In 1994, ‘Constructing the Team’ by the late Sir Michael Latham was published, a joint review of procurement and contractual arrangements in the United Kingdom construction industry. It was hailed by many as a new dawn, leading to improved relationships; in essence, the review was aimed at helping clients to obtain the high-quality projects to which they aspire, requiring better performance, but with fairness to all involved. Above all, it needs teamwork.

As a result of the review, there were a number of changes to existing forms of contract and the onset of the New Engineering Contract (NEC). This year’s event is a focus on the various available forms of construction contracts and how their selection impacts on the successful delivery of a project. It is entitled ‘Everything was going so well until the contract crashed’.

We have been fortunate to secure three of the UK’s leading contractual experts, all of whom have been involved with the construction industry in Northern Ireland.

Lindy Patterson QC, a barrister at 39 Essex Chambers, specialising in international arbitration and adjudication. She has a particular focus on the construction and energy sectors as well as general commercial contracts, including PPP. She acts regularly as arbitrator and adjudicator and has extensive experience as counsel and as tribunal member/chair. She operates in many jurisdictions, both civil and common law, and with a variety of governing laws. She has chaired a number of dispute boards across the world, both ad hoc and standing, and plays an active role in promoting dispute avoidance by these means. She is currently President of DRBF (Region 2). She is extremely knowledgeable in various construction and engineering contracts and in particular FIDIC; NEC; IChemE, JCT and LOGIC.

Dennis Baldwin, a director of Soma Contract Services Limited, has over 40 years’ professional experience in construction, commercial and contractual consultancy. He provides technical advice and assistance on specifications, statutory regulations & Codes of Practice, legal advice on construction contracts and commercial advice on resolution of construction contract problems and disputes, including claim preparation, submission and negotiation. He is a seminar speaker on contract administration and dispute resolution and avoidance, as well as over 25 years full-time dispute resolution experience, including acting as lay advocate in arbitration, mediation, conciliation and adjudication of construction disputes.

John Riches, managing director of Henry Cooper Consultants, Norwich, with over 40 years’ experience in building, civil engineering, process and heavy engineering, nuclear, mechanical and electrical services. As Chartered Builder, Chartered Quantity Surveyor, Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor, Adjudicator, Arbitrator, Expert Determiner and Mediator he has wide experience of all forms of contractual arrangement including standard JCT, ICE, NEC GC/Wks, FIDIC, IChemE, and related sub-contracts and a number of hybrid contracts. He is currently vice-chairman of the Joint Contracts Tribunal contracts drafting committee and Chairman of Arbrix Construction Group.