THE SWEET & MAXWELL CONSTRUCTION LAW CONFERENCE 2010

9.00	REGISTRATION WITH COFFEE
9.30	CHAIR’S WELCOME Paul Darling QC, Keating Chambers
9.45	NEC CONTRACTS This form of contract is being used ever increasingly, including in the Private Sector – what does this mean and how does it work? Mutual trust and cooperation The time bar clause Prospective and retrospective assessment David Thomas QC, Keating Chambers Common amendments made by Employers – justification and impact Effective contract management – what does this mean for the team? Julie Stagg, Fenwick Elliott
10.45	QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
10.50	MORNING COFFEE
11.15	DEALING WITH CURRENT PROBLEM AREAS IN PROCUREMENT LAW: PRACTICAL ADVICE AND UPDATES FROM THE COURTS When does a change to an existing contract give rise to a new award? Developments since Pressetext Documents and disclosure - the back to basics approach of the TCC Is there such a thing as commercial confidentiality anymore? Sarah Hannaford QC, Keating Chambers Jeremy Glover, Fenwick Elliott
12.15	QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
12.20	LUNCH
13.15	KEYNOTE ADDRESS: CONTROLLING LITIGATION COSTS Lord Justice Jackson
13.30	THE KEY ELEMENTS OF AN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CLAUSE Choice of law Selection of the seat of the arbitration Law governing procedure and enforcement Number of arbitrators Choice of institutional rules or ad hoc Institutional standard form clauses Richard Harding QC, Keating Chambers David Robertson, Fenwick Elliott
14.30	QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
14.35	EFFECTIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION ON CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING PROJECTS Dispute Avoidance and Resolution and ADR Adjudication: the latest legislation and case law update Arbitration: How can it be cheaper and faster? Litigation in the Technology and Construction Court: cheaper and faster? Recent trends and “best bets” in dispute resolution Victoria Russell, Fenwick Elliott Nicholas Baatz QC, Atkin Chambers
15.35	AFTERNOON TEA
15.50	EXPERT EVIDENCE: EMERGING ISSUES What does independence mean? Can an expert ever be truly independent? Potential problems with experts who advise separately from proceedings Duty to the court and the role of the judge Liability of experts and immunity David Streatfeild-James QC, Atkin Chambers Jonathan Selby, Keating Chambers
16.50	QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
16.55	CHAIRMAN’S CLOSING REMARKS
17.00	CLOSE OF CONFERENCE

Please note that the programme is subject to change without notice