Archived News from 2020

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Construction & Infrastructure

November

Legal Article

Survey reveals continued IR35 concerns for UK businesses

26/11/20

HMRC introduced the 'off-payroll working rules', commonly referred to as the 'IR35 rules' in 2000, to tackle situations where some contractors took advantage of the tax efficiencies of providing their services through their limited company or another type of intermediary, when in…

Forbes News

Forbes Solicitors launches inaugural Reinvention and Resilience Top 50

03/11/20

Forbes Solicitors has launched its inaugural Reinvention and Resilience Top 50 - an insightful report featuring North West businesses that have innovated and diversified during the Coronavirus pandemic. The regional law firm compiled the research - including nominations from small-to-medium-sized…

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October

Legal Article

Risk-Assessing the Uncontrollable

07/10/20

The HSE has just announced that it will be conducting its latest round of construction site inspections throughout October. They are focussing on various issues, most notably how sites are dealing with exposure to dust (in all its forms). Construction workers are disproportionately more likely to…

Legal Article

Do your payment terms need to be revisited?

06/10/20

Do you know what the payment provisions are within your contract? How do you ensure that you comply with the timeframes? Are your payment terms compliant with the Scheme for Construction Contracts? A recent Technology and Construction Court decision in the matter of Rochford Construction…

Legal Article

CJRS update: Job Retention Bonus

06/10/20

The Job Retention Bonus aims to reduce the scope for compulsory redundancies by rewarding employers who retain their furloughed employees. The bonus is a fixed £1,000 one-off taxable payment, payable to the employer, for each eligible employee that was furloughed and kept continuously employed…

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August

Legal Article

Plot Sales

12/08/20

The number of new homes being built each year in the UK continues to rise. According to NHBC's annual new homes statistics, this has risen by more than 80% over the last decade and in 2019 alone, 161,022 homes were registered with NHBC. At Forbes Solicitors we have a specialist team in our…

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July

Legal Article

The HSE have published the annual fatality statistics for 2019/2020

13/07/20

On the 1st July 2020, the HSE released the annual figures for 2019/20 for workplace fatal injuries reportable under RIDDOR and falling within their jurisdiction as enforcement authority. The figures as yet are provisional and will be finalised in July 2021. What are the Key trends shown by the…

Legal Article

Effective Risk Assessing Post-COVID

03/07/20

Coronablindness (Noun) "To become blind to previously obvious matters as a result of a temporary impairment of the mind caused by a global pandemic, mass lockdown and/or over-indulgence in alcoholic beverages during said periods". Usage "Sorry I forgot to put apply the…

Legal Article

Signing deeds during COVID-19 - Virtual execution and e-signatures

02/07/20

Since working from home has become "the new norm", we've been asked to consider whether the use of digital transaction platforms and e-signatures is appropriate for executing deeds. In addition, whilst social distancing continues, can witnessing of signatures be done remotely? On 18…

Legal Article

Not a Minute too Soon for Late Payment Reforms

02/07/20

In January, the first reading of The Small Business Commissioner and Late Payments etc Bill 2019-21 (the "Bill") took place in the House of Lords. In what would be a welcomed development for contractors in the construction sector, the Bill proposes wide-ranging reforms to current statutory…

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June

Legal Article

How exposed are you...

18/06/20

Do you know what losses you are able to recover from the other side if they are in breach of contract? Do you know what losses you will be liable for if you are in breach of contract? Now more than ever you need to evaluate your existing contracts to see how exposed you are in terms of the…

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May

Legal Article

Safe Return to Work for the Construction Sector - what does this look like?

