Tom Bain, solicitor, Berwin Leighton Paisner:

Akenhead J’s judgment in PHD Modular Access Services Ltd v Seele GmbH provides a useful analysis of when a party can apply for pre-action disclosure under CPR Part 31.16 and the breadth of the order sought by the applicant, particularly where there are ongoing adjudication proceedings.

It is a common consideration where disputes arise between parties in the construction industry. One may seek useful documents from the other prior to any formal proceedings. The practice is often described (though sometimes unfairly) as “fishing”. The party may be looking to see if it can get a “nibble” when it dangles its metaphorical hook to gather more evidence for a claim. (more…)

Simon Liddiard, principal solicitor, Managed Legal Service for Thames Water:

There I was, quietly drafting some LDEDC Act 2009-compliant payment terms when, hitting a patch of writer’s block, I turned to my trusty PLC mark-up of the revised English Scheme. All of a sudden it dawned on me that either I had fundamentally mis-read the LDEDC Act 2009 or the revised English Scheme was not Act-compliant. (more…)