Resolve Construction and Property Disputes Without Going to Court

Construction disputes escalate fast, and the financial stakes are high. Our construction dispute solicitors advise contractors, developers, subcontractors and property owners on resolving construction disputes through mediation, adjudication and negotiation, without the cost and delay of court proceedings.

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retained compliance advisory services and ongoing compliance support for companies in the UK

What construction disputes cost you

A construction dispute left unresolved does not stay still. Cashflow is disrupted, programmes slip, and contractual relationships break down in ways that affect future work. Whether the dispute involves a final account disagreement, defective works, delayed payment or a professional negligence claim, the longer it runs the more expensive it becomes. Our construction dispute solicitors advise on the fastest route to resolution, whether that is adjudication, mediation or a negotiated settlement, and prepare you to pursue it effectively.

How Our Construction Dispute Solicitors Help Clients

Our solicitors handle the full range of construction and property disputes, advising contractors, developers, subcontractors and building owners.

Payment and Final Account Disputes

Disputes over final accounts, variations, retentions and unpaid invoices are among the most common in construction. Our solicitors advise on your entitlement under the contract and the fastest route to recovering what you are owed.

Defective Works and Snagging

When completed works do not meet the contractual specification, disputes arise over responsibility, remediation costs and delay. Our solicitors advise on liability, quantum and the most appropriate process for achieving resolution.

Construction Adjudication

Adjudication is a statutory right under the Housing Grants Act and provides a binding decision within 28 days. Our solicitors advise on whether adjudication is the right route, prepare your referral notice and support you through the process.

Contractor and Subcontractor Disputes

Disputes between main contractors and subcontractors over scope, payment, delay and termination are a regular feature of complex construction projects. Our solicitors advise on contractual rights and manage the dispute resolution process.

Professional Negligence Claims

Where an architect, surveyor, engineer or other construction professional has fallen below the required standard, mediation often provides the fastest route to a settlement. Our solicitors advise on the strength of the claim and manage the process.

Delay and Disruption Claims

Extension of time claims, loss and expense disputes and disruption claims require careful analysis of programme, cause and effect. Our solicitors advise on the merits of the claim and the most effective way to present it in mediation or adjudication.

What This Means for You

  • Disputes resolved without the cost of court or tribunal proceedings
  • Cashflow protected through faster adjudication or mediation outcomes
  • Contractual rights clearly explained before you commit to a process
  • Professional negligence and defects claims handled from start to finish
  • Clear advice on whether to fight, negotiate or settle

When to seek advice

  • A contractor or employer has refused to pay a certified or undisputed sum
  • Defective works have been identified, and the responsible party is disputed
  • A final account has been issued, and the other side is not engaging
  • A professional adviser’s negligence has caused financial loss on a project
  • You have received a notice of adjudication and need to respond within 28 days

Meet the Founder

Marium brings 22 years of experience advising businesses and individuals on corporate, commercial and ILA law matters across the UK and the Middle East.

A qualified Solicitor individually authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA ID: 277854), Marium is also a registered Part II Practitioner and mediator in the DIFC Courts, and an established member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Her experience spans complex legal matters for high-profile clients throughout her career, she has been awarded the fastest growing women-led business in the UK recognised by Fortune 500 and former Prime Minister David Cameron.

Marium Razzaq - Solicitors in Manchester
Marium Razzaq
Solicitor & Director Mar Legal
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Why Construction Businesses Choose MAR Legal for Dispute Resolution

Solicitor Led Advice

Every construction dispute is handled by solicitors at MAR Legal with direct industry experience.

Fast Response

Our construction dispute solicitors move quickly. We respond without delay and prepare your position at pace.

Fixed Fee Pricing

We agree fees in advance, so you know what the advice costs before you commit to a process.

Commercial Focus

We advise on the fastest and most cost-effective route to resolution, not just the strongest legal argument.

Trusted by contractors, developers and property owners across the UK for practical advice on construction dispute resolution.

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How Our Construction Dispute Process Works

01

Dispute Assessment

We review the contract, correspondence and factual background to advise on your legal position and the most appropriate resolution route.

02

Strategy and Preparation

Our solicitors prepare your position, whether that is an adjudication referral, mediation statement or without prejudice negotiation, and brief you fully before any process begins.

03

Resolution Process

We manage the process on your behalf, whether adjudication, mediation or direct negotiation, advising at each stage and responding to the other side’s position.

04

Settlement or Award

Once a resolution is reached, we document the outcome, whether that is a binding adjudicator’s decision, a mediation settlement agreement or an agreed final account.

What Our Clients Say

FAQs: Common Questions About Construction Disputes

Construction adjudication is a statutory right under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 that allows either party to a construction contract to refer a dispute to an independent adjudicator for a binding decision, typically within 28 days of the adjudicator’s appointment. It is well suited to payment disputes, final account disagreements and disputes about the right to set off amounts from sums otherwise due. It is faster and cheaper than litigation but the decision, while temporarily binding, can be revisited in arbitration or court.

Mediation works well for most construction disputes including defective works claims, professional negligence disputes, delay and disruption claims, contractor and subcontractor disagreements and disputes over contract interpretation. It is particularly useful where the parties have an ongoing commercial relationship or where the dispute involves multiple issues that would benefit from a negotiated package settlement rather than a binary win or lose outcome. Adjudication is usually faster for straightforward payment disputes.

Once a notice of adjudication is served, the referring party has seven days to serve the referral notice containing its full case. The responding party then has between 14 and 28 days to serve its response, depending on the adjudicator’s directions. The adjudicator has 28 days from receipt of the referral to issue a decision, though this can be extended by agreement. The timeline is tight, and preparation needs to begin before the notice is served.

Yes. The right to adjudicate is implied into most construction contracts by statute under the Housing Grants Act, regardless of whether the contract contains an express adjudication clause. If the contract does not comply with the Act, the Scheme for Construction Contracts is implied as a fallback. The statutory right applies to contracts for the carrying out of construction operations in England and Wales, with limited exceptions for residential occupiers and certain PFI contracts.

An adjudicator’s decision is temporarily binding, meaning the losing party is required to comply with it even if they intend to challenge it in court or arbitration later. If they refuse to pay a sum awarded, the winning party can apply to the Technology and Construction Court for summary judgment to enforce the decision. Courts take a robust approach to enforcement and will generally enforce an adjudicator’s decision unless there has been a serious breach of natural justice.

It depends on the route chosen. Adjudication produces a decision within 28 days of appointment, making it the fastest binding process available. Mediation is usually completed in a single day once both parties have exchanged position statements, with most cases settling on the day or shortly afterwards. Negotiated settlements vary widely depending on the parties’ willingness to engage. Litigation in the Technology and Construction Court can take two to four years for complex matters.

Time is critical. The referring party will serve its full referral notice within seven days of the notice of adjudication, at which point your response period begins. You should take legal advice immediately on the merits of the claim, the strength of any cross-claims or set-off arguments and the practical steps needed to prepare a response. Late or poorly prepared responses are a significant disadvantage in adjudication given the compressed timeline.

MAR Legal provides advisory and documentation support in connection with construction disputes, including adjudication preparation and mediation. Where a matter involves reserved legal activities or requires regulated legal representation in court proceedings, we work alongside appropriately regulated professionals to ensure the right expertise is in place.