Construction

Recent Articles

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  15/01/2025

  China

  2025 – Topics that may Concern You

  Companies doing business in China constantly have to deal with changes in regulations and new laws. This will also continue in 2025.Topics such as the new PRC Company Law, new PRC Tariff Law, PRC Regulations on Export Control of Dual-Use Items, network data security management, data transfer, opening up capital markets to foreign investment, and raise of statutory retirement age of employees etc. will continue to be a concern for many companies in China in 2025.Complying with regulatory requirements is one of the key challenges for foreign companies and investors in China, not only in terms of...

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  14/01/2025

  United Kingdom

  Tameside Hospital – what does it mean for distressed PFI projects?

  In this first of a series of articles looking at current issues and recent case law in the world of distressed PFI/PPP projects, we consider the recent outcome of the Tameside Hospital dispute, and what pointers can be taken from it which may help avoid or resolve disputes in future so that distressed projects can get back on track.  This is a tale of disagreement, adjudication, threats of insolvency, Court proceedings and – ultimately – a settlement which may offer a useful benchmark to which other troubled projects can have regard.Consort Healthcare (Tameside) Plc v Tameside...

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  06/01/2025

  United Kingdom

  Construction: what’s coming up in 2025?

  With the beginning of a new year, we have prepared a summary of key legal issues likely to affect the construction industry in 2025. The flyer takes a look at what is on the horizon for the year ahead with bite-size snippets of important changes and influences. Topics include updates to building safety, ESG disclosure and reporting, procurement, employment rights and reforms to planning.

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  03/01/2025

  England and Wales

  Building Safety Act im­ple­ment­a­tion in Wales: an update

  The implementation of the Building Safety Act has proceeded at a slower pace in Wales than in England. Recent developments have seen many anticipated changes coming into force and more information available as to planned next steps. This Law-Now provides an update on developments since our previous Law-Now in 2023 (which can be accessed here).Definition of Higher-Risk BuildingThe definition of a higher-risk building in Wales (which differs from England) has now been formalised in the Building Safety (Description of Higher-Risk Building) (Design and Construction Phase) (Wales) Regulations 2023....

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  19/12/2024

  United Kingdom

  TCC enforces first Building Safety Act adjudication

  A recent TCC decision is the first to enforce an adjudication decision in relation to fire safety defects given under the new liability regime enacted by the Building Safety Act 2022. The adjudication had been brought 20 years after completion of the works in question and the court rejected a number of jurisdictional and natural justice arguments relevant to historical fire safety claims. The court’s decision is likely to encourage the pursuit of such claims through adjudication proceedings, giving comfort to claimants that arguments of this nature need not prevent enforcement.BDW Trading...

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  18/12/2024

  United Kingdom

  Building a safer workplace for all: the new duty to prevent sexual harassment and its impact on the construction sector

  A new duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, including harassment by third parties, came into force on 26 October 2024.In recent years, many employers in the construction sector have taken significant steps to change cultural attitudes, improve workforce diversity and reduce incidents of harassment. However, the new duty to prevent paves the way for more rapid change. In addition to legal consequences, employers who fail to comply with the new duty risk reputational damage and putting their staff at risk.This is particularly relevant in an industry...

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