Infrastructure & Projects

Recent Articles

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  15.09.2023

  Ukraine

  Ukraine Supreme Court in­ter­pret­a­tions of building regulations prove crucial to the construction industry within Ukraine

  The Ukrainian legislative framework regulating construction is constantly under development and is not always straightforward or aligned. In order to launch a construction project in Ukraine, it is crucial for developers to consider the guidance found in the decisions of the Supreme Court, which are binding for state apparatus, including authorities granting permissions to develop buildings. When high court decisions make a U-turn in established practice, they can potentially impact the market. The following article describes Supreme Court decisions in two areas of development: construction in...

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  13.09.2023

  United Kingdom

  What’s all the RAAC-et about?

  Concerns around Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (“RAAC”) have become increasingly widespread since the Department for Education recently issued new guidance on the material’s management in the context of school buildings. As a result of the guidance, schools across the UK known to contain RAAC have closed, and alternative venues have been sought to commence the new school term.Problems associated with RAAC are not however exclusive to the public sector. RAAC was commonly used for the construction of roof decks, walls, and floor reconstructions across a broad spectrum of...

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  13.09.2023

  Scotland

  The Scottish Human Rights Bill con­sulta­tion: an ambitious proposal to widen both human rights protections and the class of duty-bearers

  The Scottish Government is consulting on the introduction of a Human Rights Bill, which if passed into legislation, would result in significant additional human rights standards being incorporated into Scots law, within the limits of devolved competence.The proposals include the introduction of a duty which is placed on duty bearers (both public sector organisations and private sector organisations delivering public services) to show how they have built in human rights considerations when making decisions and delivering services. The consultation is therefore relevant to private sector organisations...

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  30.08.2023

  International

  CBAM Implementing Regulation and Extensive Additional Reporting Guidance Published

  Earlier this month, the European Commission (“EC”) adopted an Implementing Regulation (“IR”) and released extensive Guidance Documents (“Guidance”) on the practicalities of reporting requirements for the transitional phase of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (“CBAM”) framework. This first material phase of CBAM will commence on October 1, 2023 (“Transitional Period”). The Guidance complements the IR in providing vital instructions for both installation operators (exporters) outside the EU and importers of CBAM goods within...

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  15.08.2023

  United Kingdom

  Use of AI in public procurement

  There has been a huge surge in interest in Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) technology in recent months as consumer generative AI tools are starting to become integrated into day-to-day life.As the technology rapidly advances, the private and public sectors are considering how they can incorporate AI technology into their organisations to create transformational change, to streamline processes and to increase productivity. When it comes to public procurement, bidders and authorities are thinking about how they could incorporate AI into a procurement process.  This article...

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  17.07.2023

  International

  Resource Nationalism in Battery Metals: Risks and Mitigation

  With continued warfare in Ukraine, conflict in Sudan and tensions between the U.S. and China, the state of international relations appears increasingly volatile. This fractious landscape sits abreast two further global challenges: the climate crisis, and the economy. Extreme weather and high inflation in many countries have exacerbated concerns over energy and resource security and supply chain resilience, prompting consumer nations to act to secure supplies of minerals that are essential for the energy transition. Meanwhile, a resurgence of resource nationalism has seen a number of key producing...

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