Complex topics, simple explanations.
We aim to help our clients understand complicated topics by explaining them in plain English. Explore below some of the questions that our clients have asked.
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Can I Use AI to Help Prepare My Case?
Hamshaw summarises the Civil Justice Council's October 2026 recommendations on using AI to prepare court documents, and what they could mean for litigants.
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What Can I Do if My Client is Delaying the Works?
Late drawings, unavailable access and unanswered requests for instructions can prevent a contractor from progressing work. They can also leave an engineer or architect carrying…
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Can I Terminate a Contract if my Client Fails to Pay?
Hamshaw explains your options when a client isn't paying what's owed under a contract
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How Can I Protect My Position if My Builder Is Not Complying With the Contract?
Hamshaw offers advice about how to act if your builder is in breach, whilst protecting your rights
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What Can I Recover After Terminating a Building Contract?
Hamshaw looks at what a builder, or other professional, can recover after terminating a contract with a client
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Can I Sack My Builder for Poor Work?
Hamshaw explains the circumstances in which a homeowner might be able to terminate a building contract following a breach by the builder
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How Much Does it Cost to Sue an Architect?
How expensive it is to be involved in litigation in the UK can vary greatly depending on the nature of the dispute, the attitude of the parties involved, and the steps taken to…
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Can I Challenge the Enforcement of an Adjudicator’s Decision?
Adjudication is intended to bind the losing party, but in order to enforce an Adjudicator’s decision the winning party has to go to court and obtain a court judgment stating that…
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How Much are Court Fees?
Parties to construction and property litigation must budget for paying court fees, as well as their own legal and expert costs. The court will charge fees to parties involved in…
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A Quick Guide to Litigation in the Technology and Construction Court in 2026
On 1 July 2026, the fourth edition of the Technology and Construction Court Guide (TCC Guide) was published on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website The full guide can be…
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Do I Have to Mediate My Dispute?
ADR stands for Alternative Dispute Resolution, and refers to any form of resolving disputes without resorting to the courts. There are several different types of ADR, but the most…
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How Do I Make the Losing Party Pay an Adjudicator’s Decision
A successful party in an adjudication may still need to take court action if the losing party does not comply with the Adjudicator’s decision (for example, if they do not pay the…
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How Much Does it Cost to Sue my Engineer?
How expensive it is to be involved in litigation in the UK can vary greatly depending on the nature of the dispute, the attitude of the parties involved, and the steps taken to…
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How Much Will it Cost to Sue my Builder?
How expensive it is to be involved in litigation in the UK can vary greatly depending on the nature of the dispute, the attitude of the parties involved, and the steps taken to…
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What Causes Construction Disputes?
At least 68 key industry reports have been written about domestic construction in the last 50 years, but none of them have sought to squarely address the causes of construction…
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What are the Rules of Contract Interpretation?
Hamshaw explains the basic rules of contract interpretation
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Which Court Will Hear My Commercial Case?
Hamshaw explains the new financial thresholds for Commercial Court, London Circuit Commercial Court, and commercial County Court claims
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How do I Sue Someone?
Hamshaw describes the basic procedural steps required to sue someone in England and Wales
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Where Do I Sit in the Courtroom?
Hamshaw answers some common questions about going to court: where to sit, how to act, and what to say
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What is Summary Judgment?
Hamshaw explains what Summary Judgment means, and how to get it
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How Do I Appeal a Court Judgment?
Hamshaw gives an overview of appealing decisions made by the courts in construction law disputes
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A Summary of the Building Safety Act 2022
Hamshaw offers a (very high level) summary of some key aspects of the new Building Safety Act 2022
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What Does it Mean When a Claim is “Struck Out”?
Hamshaw explains Strike Out, including what it means and how to get it
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What is “Default Judgment” (or “Judgment in Default”) and How Do I Get It?
Hamshaw examines Default Judgment, what it means, and how you get it
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Can I Get an Injunction?
Hamshaw examines how to get an injunction
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What is an Injunction?
Hamshaw explains what an injunction is, and the different types of injunction that are available
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What Is Construction Arbitration?
Hamshaw gives an overview of arbitration for construction disputes
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What Is Early Neutral Evaluation?
Hamshaw explains what Early Neutral Evaluation is, and how and when it can help resolve construction disputes
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What Do I Do When I Receive an Adjudication Referral Notice?
Hamshaw explains what you need to do if someone starts an Adjudication against you
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How Can I Avoid Paying an Adjudicator's Decision?
Hamshaw explains the limited circumstances in which you can avoid paying an Adjudication decision
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What is Mediation?
Hamshaw considers what mediation is, how it works, and how it compares to litigation
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Is There a Time Limit for Suing Someone in England and Wales?
Hamshaw explains the time limits that apply to suing someone in England and Wales
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Why Does Construction Adjudication Exist in England?
Hamshaw explains the reasons why construction adjudication was introduced in England and Wales
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Tips for Presenting Arguments in Court
Hamshaw offers some tips for presenting arguments to the court
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What’s the Difference Between a QC and a KC?
Hamshaw explains the difference between KCs and QCs in England and Wales
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Can I Adjudicate if I am a ‘Residential Occupier’?
Hamshaw explains whether a residential occupier can adjudicate a dispute under a construction contract
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Should I Adjudicate my Dispute?
