Everybody Has Won and All Must Have Prizes

Adjudication has been hailed as a great success: it has certainly taken pressure off the courts and compared to litigation and arbitration it has provided, at least in theory, a quick and cheap way for the construction industry to have disputes resolved. But as adjudication has evolved it has attracted criticism for not being as quick and cheap as it was intended to be and for the problems that have sometimes occurred when the process has been used for large and complex disputes, or those not regarded as suitable for this method of dispute resolution. Although some of the changes which are due to be introduced in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill may help to address some of the criticisms, they are very likely to generate others…