Cost and Value
The amounts of payment due, or to be withheld, will typically be a key concern for those involved in a dispute. Whether you believe you are not being paid enough or too much is being claimed, the quantum and strength of your case needs to be proved before any action can be taken.
Edge Consult can independently review these costs and assist your team in establishing financial liability or entitlement under the building contract.
Edge Consult offer a range of construction commercial management services and quantity surveying support on all project types. For example, we can provide on-going commercial monitoring, report and audit services on construction liabilities and costs, as well as preparing interim payment applications, interim valuations and final accounts or statements.
Early input from Edge Consult will help protect your position by identifying any commercial issues and instigating a strategy to address these, including mitigation measures. The recognition of Variations/Changes and the cost of these are often under reported until after the works have been completed. This results in poor cashflow for contractors and surprise cost increases for employers, which regularly creates disputes.
Edge Consult’s input can be invaluable in deciding the legitimacy, accuracy, and reasonableness (or otherwise) of the parties’ stated financial position. This information may be essential to enable you to decide whether to continue negotiations or consider a formal dispute resolution process to resolve any differences.
Administrators and Liquidators
Edge Consult has all the expertise needed to establish, as part of an insolvency process, both liabilities and potential payment recovery to support Administrators and Liquidators.
Following recent court cases, recovery through adjudication is now an option.
Preparing Robust Loss and/or Expense Claims
Whilst there are often differences and disputes in the valuation of Variations/Changes, it is usually loss and/or expense where the largest amounts of money become disputed.
Edge Consult has extensive experience in preparing fully evidenced claims for loss and expense as part of normal final accounts or in support of an adjudication, often using our planners’ expertise in delay analysis.
Remember, an extension of time may not be directly related to entitlement of prolongation loss and/or expense.
Defending Against Loss and/or Expense Claims
Equally, Edge Consult provide full support in the evaluation of and defending against claims for loss and/or expense sent to our clients. Again, in ascertaining such claims it is important to understand not just the financial aspects but also how the contractual obligations and programme impacts on those claims.
In a Response to an adjudication, the time available to review and defend those claims will be very limited. Hence, Edge Consult’s early involvement will help to prepare and evidence your position to ensure your greatest chance of success.
