All articles by Andrew Hemsley
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CommentNotes for newbies
Contract administration used to be architects' work but these days, many professions can bid for the job. Here's what the new kids need to know
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CommentEasy money
Loopholes in the NEC鈥檚 target contract mean contractors can use their old tricks to make a profit rather than taking a share of any project savings 鈥�
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CommentOwn goal in extra time
Rather like referees, contract administrators aren鈥檛 infallible. So what can you do if one of them wrongly awards your contractor an extension of time?
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CommentLet鈥檚 go shopping
The 鈥楾esco law鈥� reforms would enable construction consultancies to become one-stop-shops, offering their clients legal advice. But will they do it?
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CommentFurtive behaviour
Before you sign a home-cooked contract, ask yourself why your client-to-be felt the need to do it himself, when there are so many standard forms out there
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CommentProblem, solved
Andrew Hemsley -聽Wrong contract rates are a classic construction conundrum, to which the courts have provided a beautifully simple answer. So everyone should learn it
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Protocol鈥檚 progress
The Society of Construction Law鈥檚 rules for handling delay can now be incorporated into your contract 鈥� with dramatic consequences for the programme
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The NEC: A user's guide
Changing a partnering contract isn't like changing a brand of cereal 鈥� but the contract writers could take a lesson in clear English from the back of the packet
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A guide for the perplexed
The PPC2000 partnering contract's multi-party approach leaves some users scratching their heads. But now there's a new document hoping to clear it all up
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This is a hold-up
Making a claim for losses caused by disruption can be tricky if you can't prove how much the disruption cost you. So how do you go about doing that?
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The tao of GC/Works 1
The GC/Works 1 contract has had an overhaul, and is probably now the best in the business, but projects only work when oneness is achieved 鈥�
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Get one thing straight
A common source of grief for employers is the failure to recognise that a contractor's submission is a 'request for payment'. How can you stop it happening?
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A hit or miss affair
PFI contracts often include incentives and penalties to ensure good performance on services. But if they are not well targeted, they'll miss the point
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Self-inflicted injuries
Two stories about contractors who got themselves into deep trouble because they failed to take some simple precautions before signing on the line
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Don't forget to write
Whether or not you get a fair deal in a dispute will ultimately come down to the strength of your case 鈥� and whether you have the records to prove it
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Prepare for the high jump
Faced with hefty insurance premium hikes, it's tempting to increase the excess you pay or reduce cover. Don't do it 鈥� there are other ways over this hurdle
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Beyond these shores
If you're carrying out a construction project abroad, you need to be aware of the potential pitfalls. Start by finding out which country's law applies
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The last battle
A final account statement may seem like a once-and-for-all agreement – but it is not. Get into a dispute and you may find the contract gives it no weight at all
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Contract working
Contracts are the lifeblood of client/contractor relationships. But to make the new types of deal work effectively, both parties have to buy into the philosophy
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Something rotten …
Not sure what the payment arrangements of the Construction Act are? You're not alone. They're confusing, that's what, and it's time for reform