Articles
Our lawyers contribute regularly to industry and legal journals in addition to writing legal briefings, newsletters and case reports for clients and contacts. All of our articles are free to read and download here.
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HEALTH AND SAFETY AUTHORITY PUBLISHES ITS ANNUAL REVIEW OF WORKPLACE INJURIES, ILLNESSES AND FATALITIES FOR 2020-2021
November 2022INTRODUCTION On 24 October 2022 the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) published its Annual Review of Workplace Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities for 2020-2021. This report details causes and characteristics of injuries, illnesses and fatalities that occur in workplaces across Ireland. The report combines data from two sources, which are: incidents reported directly to the HSA… Read More >
Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard launches call for evidence
November 2022November 2022 A cross-industry team with representatives from leading organisations BBP, BRE, the Carbon Trust, CIBSE, IStructE, LETI, RIBA, RICS and UKGBC is currently developing the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (the “Standard”). Before finalising the Standard, the team has launched a call for evidence to help inform and guide its development, by asking… Read More >
Global Vantage: A possible COVID crack to a shut force majeure floodgate?
November 2022The Singapore Court of Appeal has recently handed down the decision of Ser Kim Koi v GTMS Construction Pte Ltd and others (and another appeal) [2022] SGHC(A) 34, offering some interesting commentary regarding the definition of a ‘force majeure’ clause under a contract in relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Background The case involved the construction… Read More >
Russia Sanctions: The EU follows UK lead on Architecture and engineering
November 2022Introduction On 24 October, the EU Commission provided guidance on the eighth sanctions package against Russia, itself introduced on 6 October. The package announced further restrictions against 30 individuals and a price cap on the transport of Russian crude and petroleum oil products. Most importantly for those in construction and infrastructure, the eighth package introduces… Read More >
reports from the courts
October 2022Our regular round-up of the court decisions of most interest to construction comes from Andrew Croft and Ben Spannuth examine a case that demonstrates the courts’ reluctance to find that liquidated damages provisions are unenforceable for reasons of uncertainty where an alternative interpretation can be found; and a Court of Appeal ruling that provides clarification… Read More >
High Court issues further guidance on aggregation and government support in relation to COVID business interruption claims
October 2022On 17 October 2022, the High Court ruled in Stonegate Pub Co. Ltd. V MS Amlin Corporate Member Ltd and others, Greggs PLC v Zurich Insurance PLC, and Various Eateries Trading Ltd. V Allianz Insurance PLC that insurers can deduct the value of COVID furlough support given to a policyholder from their business interruption claims.… Read More >
Interserve fined £4.4million for breaches of data protection law
October 2022The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined Interserve Group Ltd £4.4million for breaches of data protection law which led to the loss of significant amounts of employee personal information. Between March and May 2020, hackers were able to access, and encrypt, personal data of up to 113,000 of Interserve’s current and former employees (including contact details,… Read More >
Water companies face new civil penalties of up to £250 million for water pollution
October 2022October 2022 In recent months, water companies have constantly been in the news as a result of several high-profile water pollution events. The recent Environment Agency’s pollution report announced that we have seen a steady increase in pollution events with many of them being significant. Since 2013 we have seen criminal prosecutions against water companies… Read More >
RICS proposes guidance note on multi-storey residential valuations
October 2022On 3 October 2022, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) published a draft guidance note on the valuation of properties in multi-storey residential buildings with cladding. The draft guidance is open for public consultation until 31 October 2022. Background It has been recently reported that there are still 10,000 properties which require remediation works… Read More >
“You cannot be serious?”: Claiming compensation for breaches of the public procurement rules
October 2022Introduction When faced with an adverse decision in a procurement process, suppliers often face the difficult decision of whether or not to challenge. The factors they take into account include the prospects of success in showing there has been a breach and then being given a meaningful remedy to compensate that breach. Two recent important… Read More >