Hamshaw explains the pros and cons of Adjudication, and what you need to consider before deciding whether it’s right for your dispute
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Are Court Documents Accessible by the Public?
Hamshaw explains how, and when, the public can get access to evidence used in litigation
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Which Court Will Hear My Case?
Hamshaw explains the structure of the English court system, and the rules around which court will hear a claim
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What Role Does the Court Have in Arbitration?
Hamshaw explains the role of English court in Arbitration proceedings
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What Are the Consequences of a Part 36 Offer?
Hamshaw explains Part 36 offers to settle, and their consequences
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Can I Ignore an Adjudication?
Hamshaw explains whether you can ignore an adjudication, and what the consequences of doing so might be
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Adjudication: Is There a Dispute Yet?
Hamshaw examines what is required before a dispute can be said to have crystallised
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How do I Enforce an Adjudicator’s Decision?
Hamshaw explains how to enforce an Adjudicator's decision when the losing party is not complying with it
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Can I Get My Costs Back in Adjudication?
Hamshaw examines whether it is possible for the winner of an Adjudication to get the losing party to pay its legal fees.
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If I Haven’t Signed a Contract, is it Binding?
Hamshaw explains the effect of failing to sign a contract
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What is the Pre-Action Protocol and What Does it Require?
Hamshaw explains what the Pre-action Protocol for Construction Engineering Disputes is, and how to comply with it
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What Does “time at large” Mean?
Hamshaw explains the meaning and effect of time being "at large" under a construction contract
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An Introduction to Liquidated Damages
Hamshaw explains liquidated damages, also known as LDs and LADs
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Can I Change My Solicitor (and How Do I Do It)?
Hamshaw explains whether you can change solicitors, and how to go about it
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What is Arbitration, and How Does it Compare to Litigation?
Hamshaw provides an overview of Arbitration, and compares it to Litigation
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What Do I Do When I Receive an Adjudication Notice?
Hamshaw explains what to do when an adjudication notice arrives
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What Are the Common Different Types of Procurement Method in UK Construction?
Hamshaw explains three of the common types of procurement method used in UK construction projects
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How Many Different JCT Standard Form Contracts Are There?
Hamshaw lists the 60 different JCT standard form agreements published in the 2016 edition
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Which JCT Sub-Contract is Right for My Project?
Hamshaw explains some of the different types of JCT sub-contract, and when they might be appropriate for use
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Which JCT Contract is Right for My Project?
Hamshaw summarises the uses and key details of some of the JCT standard form contracts
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What Are the Different Types of JCT Contract?
Hamshaw gives an overview of the different types of JCT contract that are available
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Which Laws Govern Statutory Construction Adjudication?
Hamshaw sets out the statutory framework that applies to construction adjudication
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What are the Steps in a Construction Adjudication?
Hamshaw sets out the usual steps in a construction adjudication
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Important Dates under the JCT Intermediate Building Contract with contractor’s design (JCT ICD) 2016
Hamshaw explains the important payment dates under the JCT Intermediate Building Contract with contractor’s design (JCT ICD) 2016
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Important Dates under the JCT Minor Works Building Contract with contractor’s design (JCT MWD) 2016
Hamshaw explains important payment dates under the JCT Minor Works Building Contract with contractor’s design (JCT MWD) 2016
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Important Dates under the JCT Standard Building Sub-Contract Conditions (SBCSub/C) 2016
Hamshaw explains key payment dates under the JCT Standard Building Sub-Contract Conditions (SBCSub/C) 2016
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Important Dates under the JCT Standard Building Contract With Quantities (SBCQ) 2016
Hamshaw explains the important payment dates under the JCT Standard Building Contract With Quantities (SBCQ) 2016
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Important Dates under the JCT Standard Building Contract Without Quantities (SBCXQ) 2016
Hamshaw explains the important payment dates under the JCT Standard Building Contract Without Quantities (SBCXQ) 2016
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What Does it Mean When a Barrister is a KC?
Hamshaw explains what a KC is, and how Barristers become KCs
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How Diverse is the Legal Profession?
Hamshaw highlights some of the latest diversity statistics for the legal profession in England and Wales
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What Should I Wear to Court?
Hamshaw offers some basic guidance on what to wear to court
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Can I Get My Legal Costs Back in Litigation?
Hamshaw explains who pays the costs in litigation
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What’s the Difference Between a Solicitor, Barrister, and Lawyer?
Hamshaw explains the difference between barristers, solicitors, and lawyers in the UK
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Do I Need a Barrister, or a Solicitor?
Hamshaw explains when you might need a solicitor, and when you might need a barrister (and when you might need both)
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What is Construction Adjudication and How Does it Work?
Hamshaw explains construction adjudication and how it works
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What is the Small Claims Court?
Hamshaw explains what the small claims court is
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What Do I Call the Judge?
Hamshaw explains what to call the Judge in the County Court and the High Court in the UK
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What is the Technology and Construction Court (TCC)?
Hamshaw explains what the Technology and Construction Court is, and what claims might be suitable for it
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What Causes Construction Litigation?
Hamshaw’s Daniel Shaw summarises his research into what causes construction litigation
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How Long Does it Take to Sue Someone?
Hamshaw explains how long it will take to sue someone in the UK
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How Much do Judges Earn?
Hamshaw explains how much Judges get paid in England and Wales
Have a question not answered above?
Contact Hamshaw to discuss your question and get a practical, commercial, and sensible answer.