Webinar: Covid-19 – Cyber and Data Protection Risks
12 May 2020
The ongoing Covid-19 crisis has forced most businesses to rapidly implement remote working protocols in order to adapt, survive and continue working. This has presented significant challenges for businesses in managing cyber risks whilst implementing the necessary protocols to prevent data breaches and remain complaint with data protection regulations.
This webinar will provide an overview of the key cyber risks and data protection issues you need to be aware of based on recent examples from the market and cases dealt with by Beale & Co. It will provide concise, practical tips to enable you to identify areas of risk and to help implement strategies to prevent losses for businesses and their insurance providers.
The webinar will commence by reviewing recent the types of cyber-attacks you should be aware of, including recent examples of “Covid-19” themed cyber-attacks. It will then analyse the data protection issues arising from large numbers of employees working at home, such as lowering the risk of data breaches, and identifying possible employee issues and third party exposures.
To discuss any of the issues raised in this webinar please contact Cian O’Gorman on c.ogorman@beale-law.com or Sean OHalloran on s.ohalloran@beale-law.com. Alternatively please call +353 (0) 1 536 9634
Please click here for a copy of the slides.
To view a recording of the webinar, please click on the video below.

Following on from our webinar on 30 March 2020 on mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on construction projects, James Vernon and Madeleine Kelly have considered contractual and practical implications for contractors (plus contract administrators, project managers and QSs) working on live projects during the lockdown and how to safeguard positions now and in the future as the social restrictions are lifted.
This webinar considers the position for works that have been suspended and sites closed and for those where works have continued, albeit restricted in order to comply with the measures taken to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the UK and worldwide. The impact of new guidance and procedures introduced by advisory bodies, such as the Construction Leadership Council, is also be covered.
This webinar is part of a series of webinars by Beale & Co in respect of COVID-19 – details of the webinars to be delivered by our offices in Ireland and the Middle East are published separately.
To discuss any of the issues raised in this webinar please contact James Vernon on j.vernon@beale-law.com or Madeleine Kelly on m.kelly@beale-law.com. Alternatively please call +44 (0) 20 7469 0400.
Please click here for a copy of the slides.
To view a recording of the webinar, please click on the video below.

COVID-19 & Professional Consultants in Ireland: Contract and Payment Issues, BCAR and H&S Concerns
1 April 2020
The full impact of COVID-19 on the construction sector and wider Irish society will not be known for some considerable time. However, we do know that the impacts will be very significant. The important thing to do now is to mitigate and manage those impacts wherever possible, so that projects and economic activity in the construction sector can continue given that sites (for the moment at least) may remain open where social distancing can be implemented.
This webinar addresses the contractual issues that arise for professional consultants as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, in the public and private sector, when acting as a member of the Design Team and/or as the Employer’s Representative. It also addresses issues that arise in relation to inspection, certification, payments contingent thereon, other BCAR matters and wider Health and Safety concerns. Emergency legislation to be implemented is also considered.
The content includes practical advice that will be useful to senior staff and management as well as those attending sites on a daily basis.
To discuss any of the issues raised in this webinar please contact Tara Cosgrove on t.cosgrove@beale-law.com or Killian Dorney on k.dorney@beale-law.com. Alternatively please call +353 (0) 1 536 9610.
Please click here for a copy of the slides.
To view a recording of the webinar, please click on the video below.

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis is having a considerable impact on the construction sector, with many projects either put on hold entirely or progressing in a very limited manner. This gives rise to a myriad of complex, contractual issues related to payments, which affects the life-blood of the industry, cash-flow.
This webinar addresses the topic of payments under construction contracts and professional appointments, focusing on the matters that consultants should be aware of when acting as Employer’s Agent as well as when trying to secure payment under their own professional appointments, whether operating in the public or private sector.
Also addressed are the issues and options that arise upon the occurrence of payment disputes, with a particular focus on Adjudication under the Construction Contracts Act 2013.
To discuss any of the issues raised in this webinar please contact Killian Dorney on k.dorney@beale-law.com or Cian O’Gorman on c.ogorman@beale-law.com.
Please click here for a copy of the slides.
To view a recording of the webinar, please click on the video below.

