Need legal advice now from a construction dispute solicitor?
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll help you arrange an initial consultation. You’ll get:
- Unlimited time to discuss your construction dispute with an experienced dispute solicitor
- An outline of your legal position
- A clear fee-quote and time frame to resolve your dispute
In-house civil mediation available
Experienced negotiators and expert litigators
Experts at settling matter before court
Litigation options available for construction disputes
Commonly asked questions on construction disputes.
Construction disputes are by far one of the most common types of commercial disputes, and we frequently receive many questions on the topic. Therefore, our commercial solicitors in London and Brighton have taken the time to answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the topic.
1. What is a construction dispute?
Construction disputes arise from disagreement or misunderstanding between two or more parties. Typically, this is because of a perceived or legitimate violation of a construction contract and the set obligations.
More often than not, if the dispute is not resolved quickly and efficiently it leads to inefficiencies like cost and time overrun for the owner and cash flow constraints for the contractor.
2. What are the most common types of construction disputes?
Our construction solicitors can help with all aspects of commercial construction matters. The most common matter types our solicitors assist in are:
- Contractual disputes
- Litigation
- JCT contracts
- Regulatory
- Crisis management
- Health and safety
- Property/commercial premises
- Commercial acquisitions
- Employment law
- Professional discipline (quantity surveyors/architects)
If you’re unsure whether you have a construction dispute, give us a call on 020 3007 5500 or email us at info@brittontime.com and one of our team will gladly help.
3. How are construction disputes resolved?
The first step of resolving a construction dispute is by attempting to resolve the disagreement amicably. This can be done by discussing the problem with the party in question.
If the dispute cannot be resolved amicably alternative dispute resolution (ADR) can be used to resolve the disagreement. ADR includes the following three processes:
- Mediation
Mediation involves a neutral person (a mediator) that is impartial. The mediator helps the parties involved find a solution that can be agreed upon by all the parties involved.
- Arbitration
Arbitration is an out-of-court method for resolving a building dispute. The arbitrator is a neutral decision-maker that hears both parties’ stories and then makes a decision about the matter.
- Adjudication
Finally, if the above is unsuccessful, adjudication can be used to reach a legal decision. Adjudication is a process that can be used to resolve a building dispute through the court or justice system.
If you would like to find out about more how our construction team can support you, please contact our client care team on 020 3007 5500.
4. How long does it take to resolve a construction dispute?
Depending on the process used to resolve a construction dispute will determine the time scale. Typically, the two processes will involve the following time-scales:
Alternative dispute resolution
If a judge refers a matter to seek ADR processes, a completion date will usually be set by the judge. Often, the judge will give 90-120 days to resolve a dispute through ADR.
Litigation
A litigation case is dependent on the type and complexity of the case and the likelihood of the other side is going to defend the claim. If the other party agrees to settle after the pre-claim letter, you may be looking at 1 to 2 weeks. However, if a hearing is required to resolve a dispute, timescales will be affected by when a judge will be available to hear your case. Typically, time-frames can be anywhere from 6 months to 2 years.
5. How much does it cost to resolve a building dispute?
To give you an idea of costs, if the construction dispute were resolved through mediation (a form of ADR), the cost would be £1,000 per party per day in fees.
If ADR is unsuccessful and you need to take your matter further, you will need to instruct a construction solicitor for at least £250 an hour. For this hourly rate, a construction dispute solicitor will construct your case and represent you in one of the following courts:
- County Court
- The High Court
- Specialist Tribunals & Courts
Our construction solicitors can guide you through the complex aspects of construction law and help you to find a positive solution to your dispute.
Please note, each and every construction matter is different and the cost of dispute resolution is entirely dependent on the type and severity of the construction dispute. Therefore, our solicitors will always require an initial consultation first.
6. Do you offer legal aid for construction matters?
We are currently unable to offer legal aid in any capacity as we lack the necessary legal aid certificate. We also don’t offer pro bono work at present.
Need legal advice now from construction dispute solicitors in London or Brighton?
Tell us about your case and we’ll get back to you the same day.
Meet your building dispute solicitors.
Paul Britton
Head of Construction Law
Joseph Navas
Construction Dispute Solicitor
Sophie Campbell-Adams
Construction Dispute Solicitor
Rory Lindsay
Construction Dispute Trainee Solicitor
Paul Britton
Head of Commercial Property
Joseph Navas
Construction Disputes Solicitor
Sophie Campbell-Adams
Construction Disputes Solicitor
Rory Lindsay
Construction Disputes Trainee Solicitor
Why Britton and Time Solicitors?
Construction disputes are our speciality. Our construction dispute solicitors have worked on various building disputes, which have given our solicitors an abundance of knowledge and experience in these processes. When it comes to your specific construction dispute matters, we’ll always guarantee:
Award-Winning Service.
You are our priority, and the law is our speciality. Our award-winning construction dispute solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly where you stand from a legal perspective so you can make a well-informed decision.
Full Billing Transparency.
No fee surprises. Ever. Our construction dispute solicitors will inform you from the outset on how much your case will cost, and we will do everything in our power to keep costs down and within your original fee estimate.
Regular Communication.
With fortnightly updates on your case, you’ll never be left in the dark. Our construction dispute solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly how your case is progressing and are with you every step of the way.
Our reviews.
It’s not about how good we think our construction disputes solicitors services are; it’s about what you think.
Will to Win
There are three things that make Britton & Time, and in particular Paul, stand apart from other law firms: knowledge, communication and a will to win.
Rated excellent by over 95% of our clients.
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Other construction services.
Commercial Property Disputes
Commercial Leases
Repossession
Other construction services.
Commercial Property Disputes
Commercial Leases
Repossession
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Need legal advice now from construction dispute solicitors in London or Brighton?
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll be able to help you the same day.