Construction disputes require a clear separation of agreed scope, variations, delay, acceptance and defects. Technical records and contractual notices often determine whether a claim can be substantiated. We advise clients and contractors on commercial projects and coordinate contractual issues with any separate planning or permitting requirements.
What we assess
Before a defect is repaired, evidence and the need for immediate protective work should be considered. Additional payment claims require a reliable account of instructions and authority. At handover, outstanding work, defects and reservations should be recorded accurately because acceptance can affect payment and the evidential position.
Four practical examples
Illustrative scenarios, not accounts of client matters. The appropriate response depends on the documents, applicable law and procedural position.
A leaking commercial building
Water enters a completed hall. Condition and likely causes are documented before repairs, while urgent protective measures are distinguished. Depending on the dispute, independent evidentiary proceedings may help preserve the basis for defect claims.
An unapproved variation
A contractor seeks extra payment. Scope, instructions, authority and pricing are examined. Emails and site minutes must show whether additional work was ordered or whether participants were merely discussing technical implementation.
Delayed occupation
A business cannot use its premises on time. Binding dates, obstacles and individual causes of delay are assessed. Replacement rent and other losses must be evidenced and linked to the relevant breach.
Handover under pressure
A project is handed over with unfinished work. The record should distinguish outstanding work, defects and necessary reservations. A blanket acceptance may change payment rights and the burden of proving defects, so the handover needs preparation.
Documents that help
Construction contracts, specifications, drawings, variations, site minutes, schedules, acceptance records, invoices and photographs.
From assessment to the next step
We first distinguish established facts from disputed allegations and identify any step needed to preserve rights. The legal route is then assessed against the commercial objective, available evidence and potential cost. Where technical or foreign-law input is required, responsibilities are coordinated before further work is commissioned. Negotiation, formal proceedings and practical implementation are considered together; a favourable legal position still needs a workable route to the intended result.
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Discuss your matter
Tell us the parties involved, your objective and any deadlines. Our main office is in Hanover, Lower Saxony. We advise on German-law matters nationwide and coordinate cross-border work with locally qualified counsel where required.
Send an enquiry — all fields optional · +49 511 3573560
We check conflicts and agree the scope and fees before accepting instructions. An enquiry alone does not create an engagement or preserve a deadline.