Coping with the inflation heat – a costs and contracts perspective on price escalation

Introduction

HKA invites you to join us for a seminar on the looming threat of inflation and price escalation.

Global shortages and sharply escalating prices for materials have already impacted projects worldwide. Such uncertainty bedevils cost estimating and tendering and leaves contractors’ margins highly exposed, inevitably driving future claims.

Hear from our quantum expert Scott Ramsden on how you can handle construction inflation risks, including:

• How the Standard Forms address it
• Pre-contract management practices 
• Pre and post-contract mitigation practices

Expert speaker

Scott Ramsden
Principal and Quantum Expert, HKA
E: scottramsden@hka.com

Scott Ramsden is a quantity surveyor and construction professional with over 30 years of experience. He has acted as a quantum expert and assistant to the named expert on multiple occasions.

Scott has been cross-examined as a witness in mediation and arbitration proceedings. He has been appointed as an independent quantum expert in arbitral proceedings relating to offshore oil and gas, with disputed values of US$250 million. He has also acted as lead assistant for offshore oil and gas, power and infrastructure project disputes.

Scott has over 20 years of international experience, including 15 years working in the Middle East and Asia, as both a contractor and consultant. He has provided commercial management services to major international contractors and oil and gas companies and supports client with wide ranging strategic advice.

Scott’s sector expertise includes ports, mining, oil and gas, infrastructure, airports, buildings, power, and industrial projects. He has considerable experience in the preparation, defence, negotiation and settlement of contractual claims, and supports solicitors and barristers regarding commercial and contract management matters and dispute resolution services.

Scott is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and an associate member of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors. He holds a master’s in construction law and arbitration and a diploma in quantity surveying.

Chair and panel moderator

Benjamin Highfield
Partner and Head of Asia, HKA
E: benjaminhighfield@hka.com

Benjamin Highfield is a Chartered Civil Engineer and a claims and disputes specialist at HKA. He has more than 15 years’ major project experience in the construction industry, spanning buildings, transportation infrastructure, oil and gas, power and water markets. Additionally, he regularly advises clients on commercial and contractual matters, as well as claims management and dispute resolution.

Benjamin has led teams on multiple oil and gas, water and power projects and has negotiated high value settlements with major governmental organisations. With his extensive experience of many of the major standard forms of contract, he has been employed by government bodies and large private companies to advise on a range of broad and diverse matters.

Benjamin is an experienced delay and quantum analyst and has prepared multiple claims for extension of time, disruption, prolongation and acceleration. He has drafted detailed contractual arguments for disputed variations, termination, suspension and arbitration amongst others. He is a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Should you have any questions on the seminar topic or registration, please contact CrystalLim@hka.com.