Commercial Construction

Your time is precious. No doubt, you have a million things on your plate. A million places you need to be. So we’ll get straight to the point.

Discussing the law is probably not what you want to be doing right now. We get that. None of our clients has ever woken up with a burning desire to speak with a lawyer. But there’s a reason why we’re often the first people they call when faced with an obstacle or an opportunity.

We see the bigger picture.

Business people first. Lawyers second.

Construction disputes are more complicated than how they fit into the law.

There are many factors to think about. If you only look at what the law says, it’s like trying to play golf while ignoring the weather conditions or the lie of the ball. Selecting the right club for a shot depends on more than just distance.

Blindly churning out academic legal advice will not produce the best commercial result.

It’s not just a question of what you can do legally. You also want to think about what effect that might have on your relationships. For this project and the next. On this site and others.

That’s why our lawyers always come at things from a commercial angle.

For a confidential and free discussion, call us today on 01908 414990. Alternatively, email us at Hello@altion-law.co.uk or complete our Free Enquiry Form and we will call you back.

Commercial Reality vs Legal Speak

There’s a difference between knowing the law and knowing how to communicate.

An Altion lawyer understands you’re busy. That’s why we cut to the chase. No long-winded academic discussions. Just practical, no-nonsense, commercial advice. Because what matters is what you should do. Not what legal commentators think about the law.

Any lawyer can give you a potted history of legal theory. But a specialist construction lawyer will give you a clear explanation of your options. And a clear steer.

We Speak Your Language

Lawyers who deal with clinical negligence don’t need to be medically trained. But it helps if they understand how the body works and know the scientific terminology as well as the experts.

In the same way, it helps if your lawyers can get to grips with construction drawings. They know how to speak with Quantity Surveyors. And they’re fluent in the many different acronyms used by the many different trades.

Specialists Are Quick To Identify The Real Issues

Construction projects are usually drowning in paperwork. Much of it is scattered here, there and everywhere. You might not always know what you have, what you should have, or what you’re missing.

Other firms might have to wade through thousands of emails before they can see the wood for the trees. But because specialist construction lawyers deal with complex construction disputes day after day, they know exactly what to look for. And where to find the evidence that counts.

That’s why at the end of a dispute, our clients’ legal spend often comes in significantly lower than everyone else’s costs.

Case Study: The Right And Wrong Ways To Get Paid

Our client was on the wrong end of a payment dispute. To compound matters, they made the mistake of engaging debt collectors. Despite forking out significant sums, they saw not a single penny come in.

They then engaged Altion Law. Our specialist lawyers approached the matter as a construction dispute. Within weeks, we had obtained full payment of the sums owed. Our client was delighted but also frustrated that they had wasted money on debt collectors in the first place.

Opinion vs Understanding

Not all contract reviews are created equally.

When a specialist construction lawyer flags a problematic clause, they’ll make clear why it’s a bad idea. They won’t talk in abstract legal speak. They’ll focus on the commercial reality of the situation and explain exactly what the effect of something would be.

With our reviews, not only will you understand why you don’t want to accept the troublesome clause. But you’ll know what to look out for in future.

Pause And Take Stock, So You Can Stay One Step Ahead

Some football players see the game differently.

Take Lionel Messi. He spends the first 3 minutes of a match just walking around the pitch, apparently ignoring the ball. He doesn’t sprint. He doesn’t pass. He doesn’t tackle. But his mind is busy.

He’s studying each opponent – where they position themselves and how the defence works together. By minute 3 or 4, he has a map in his brain of exactly where the space is. And he understands the strategies he can use to exploit that space. It gives him a competitive advantage.

That’s the kind of professional advice you want.

Any lawyer can rush mindlessly to where the ball is. The trick is to scan the field, read what’s unfolding, and spot the danger before it arrives.

Find out more about our contract reviews and advice here. <hyperlink ‘here’ to Contract Reviews and Advice page>

Are You Involved In A Dispute Or Looking To Bring A Claim?

Construction disputes can be complex and stressful. They’re often time consuming. Yet, if you fail to act fast, you can find yourself in a tricky situation before you know it.

By getting professional advice early, you take charge. You put yourself in the best position to navigate the intricacies of the statutory payment regime and adjudication process.

If you’re facing a construction dispute, we can help.

Find out more about construction claims and disputes here. <hyperlink ‘here’ to Claims and disputes page>

The First People You’ll Think To Call

We realise that’s a bold claim.

That you’ll save our number in your contacts. Maybe add us to your list of favourites. That when a problem or an opportunity arises, you’ll pick up the phone.

But try us and you’ll see why our longstanding clients often give us a ring. Whether it’s a legal or a business matter.

Case Study: Some Phone Calls Really Are A Lifeline

One of our clients was a construction contractor. For many of his contracts, he was required to have gross CIS status. So when he experienced some issues with HMRC, he was understandably alarmed to receive letters stating his gross CIS status was going to be revoked.

The advice from his accountant was worrying: categorically, there was no chance he would be able to retain his CIS gross status.

Our client was mentally preparing for his company to lose its contracts and go out of business. But as a last throw of the dice, he turned to us. Little did he know, he’d just rolled a double 6.

Was our client expecting us to successfully challenge HMRC? No. But that’s exactly what we succeeded in doing. On reviewing the history of the matter, we believed a challenge could be made. And we were right. Not only did we succeed in retaining our client’s gross CIS status, but we did so without having to go through the process of a tax tribunal.

Within a matter of weeks, we took our client from facing a total loss of business to being able to continue trading successfully.

Get Specialist Help On Your Side

We’re based in Milton Keynes but we act nationwide for our clients. So wherever you are in England or Wales, contact us today to get clarity on your situation and discuss your next steps.

Altion Law are specialists in advising and representing parties on commercial construction contracts, claims and disputes.

For a confidential and free discussion, call us today on 01908 414990. Alternatively, email us at Hello@altion-law.co.uk or complete our Free Enquiry Form and we will call you back.