin look at contribution claims, explaining the background to the Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978 and some of its key provisions, and then discussing the recent House of Lords’ decisions...

Do we need partnering contracts?

Rudi Klein

September 2002

A paper based on a talk given to a meeting of the Society of Construction Law in Cardiff on 23rd May 2002.

udi Klein looks at the move towards concentrating on improving relationships in the construction industry to achieve improved relationships, rather than on contracts or contractual conditions, and considers in particular two cases, Birse Construction Ltd v St David Ltd and Baird Textile Holdings Ltd v Marks & Spencer plc.