Commercial Litigation
Litigation is the process of engaging in or contesting legal action in court as a means of resolving a dispute. The court is able to enforce or determine one party's rights or obligations. For more information see: Litigation.
When constructing or managing a commercial building, there are, unfortunately, plenty of opportunities for issues and disagreements to arise.
As a developer, contractor or subcontractor when a dispute does arise, you need to ensure that you have the relevant resources to combat it. Especially as such disputes can be extremely costly and time-consuming. It in both the personal and company interest to resolve issues wherever and whenever possible, in a speedy manner. A successful litigation outcome is desired, but ultimately resolving the issue as fast as possible for work to continue uninterrupted is the best possible solution. This may require the help of dispute resolution solicitors in order to come to a successful conclusion.
The issues that are prevalent in these situations include:
- Disagreements or anger on either side.
- Contract breaches.
- Shareholder disputes.
- Regulation violations.
- Bankruptcy or insolvency.
- Construction, engineering or other property issues.
When these issues arise there may be little to be done other than proceeding to legal action.
However, preferably, issues can be settled outside of the court environment using alternative dispute resolution techniques such as mediation, adjudication, arbitration or a combination of all three.
For more information see: Alternative dispute resolution.
--Pannone 10:13, 24 Sep 2018 (BST)
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Adjudication.
- Adversarial behaviour in the UK construction industry.
- Alternative dispute resolution.
- Arbitration.
- Causes of construction disputes.
- Conciliation.
- Conflict avoidance.
- Contract claims.
- Dispute resolution.
- Dispute resolution boards.
- Expert determination.
- Expert evaluation.
- Expert witness.
- Third party opinion and fixed-fee mediation procedures.
- Litigation.
- Pay now argue later.
- Pendulum arbitration.
- Mediation.
- Med-adjudication.
- Med-arbitration.
- Negotiation techniques.
- The role of the mediator.
Featured articles and news
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description fron the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”
Guidance notes to prepare for April ERA changes
From the Electrical Contractors' Association Employee Relations team.
Significant changes to be seen from the new ERA in 2026 and 2027, starting on 6 April 2026.
First aid in the modern workplace with St John Ambulance.
Solar panels, pitched roofs and risk of fire spread
60% increase in solar panel fires prompts tests and installation warnings.
Modernising heat networks with Heat interface unit
Why HIUs hold the key to efficiency upgrades.
