14/05/20

Following the announcement made by Boris Johnson on Sunday, employers across the construction sector are being faced with the difficult task of determining what in practical terms a safe return to work looks like. The message is clear that construction should continue if it cannot be reasonably done…

Legal Article

Considerations for reopening the workplace following the easing of lockdown

11/05/20

How do you keep your workforce safe from a virus which has spread the globe on pandemic scales, leaving death and destruction in its wake? It is fair to say that last night's announcement has left those Britons desperately seeking respite from lockdown considerably underwhelmed but, now there…

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April

Legal Article

The Effect of COVID-19 on Commercial Property

28/04/20

A few years ago, US Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld, made a statement about unknown knowns and known unknowns, which is an example of the struggle of trying to articulate uncertainty into a decision-making process. In recent weeks, clients and property lawyers have been attempting to distinguish the…

Legal Article

COVID-19: Managing construction contracts

24/04/20

Contractors concerned that they could face delays or increased costs as a result of COVID-19 should consider whether they have any express entitlements to relief under their contract. This article will consider the possible entitlements under JCT and NEC standard form contracts. JCT Force…

Legal Article

The Effects of COVID-19 on the Property and Construction Sector

09/04/20

The challenging times in which we currently find ourselves is also affecting the property development and construction sector and many businesses are seeking assurances from funders, contractors, supply chains and professional support services. The number of developers and construction firms…

Legal Article

Coronavirus - Construction sites shutting down

01/04/20

With Government policy that construction sites should remain open during the coronavirus lockdown, a health and safety law expert believes it'd be wise for bosses to consider stopping operations to avoid needless risks and breaches of health and safety. David Mayor, Insurance Associate at…

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March

Legal Article

Same Rules - Different Game: Procurement Policy During The Coronavirus Outbreak

25/03/20

The coronavirus outbreak has produced a lot of government action targeted at keeping infections down and that has in turn affected a lot of organisations, their contracts with each other and their plans for future procurement. For buyers subject to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR) or the…

Forbes News

Covid-19 Update

18/03/20

At Forbes Solicitors, we are keen to reassure clients that we have robust business continuity measures in place to protect and maintain service levels so we can continue to support our clients. The health and welfare of our colleagues and clients is paramount. We will continue to monitor the most…

Forbes News

Forbes Solicitors Joins LawPact® As It Targets Further Growth

04/03/20

Leading law firm Forbes Solicitors has joined LawPact® - the international association of independent business law firms - as it expands its national and global reach. Having grown its team with 89 new appointments in 2019 and taken on the largest cohort of trainee solicitors to date, Forbes is…

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February

Legal Article

The Importance of Timing in Latent Defect Claims

03/02/20

A latent defect may not become apparent for many years after practical completion. As a result of this time lapse, limitation becomes a live issue within many construction disputes. It is a central issue to be considered whether you are thinking of bringing a latent defect claim and is also a useful…

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January

Legal Article

Cavity Barriers - Persimmon's review

16/01/20

In light of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2018, fire safety should be at the forefront of the minds of developers and home builders alike. Following the findings of an independent review being published in December 2019, housing developer Persimmon has been subjected to heavy criticism after a…

Legal Article

Latent Defects

15/01/20

The past 12 months have thrown up uncertainties in the structural defect insurance market, with the collapse of Danish insurance broker Alpha Insurance. This has had an impact in respect of both residential and commercial new build properties. In light of this it is worth considering one aspect of…

Legal Article

Employment Changes coming up in 2020!

13/01/20

April tends to be a busy and stressful time of the year for many businesses who have the end of their financial year around this time, multiple employees on annual leave over the Easter holidays, together with changes to make in line with new legislation - particularly in respect of your employees…

Legal Article

Limitation of Liability clauses in construction contracts: key considerations

13/01/20

When negotiating commercial contracts, parties often become embroiled in extensive negotiations when it comes to each party's legal liability in the event that a breach of contract takes place. This is particularly apparent within the construction sector, which is largely owing to the affect that…

Legal Article

PART 2: Delays - the Importance of Record-Keeping

13/01/20

In Part 1 of our Construction Disputes series, we identified that delay and quality issues are often the biggest problems for construction projects and the cause of most disputes. Delay may increase both the time for performance of the contract and the cost of performance for both the Employer, the…

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