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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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Transfer Slabs and Building Safety: Assessing Risk Following IStructE’s 2026 Update Introduction
July 2026In November 2024, the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) published guidance on the design of reinforced concrete transfer slabs, following concerns around punching shear and prompting increased scrutiny from industry bodies, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and building owners. We discussed those developments previously here. In July 2026, IStructE published a new Q&A and ‘Design… Read More >
Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2024
July 2026The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (“FSPO”) is an independent statutory body established under the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017. Its role is to resolve complaints from consumers against financial service providers and pension providers. Complaints may be dealt with informally through mediation or, where necessary, by formal investigation and adjudication resulting in… Read More >
Construction PI Insurance Update – June 2026
July 2026As we head into the second half of 2026, the construction UK professional indemnity (PI) market continues its “soft” market trend seen over the last couple of years. In the first of our construction PI updates, we provide a roundup of recent decisions in the Courts of England & Wales and trends that we may… Read More >
The BSR’s 2026-27 Strategic Plan and What it Means for Higher-Risk Buildings
July 2026The Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) 2026-27 Strategic Plan signalled a shift from establishing the post-Grenfell regulatory framework to improving how it operates in practice. Recent announcements suggest that transition is already underway, with the BSR moving towards a more intelligence-led and risk-based approach to assessing higher-risk buildings (HRBs). While this may reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens… Read More >
Judicial Rate of Interest in Scotland – Time for Change?
July 2026Two consultations conducted by the Scottish Government over the last decade have highlighted a broad consensus that the current fixed judicial interest rate of 8% per annum is no longer appropriate. The question now is whether legislative reform will follow. Key Takeaways In 2006, a Scottish Law Commission report recommended there should be a change… Read More >
Heat-related risks and claims in construction
July 2026Takeaways Recent rising temperatures cause concern for building owners and create risks for project design and delivery. Standard industry form contracts were not drafted for heat-related disruption, creating uncertainty around risk allocation and relief entitlements. Parties should review their approach to contracts and operations to mitigate future claims exposure. UK infrastructure was historically built for… Read More >
TCC’s First Section 149 Judgment Signals Wider Cladding Liability
July 2026The Technology and Construction Court has recently handed down its first judgment dealing with the cladding product requirements in section 149 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA). This is likely to have significant implications for foreign manufacturers and parent entities involved in the supply of cladding products used on high-rise residential buildings in England.… Read More >
Global Vantage: Vietnam’s Construction Law 2025
July 2026Vietnam has introduced a significant reform of its construction regulatory framework through the introduction of Construction Law No. 135/2025/QH15 (Construction Law 2025), which came into force on 1 July 2026. The legislation replaces the existing construction law regime and forms part of a broader governmental initiative to modernise the administrative process, reduce bureaucracy and facilitate… Read More >
Mind the Gap: AI Efficiency, Human Oversight and the Risks in Between
July 2026As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into professional services, the benefits and the risks are revealing themselves. Initial assumptions of boundless productivity gains are being met with real-world challenges around the quality of output and the reliability of human oversight. AI appears to create visible savings at the point of production; however, the potential… Read More >
When does a Final Statement become a Final Final Statement?
July 2026In Oakland Wantage Care Homes Limited -v- Stepnell Limited [2026] EWHC 1530 (TCC), the Court considered what constituted a Final Statement under a JCT Design & Build Contract. The parties entered into a JCT Design & Build Contract (2016 edition), subject to a bespoke schedule of amendments. The Works on the project were certified as… Read More >