Procurement in Construction

​

Construction procurement is not simply about selecting a contractor. The procurement strategy chosen for a project can have significant consequences for cost, risk, responsibility, delay, payment, and potential disputes. For employers, developers, contractors and subcontractors, obtaining the right legal advice at the procurement stage can help prevent expensive problems later.

 

Different procurement routes — including traditional procurement, design and build, management contracting and construction management — allocate design responsibility, programme risk and contractual obligations in different ways. Choosing the wrong structure, or failing to clearly document the parties' obligations, can expose a business to unexpected costs, delays and disputes.

​

Our commercial construction lawyers advise developers, employers, contractors, subcontractors and other construction professionals on procurement strategy and the contractual arrangements that underpin construction projects. We can assist with tender documentation, contract negotiations, risk allocation, payment provisions, variations, extensions of time, defects, warranties, termination and dispute resolution.

​

Early legal advice can be commercially valuable. Before committing to a procurement route or signing a construction contract, we help clients identify potential contractual and financial risks, negotiate appropriate protections and ensure that the agreement reflects the commercial deal that has actually been agreed.

​

Whether you are procuring a major development, tendering for a construction project, negotiating a building contract or concerned about the risks attached to an existing procurement arrangement, our team can provide practical, commercially focused advice designed to protect your position and reduce the likelihood of costly disputes.

 

If you are planning a construction project or have been asked to enter into a construction contract, contact us for advice before you commit to the terms