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Jacobs UK, the Glasgow-based arm of US engineer Jacobs, has accused SOM of failing to pass on payment for work on a multibillion-pound petrochemical complex south of Doha.

Jacobs UK spent almost two years providing concept design and masterplanning services for the project, according to a High Court writ.

SOM and Jacobs had planned to agree a formal consultancy deal but could not settle on the final form of the agreement, it is claimed.

The architect then paid Jacobs a total of £5.1m for its work, but Jacobs claims it is still owed £4.7m, plus interest.

SOM ended Jacobs’ involvement on the project on 24 February. Jacobs agreed, but demanded payment of the outstanding sum.

Meanwhile, in another legal wrangle, housebuilder Crest Nicholson is suing Akaria Investments over its profit share from the £50m Riverside shopping development in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

The 385,000ft2 mixed-use scheme opened two years ago and includes 100 apartments and a retail centre. Crest says it is entitled to profits from units that have not been leased, two years after final practical completion. But Akaria, which owns the centre, says there is no agreement on the open-market rent for each unit.Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the US architect behind the Freedom Tower in Manhattan, is facing a £4.7m legal claim over a job in Qatar.

Jacobs UK, the Glasgow-based arm of US engineer Jacobs, has accused SOM of failing to pass on payment for work on a multibillion-pound petrochemical complex south of Doha.

Jacobs UK spent almost two years providing concept design and masterplanning services for the project, according to a High Court writ.

SOM and Jacobs had planned to agree a formal consultancy deal but could not settle on the final form of the agreement, it is claimed.

The architect then paid Jacobs a total of £5.1m for its work, but Jacobs claims it is still owed £4.7m, plus interest.

SOM ended Jacobs’ involvement on the project on 24 February. Jacobs agreed, but demanded payment of the outstanding sum.