Most people seek to avoid disputes where possible, but there are many areas where disagreements can turn into formal action when dealing with building contracts and property matters. Early use of the Baqus team can often prevent disputes arising in the first place. Even when disputes have arisen their negotiating skills and experience can enable settlements to be achieved without recourse to formal action.

Members of the Baqus team are fully conversant with the full range of standard forms of construction contract (such as JCT, ACA, GC Works, ICE, NEC etc), and with modern procurement approaches such as Partnering including PPC 2000 and NEC/ECC contracts, ProCure 21 etc. Experience extends to a variety of specialist forms, including those applicable to sub-contracts, engineering services installations, heavy engineering and the like, together with customised contracts to suit particular clients.

Advisory services are provided in respect of Claims Avoidance, Framework Agreements and non-construction related contracts. The team advises on leases - in particular repairing obligations - and other property matters such as Party Walls.

We offer experienced, practising, expert witnesses, negotiators, mediators, adjudicators and arbitrators. Baqus has Quantity Surveyors able to advise on costs, value and construction contracts, Building Surveyors able to advise on building defects, quality and workmanship issues and Project Managers able to advise on programmes, risk and buildability issues.

Legal Support Services offered include the following:

• Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Negotiation
• Acting as both party appointed expert advisors and expert witnesses and single joint expert witnesses in litigation, arbitration and mediation
• Acting a adjudicators, arbitrators and mediators
• Preparation of Scott Schedules and witness statements
• Proofs of evidence
• Affidavits
• Preparation and negotiation of claims
• Advice on right of set-off
• Advice on misrepresentation of property
• Advisors to developers, contractors and sub-contractors on contractual matters
• Adjudication procedures under The Housing Grants, Construction & Regeneration Act 1996
• Independent valuation of construction works/ advice on costs
• Technical advice on building defects, quality of workmanship and good practice
• Party Wall Surveyors and boundary disputes
• Preparation and negotiation of Schedules of Dilapidations and expert advisor/witness in connection
• Advice to landlords or tenants on repairing and maintenance liabilities under leases - before during and at end of lease
• Insurance valuations, preparation and negotiations of claims and implementation of remedial works
• Surveys and Defects Diagnosis
• Access Audits and advice on the Disability Discrimination Act