Tools for Getting Paid in Partnership with the CIOB

We are in strange times… The opening line of Charles Dickens ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ seems to be a good description of where we find ourselves as construction professionals:

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times….”

While the construction sector is still dealing with the fall out of COVID, Brexit and cost increases, some sectors are experiencing growth. However, there still remains many challenges for the industry.

The recent collapse of well-established main construction firms in the UK and Ireland shows the pitfalls that remain, and show just how fragile the construction industry can be, especially when risks are unfairly passed downstream.

Tools for Getting Paid will answer a vital question: So, as a contractor, consultant or sub-contractor, how do you protect yourself?

This seminar will focus on various contracts, elements of contract law / case law and to advise upon maximising your commercial recovery and reducing risk for the payee.

Sign up to ‘Tools for Getting Paid’ here.

About the Speaker

Stephen McKenna – LLB (Hons) BA (Hons) PGDipEng MCIOB CLCM CMreg ACIArb – Senior Associate

Stephen began working as a project engineer in 2005, and has experience working in a management capacity on contracts in excess of £90m. He has worked on large construction projects in Dublin, Belfast, and Australia.

Since joining Quigg Golden he has also graduated with an honours degree in law.

Stephen lectures on the Institution of Civil Engineers Law and Contract Management course, and has lectured for Engineers Ireland on adjudication, as well as bespoke contract training for main contractors and subcontractors. He has extensive experience in resolving disputes under PWC, FIDIC, NEC and JCT standard forms as well as bespoke contracts.

Stephen specialises in risk assessing, drafting and running construction adjudications. Notable results include a £2.8m technical adjudication (subsequently enforced in the High Court), and successfully defending a c.1m subcontractor claim.

In terms of his procurement experience, Stephen has drafted procurement suites for tender competitions on behalf of contracting authorities, has sat on a number of marking panels for public procurement competitions, and he has also successfully challenged competitions on behalf of aggrieved economic operators, by way of drafting specialist reports on how competitions were drafted and ran.

Stephen worked for a number of years in the West Australian mining industry on various infrastructure projects for a number of the world’s largest mining companies including Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, FMG and Roy Hills.

He is experienced in every stage of the construction process from survey and setting out to final finishing. His Irish construction experience includes working for Ireland’s largest contractor on the redevelopment of the Spencer Dock quarter in Dublin. His civils experience extends to the overlay of one of Ireland’s major roadways, and he was also an integral part of the survey team which topographically surveyed and digitised the rapid transport corridor for the greater Belfast area.

Having worked on commercial, residential, retail and civil projects his approach to contentious matters is complimented by this site experience. Whether on a small housing development or a $200m mine site, Stephen’s attention to detail and quality remains his primary focus.