Contracts for Construction and Engineering Projects provides unique and invaluable guidance on the role of contracts in construction and engineering projects. The work explores various aspects of the intersection of contracts and construction projects involving the work of engineers and other professionals engaged in construction, whether as project managers, designers, constructors, contract administrators, schedulers, claims consultants, forensic engineers or expert witnesses. Compiling papers written and edited by the author, refined and expanded with additional chapters in this new edition, this book draws together a lifetime of lessons learned in these fields and covers the topics a practising professional might encounter in construction and engineering projects, developed in bite-sized chunks. The chapters are divided into five key parts: 1. The engineer and the contract 2. The project and the contract 3. Avoidance and resolution of disputes 4. Forensic engineers and expert witnesses, and 5. International construction contracts. The inclusion of numerous case studies to illustrate the importance of getting the contract right before it is entered into – and the consequences that may ensue if this is not done – makes this book essential reading for professionals practising in any area of design, construction, contract administration, preparation of claims or expert evidence, as well as construction lawyers who interact with construction professionals.

The introduction of the New Engineering Contract (NEC) encourages a systematic approach to contracting which is multidisciplinary in nature and fully interlocked in form. The NEC is intended by its supporters to be more flexible and easier to use than any current leading traditional standard forms of contract. It is believed that these features reduce adversariality and disputes. The NEC seeks to achieve this aim primarily through co-operative management techniques and incentives built into the NEC's procedures. This commentary analyses and evaluates these and related claims of innovation. The New Engineering Contract: A legal commentary examines the background to the NEC, its design objectives, structure, procedures and likely judicial interpretation to determine whether it improves upon the traditional standard forms of contract. Special attention is given in the commentary to the development and the significance of the principles underlying preparation of the NEC as well as the arguments in favour of and against them.Throughout the detailed commentary upon the NEC clauses comparisons to the traditional forms are also made to highlight unique features and principles of general application. The conclusion reached is that the NEC does make a significant contribution to the development of standard forms of contract, addresses many of their short comings and offers one of the best models for their future development, direction and design. The commentary draws upon the body of the project management literature and legal analysis to support its conclusions. The New Engineering Contract: A legal commentary will be essential reading for lawyers, barristers and solicitors, as well as engineers and project managers.