On Thursday, 22 June 2017, at the NEC Users’ Group Annual Seminar 2017, the NEC launched the NEC4 suite of contracts.
The NEC4 suite is the biggest overhaul of the NEC forms since they were launched in the early 1990s, and include key changes and improvements to the terms of the existing contracts as well as three entirely new forms (the Alliance Contract, the Design Build and Operate Contract and Professional Services Subcontract).
Given the wide use of the NEC forms (which are increasingly the standard contracts of choice in the key infrastructure sectors), this is a “big deal” for the industry.
View our webinar below where Will Buckby (Partner) and Andrew Croft (Associate) provide an update on the key changes.
To discuss any of the issues raised in this webinar please contact Will (w.buckby@beale-law.com) or Andrew (a.croft@beale-law.com) or call us on +44 (0) 20 7469 0400.
Please click here for a copy of the slides.
To view a recording of the webinar, please click on the video below.

We have seen a recent upturn in the number of consultants seeking our help in obtaining payment.
In this webinar Nathan Modell and Andrew Croft will highlight key steps from the start of the relationship with the developer and throughout the project cycle to increase the likelihood of getting paid, and those steps to take to try and force payment following completion.
Please click here for a copy of the slides.
To view a recording of the webinar, please click on the video below.

On Thursday, 22 June 2017, at the NEC Users’ Group Annual Seminar 2017, the NEC launched the NEC4 suite of contracts.
The NEC4 suite is the biggest overhaul of the NEC forms since they were launched in the early 1990s, and include key changes and improvements to the terms of the existing contracts as well as three entirely new forms (the Alliance Contract, the Design Build and Operate Contract and Professional Services Subcontract).
Given the wide use of the NEC forms (which are increasingly the standard contracts of choice in the key infrastructure sectors), this is a “big deal” for the industry.
View our webinar below where Tom Pemberton (Partner) and James Vernon (Partner) provide an update on the key changes.
To discuss any of the issues raised in this webinar please contact Tom (t.pemberton@beale-law.com) or James (j.vernon@beale-law.com) or call us on +44 (0) 20 7469 0400.
Please click here for a copy of the webinar slides.

New versions of the RIBA forms of appointment and the CIC forms of collateral warranty and novation agreement were published at the end of 2018.
As with a number of other recently updated standard forms, to reflect the current market position both sets of documents involve the consultant assuming some additional risk.
In this webinar, Senior Associate Andrew Croft will consider any key risks under the updated forms, comment on any helpful changes, provide tips and guidance for use of the documents and give our view on the amended documents.
To discuss any of the issues raised in this webinar please contact Andrew (a.croft@beale-law.com) or call us on +44 (0) 20 7469 0400.
Please click here for a copy of the slides.
To view a recording of the webinar, please click on the video below.

Historically, the market approach within the construction industry has been to include in professional appointments a contractual obligation relating to a duty of care often equivalent to the common law duty to exercise “reasonable skill and care”.
In more recent times, new suites of standard form agreements, and certainly typical bespoke agreements, are moving away from this approach and adopting an “elevated” duty of care. Bespoke agreements are increasingly introducing fitness for purpose obligations with the obvious consequences for professional indemnity cover. This raises the question: Consultants – Is your duty of care under attack?
In this webinar, Will Buckby (Partner) and Simii Sivapalan (Solicitor):
- Provide a refresher on the standard of care imposed on professionals under common law;
- Discuss the potential implications of drafting which enhances a consultant’s standard of care; this may include policy coverage not responding;
- Debate the implications of absolute or strict obligations as well as performance based/fitness for purpose obligations and explain why they should be avoided;
- Examine the duty of care obligations in standard form contracts and highlight the changing approach to such appointments, with particular reference to the new suite of standard form appointments such as the FIDIC Consultants Model Services Agreement 3 Edition 2017 (White Book), the ACE Professional Services Agreement 2017 and the IChemE’s Professional Services Contract 2017 (Silver Book), which adopt “enhanced” standard of care drafting;
- Assess the approach to duty of care obligations seen typically in client bespoke agreements and set out the risks and mitigation steps in view of these;
- Highlight the lessons learned from recent case law, including the case of MT Hojgaard a/s v E.ON Renewables UK Robin Rigg East Ltd [2015], which provides a timely reminder on the perils of imprecise drafting; and
- Identify practical tips to avoid the inherent risks with an enhanced duty of care.
Please click here for a copy of the webinar slides.
To view a recording of the webinar, please click on the video below.

In this webinar James Hutchinson will provide an update and refresher on the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and covers the below:
- What contracts are / are not caught by the Regulations;
- The different procurement procedures under the Regulations;
- The contracting authority’s obligations;
- Below threshold procurements;
- Variations to procurements;
- Challenging a procurement award; and
- The impact of Brexit on procurement
Please click here for a copy of the slides.
To view a recording of the webinar, please click on the video below.
