All articles by Robert Akenhead – Page 3

  • Comment

    Too much of a good thing

    2001-06-01T00:00:00Z

    Human rights legislation seems to have complicated almost every area of public and private life – not least in planning and construction

  • Comment

    A question of judgment

    2001-04-27T00:00:00Z

    Robert Akenhead - It is extremely difficult to get a court judgment set aside, as a contractor in Bedfordshire found out to its relief when it was accused of fraud

  • Comment

    Read the small print

    2001-04-12T00:00:00Z

    Robert Akenhead - It will now be harder to overturn clauses limiting liability, after a Court of Appeal ruling that firms should be presumed to know what they are agreeing to

  • Comment

    It never rains but it pours

    2001-02-16T00:00:00Z

    Designers, contractors and authorities that neglect to consider the impact of building near rivers could find themselves liable for flood damage caused downstream. Take care.

  • Comment

    Do you fancy a beer?

    2000-12-01T00:00:00Z

    Got into a dispute? Here's a run down of the huge choice of resolution procedures on offer. However, you may find the fastest and cheapest is talking it over down the pub.

  • Features

    The biter bit

    2000-10-13T00:00:00Z

    The RIBA really must pay attention to developers' complaints about the SFA/99 standard appointment form architects will only suffer from the preferential treatment it gives them.

  • Features

    Who’d employ an architect?

    2000-07-28T00:00:00Z

    At least, who d employ one if they are using the new standard contract, SFA/99? It unreasonably limits an architect s liabilities and weighs down a client with onerous obligations.

  • Features

    The away game

    2000-06-16T00:00:00Z

    In the third article on the FIDIC suite of international forms, they are found wanting when it comes to recovery of costs because of incidents outside contractors control.

  • Features

    Dangerous liaisons

    2000-04-07T00:00:00Z

    In the second article looking at the latest FIDIC suite of international contracts, another form is found to be heavily biased against contractors – and it’s the clients that will pay.

  • Features

    An international outcry

    2000-03-03T00:00:00Z

    For the international contractor, the new FIDIC forms are an unholy mess, full of pitfalls. This article looks at what is wrong with the Silver Book's design-and-build terms.

  • Features

    What the judgment means

    1999-11-19T00:00:00Z

    As far as the law is concerned, the Harmon case is open and shut: on the evidence presented, the House of Commons was in clear breach of European and UK rules. How on earth did it get itself into that position?

  • Features

    Welcome to the lion's den

    1999-11-12T00:00:00Z

    The Arbitration Act means that legally unqualified arbitrators have to tackle difficult issues of law and, as a case decided in July shows, they may have to do it at a disadvantage.

  • Features

    Free isn't always fair

    1999-08-27T00:00:00Z

    Beware the exclusion clause – you can't always rely on the Unfair Contract Terms Act to get you out of trouble.

  • Comment

    Slow burner

    1999-06-25T00:00:00Z

    Lengthy disputes cannot always be blamed on the courts. One case lasted five years because the parties tried to gain an early advantage.

  • Comment

    A deal is a deal

    1999-04-30T00:00:00Z

    A recent case has clarified the way that variations should be valued and underlined the importance of the rates agreed in the original contract.

  • Comment

    What can they get you on?

    1999-03-05T00:00:00Z

    Contractual parties are free to exclude liability as they think fit. But to avoid being caught out, they must define the exclusion as they want it.