Do I need a solicitor to help with building disputes?

The short answer is yes!

However, as a construction business, when you are faced with a building dispute it can be daunting to know where to turn and the exact type of help you need. Although it may be tempting to go solo and resolve the dispute on your own, we don’t recommend this. You wouldn’t fix a gas leak without the training and expertise so why fix a dispute on your own? Although it may look like the cheapest and quickest option, more often than not, trying to solve a dispute on your own will turn into a very expensive and time-consuming matter.

Common disputes in which you may find yourself needing the expertise of a solicitor include completion date extension, faulty work, professional negligence, debt recovery or insolvency.

A solicitor can advise you on the best course of action to take. This might mean fighting it head on, or they might advise you to look at Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods such as mediation, arbitration, adjudication and expert witnesses, which keeps the dispute out of court helping to save time, money, energy and most importantly work relationships.

Importantly, depending on the nature of the dispute, a solicitor will also be able to advise you on whether it is worth pursuing or not.

Think of a solicitor as the sat nav in your dispute, providing invaluable expertise, guidance and insight into the best way to deal with an issue that has arisen.

What will a solicitor do for me and my construction business?

• Advise you on the right action to take - A solicitor will advise you on your options, there are many routes to take before ending up in court.
• Scrutinise and review contracts.
• Answer any questions you may have.
• Chase up information.
• Liaise with external parties in order to gather as much information as possible.
• Inspect and review documents and contracts before signing and implementing.
• Provide you with options to resolve the dispute.
• Guide you through your legal rights.
• Share their expertise in identifying solutions to the dispute.
• Negotiate settlements, conditions and agreements.
• Represent you both in and out of court.
• Prepare documentation and court bundles.
• Correspond with clients and opposing solicitors.
• Arrange and attend meetings with opposing parties to negotiate and finalise agreements.
• Calculate claims and compensation.
• Act on your behalf and represent you in and out of court.
• Keep you abreast of any changes in the law or construction industry that may affect you and your dispute.
• Offer you guidance and advice throughout the case and afterwards such as when claiming settlements.

A word of warning… Let’s talk about money. We know that the thought of taking legal advice can be daunting when money is already tight. It can seem far better to tackle things yourself and save the expense. Although self-representation might seem alluring and cost effective, the expertise and guidance you receive will be worth every penny. A solicitor comes armed with a fine-tooth comb to go through everything you need, to make sure no form or piece of evidence is overlooked and to ensure that all procedures are followed correctly.

But this isn’t everything. Having the support of a solicitor also means you save time and can focus on business matters, while they do the work behind the scenes. So really, finding the right lawyer is likely to ensure a better outcome and save you money (and lost time costs) in the long run.

At Ravenna, we understand how stressful dealing with construction disputes can be, this is where we come in with our knowledge and expertise to help you find the right solicitor to help alleviate the worry and give you the right advice. Book your free 30-minute consultation with one of our advisors by clicking here. We’ll talk through the options and suggest at least two law firms that we think are a good fit for your business. We aren’t paid any commission and you won’t be under any pressure to work with any law firms we put forward.