Property and construction
Our wide-ranging development support services mean we advise clients throughout regeneration, development and construction projects, from the moment sites are identified to completion of the works. Beyond the build, we have extensive experience in advising on repairs and maintenance throughout the lifespan of property.
We understand the diverse positions our clients can have in development. Our charities clients can be taking on a role at any stage of the supply chain, including those that are landowners looking to maximise the potential of undeveloped land, developers, building contractors or professional consultants, SME suppliers and subcontractors or those who will ultimately be concerned with the new development for the long term. Because we can be involved at any stage of the process, we can find the right solution. Our services include:
Development and regeneration
Strategic advice and guidance on all aspects of development and regeneration projects, including funding arrangements, development agreements, planning and highways agreements and ultimate disposal of the land.
Construction
Drafting and negotiating standard form building contracts (e.g.,. JCT, NEC and PPC) and consultants’ appointments (e.g.,. RIBA, RICS, ACE and NEC) with bespoke amendments to reflect clients’ precise needs. Alternatively, we specialise in producing bespoke construction agreements where special project needs require a more flexible approach than can be delivered through one of the standard forms (e.g.,. contracts more achievable for SMEs).
Repairs and maintenance
Support throughout the full life-cycle of the building, including strategic advice for repairs and maintenance services, drafting and negotiating contracts (e.g.,. JCT, NEC, TPC, NHMF and bespoke) from low-value contracts to comprehensive maintenance contracts for large property portfolios. Support for in-house maintenance teams includes materials supply, ICT and vehicles contracts.
Procurement and state aid
Advising on procuring contracts for development works, associated services and materials supply. We have specialist expertise in advising on procurement with wider considerations such as funders’ requirements, compliance with the public procurement regulations and State aid.
Contract management
Training packages to help in-house teams understand their contracts and reduce the risk of disputes through effective contract management.
Disputes
Working promptly and effectively with clients during difficult times leading up to a contract termination, a procurement challenge or payment dispute; our dispute resolution team has extensive experience of both procurement and construction disputes in the Technology and Construction Court.
We know that many of our clients are looking to maximise the positive impact they can have on society and their communities in the process of developing, regenerating and maintaining our built environment. We are the legal pioneers of securing community benefits through contracts and helped Chris White MP with the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.
Our leading work supporting public sector clients in delivering social value means we are well-placed to help charities achieve the same in their projects without unduly inflating contract prices. For those clients who are buying in works and services, this can include tackling targeted recruitment and training; maximising opportunities for social enterprises and SMEs down the supply chain; environmental sustainability; supporting disadvantaged people; payment of the Living Wage and fair working conditions. For clients who are suppliers, we help them to identify how they do or could achieve social value for their public sector clients so that they can demonstrate this through tender exercises or soft market testing with a view to winning more work.
For further information on achieving social value through procurement of contracts see our earlier publications:
Residential care contracts - consumer rights and the cost of charging fees in advance
The use of large up-front fees and disproportionate deposits has already resulted in significant cost consequences for one care provider.
Is £400m enough?
The government announced on 16 May that it will provide a fund of £400m to cover the costs of removal and replacement of cladding to high rise residential blocks which have failed tests.
The problems with co-owned properties and attorneys
Whilst some people are under the impression that preparing a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is simply a case of completing a form and ticking a few boxes, it is about far more than this.
What's mine is (not) yours!
A big fear for some people facing divorce and the inevitable carving up of the matrimonial assets. They seek assurances that such assets will be “ring-fenced” and retained for them.
Cohabitation, Wills and reasonable provision
Thinking about the legal status of being a cohabitant probably isn’t at the top of the ‘to do’ list.
How to avoid the PET trap
When an individual is thinking about making a gift to another individual, consideration needs to be given to the Potentially Exempt Transfer (PET) trap.
GDPR will apply from 25 May 2018: are you ready?
We are now only a few weeks away from the biggest change to data protection laws in over 20 years. Are you compliant?
When language is a barrier that can be overcome
The tragedy, in this case, is that there were options readily available to the midwives that they could have used. This was not a case of having to go above and beyond.
Fictitious divorces
Arising from the recent Family Division announcement, people who think they are legally divorced may in fact still be married.
Sleep-ins: Updated Documents from the SCCS
The SCCS has issued providers in the scheme a series of updated and new documents in order to assist with their National Minimum Wage review.
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