Real estate and construction cases are big, long and technical. Combining legal and engineering backgrounds, we handle acquisitions, development, construction contracts and defect and delay claims — translating technical problems into language a court can act on.
The first step is to establish whether the cause lies with the owner, with the contractor, or with events attributable to neither, and to read that against the contract's provisions on extensions of time, notice periods and liquidated damages for delay. Site diaries, meeting minutes and correspondence are the key evidence. A contractor that fails to apply for an extension within the contractual period may weaken its later claim.
Depending on the contract and the law, the remedies may include repair, reduction of the price, termination or damages, subject to the warranty period and the time limits for exercising the rights. In practice the disputes are mostly about whether a defect exists, who caused it, and the method and cost of repair — questions that often require an expert appraisal.
Construction cases are technical and document-heavy. Arbitration allows arbitrators with an engineering background, is private and is in principle final in one round; litigation offers appeals. For government procurement contracts there is also mediation before the Complaint Review Board for Government Procurement. The starting point is the dispute resolution clause in the contract, followed by an assessment of time, cost and the state of the evidence.
The main points usually include the allocation ratio and how units are selected, the developer's capacity to perform and the security it provides, the construction period and liability for delay, title trust or other security mechanisms, who bears taxes and fees, and termination and exit arrangements. Urban renewal also involves statutory procedures and consent thresholds and takes longer, so a full assessment before signing is advisable.
Possibly, but proof is harder. It depends on the contract's procedure for variations and for adding or omitting items, and on whether there are owner's instructions, meeting minutes, site photographs or payment documents showing that the parties agreed or that the owner received the benefit. It is advisable to confirm additional works and their pricing in writing while the works are under way.
If you are facing one of the issues above, it helps to gather the relevant notices, contracts, correspondence, a timeline of events and the outcome you hope for before contacting us to arrange a consultation. Once we understand the basic facts and have completed a conflict-of-interest check, we will explain how we can help, the scope of engagement and our fees. The outcome of any matter depends on its specific facts, the evidence, the applicable law and the decision of the competent authority or court.
Discuss a matter →