CRUX Insight Report 2021: European launch event

Operating in uncertain times: how can the construction industry adapt to a ‘new normal’?

HKA’s CRUX Insight report, produced annually, reveals the eye-watering sums of money and time lost to avoidable disputes across the construction industry.

Returning for 2021, the CRUX Insight report covers in excess of 1,400 projects in 94 countries with a combined CAPEX of over US$2 trillion, and cataloguing cumulative claimed financial losses of close to US$73 billion, with claimed extensions of time totalling nearly 751 years.

Join HKA and the RICS World Built Environment Forum to hear a summary of the 2021 report’s key findings and the measures the construction industry can take when operating in these uncertain times by moving away from damaging and divisive practices.

Moderator

Martin Burns, Head of Alternative Dispute Resolution R&D – RICS

Martin has more than 20 years of business development and communications experience in the dispute resolution sector, he is currently Director of Dispute Resolution Services with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Martin’s expertise in all forms of dispute resolution has been gained through 20 years working in this sector. Key elements to my role are developing and maintaining key stakeholder relationships with government and industry and raising the profile of RICS as a dispute resolution body in the UK.

Speakers

Charles Wilsoncroft, Partner – HKA

Charles has over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer who has gained broad experience working for a main contractor, a public-sector client organisation and now an international consultancy. During his career he has been involved in all manner of procurement, contract training, project management, contract management and contract administration including dispute resolution, expert witness provision and final account settlement. He has experience across a range of EPC projects and regularly advises clients in respect of such.

Theresa Mohammed, Partner – Trowers & Hamlins

Theresa specialises in contentious construction and has extensive experience of acting for employers and main contractors, making High Court applications and the Enforcement of Adjudicators’ decisions in the Technology and Construction Court. She is familiar with both standard and bespoke forms of construction contracts. Theresa also has experience of running High Court trials, instructing experts on technical engineering matters, resolving construction disputes through mediation and drafting settlement agreements, claims, defences and adjudication submissions. Theresa has been advising clients on a variety of high value and complex matters concerning fire safety and the implications of the new legislation and is heavily involved in the firm-wide Building a Safer Future initiative. 

Helen Collie, Technical DIrector – HKA

Helen is a Chartered Engineer with 15 years of construction industry experience and a master’s in construction law and dispute resolution. She is a specialist in forensic engineering work, covering subject matter ranging from structural steelwork (including connection design responsibility and workmanship), reinforced concrete design and defects, water leakages, seismic assessments (including for remediation works), and design liability issues. Helen has produced, or supported the production of, expert reports for claims regarding property insurance payments for earthquake and fire damage, issues of design liability and professional negligence for large sports and infrastructure projects, alleged poor workmanship, materials and specifications defects, and construction defects. She has been cross-examined in arbitration and is experienced in litigation support.

Justin Sullivan, Chair – Construction Industry Council

Justin is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Fellow of the Expert Witness Institute, Deputy Chair of the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and Chair of the International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS) and has more than 30 years experience in the construction industry. He formed Adair Ltd in 1994. He specialises in construction disputes and has given evidence in the High Court.

CRUX is HKA’s integrated research programme. This draws on incomparable intelligence from investigations by experts providing claims consulting and dispute resolution services on major capital projects around the world. CRUX Insight is HKA’s annual publication analysing the root causes of claims and disputes. HKA are committed to sharing lessons with clients and more widely so the industry can effectively manage risks on complex projects. 

Download the latest CRUX report.