Sheena Sood
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Articles by Sheena Sood
Construction law in 2025: what can we expect in the year ahead?
Sheena Sood sets out what to expect in the year ahead for construction law, including a variety of regulatory changes In 2024 we witnessed the insolvency of several ISG entities and the impact upon the progress of projects and the supply chain. According to government statistics, the number of registered company insolvencies in England and Wales stood at 1,747 in October 2024.
Grenfell phase 2 report: impact on architects
This impact note focuses on the findings detailed in Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, specifically concerning the appointed architect, Studio E Architects Limited. It also explores the recommendations that will impact architects and the wider construction industry going forward. The Phase 2 Report was published on 4 September 2024, and in considerable length outlines the circumstances and causes of the fire. Our earlier article outlines the main findings.
Grenfell Phase 2 Report: impact on contractors
This impact note focuses on the findings detailed in Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, specifically concerning the appointed principal contractor and cladding subcontractor. It also explores recommendations that will generally impact contractors and the wider construction industry going forward. The Phase 2 Report was published on 4 September 2024, and in considerable length outlines the circumstances and causes of the fire. Our earlier article outlines the main findings.
Grenfell tower inquiry: phase 2 report - summary of main findings
On 4 September 2024, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry published its highly anticipated Phase 2 Report into the fire at Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017 (the “Report”)[1]. At the centre of this is the significant human tragedy – the fire resulted in 72 deaths, injuring and impacting many others. The Public Inquiry’s Phase 1 report, detailing the events on the night of the fire and comprising over 850 pages across four volumes, was published in late October 2019.
How a new ruling provides fresh clarity on building liability orders
Sheena Sood on a new ruling that offers key guidance on the building liability orders created under the Building Safety Act The Technology and Construction Court recently delivered a judgment concerning a Part 20 claim for a building liability order (BLO) under the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA). Willmott Dixon vs Prater & Others concerns allegations of unsafe or defective materials used in the design and construction of a mixed-use development.
New EU AI act set to have global implications
The digital transformation of the global construction industry has significantly accelerated with the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), enhancing operational efficiencies, safety, and resource management. The use of AI in the European Union is poised for pivotal changes with the recent ratification of the EU AI Act.
The EU AI Act: The Implications of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Regulations for Construction
Introduction The use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the construction industry is rapidly expanding, driven by its potential to provide operational efficiencies, improve safety, and optimise resource management.
Willmott Dixon v Prater and others - Claim No. HT-2022-000409
Case Report Building Liability Orders – Important new guidance from the Court Overview: On 21 March 2024, Mrs Justice Jefford delivered an ex tempore Judgment in the Technology and Construction Court on an application brought by various Lindner Group companies regarding Part 20 claims brought by AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Ltd (“AECOM”) for Building Liability Orders under the Building Safety Act 2022.
The construction year ahead: what can we expect in 2024?
Sheena Sood previews the year ahead in construction law, with some major legislative, contractual and policy changes looming Key provisions of the Building Safety Act 2022 came into force on 1 October 2023, and 2024 will see the new rules for dutyholders fully take effect. We now have a Building Safety Regulator (part of the Health & Safety Executive) as the new building control authority for all higher-risk buildings (HRBs) in England.
COP28: Key Takeaways and A Preview Into What Is Next
At the heart of the COP28 climate summit which recently took place in Dubai, the construction industry stood at a pivotal juncture, recognising the urgent need to redefine building standards in the era of climate change. As stewards of a sector responsible for a significant portion of global carbon emissions (approximately 40%), industry leaders and stakeholders convened to deliberate on transformative and innovate strategies.
Lendlease Construction Limited v AECOM Limited [2023] EWHC 2620
Overview On 1 November 2023, the Technology and Construction Court handed down Judgment in Lendlease Construction (Europe) Limited v AECOM Limited [2023] EWHC 2620 (TCC). Sheena Sood of Beale & Company Solicitors LLP, Lynne McCafferty KC and Matthew Thorne acted for AECOM, the successful party. Lendlease’s claim was dismissed in its entirety with costs awarded in AECOM’s favour.
The Genoa Bridge Collapse: How and Why?
The collapse of the Genoa bridge in Italy in 2018, that killed 43 people and left many hundreds homeless, sparked a critique of the inspection regime of bridges and highways in Italy and specifically, how privatised maintenance and passive state regulation ultimately resulted in the tragedy. It also prompted the UK to evaluate its inspection regime which differs quite significantly due to stricter regulations and government body oversight.
Defective premises ruling likely to lead to increase in claims
Whether developers are owed duties under the Defective Premises Act – a point long uncertain in the courts – has been clarified A recent appeal court decision in the case of URS Corporation Ltd vs BDW Trading Ltd has shed some light on the vexed question of whether developers are owed duties under the Defective Premises Act 1972 (the DPA). Developer BDW appointed engineering firm URS to provide structural design services in relation to two residential developments.
Building Safety and Medium-Rise Buildings
The Government has recently launched the Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS), a fund for addressing life safety risks associated with cladding on residential buildings over 11 metres in height (or 11-18 metres in height if the building is in London). The CSS forms part of the broader suite of building safety measures implemented in recent years, including the Building Safety Fund, and the Building Safety Act 2022. The Government has published a detailed overview on the CSS.
Building Safety in the Courts: URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd
Whether developers are owed duties under the Defective Premises Act 1972 has been uncertain for a number of years. The Court of Appeal has provided clarity around this point, and a number of other issues in a recent decision. Background BDW, a developer, appointed URS, an engineering firm, to provide structural design services in relation to two residential developments (the Developments).
Om-washing’: Why Modi’s yoga day pose is deceptive
In 2014, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first addressed the United Nations General Assembly, he arrived with a mission: to propose a resolution that recognises June 21 as the International Day of Yoga and India as the spiritual birthplace of yoga. To a gathering of nearly 200 political leaders, Modi enthusiastically framed yoga as “an invaluable gift of [India’s] ancient tradition”.
‘Om-washing’: Modi’s yoga day pose of deception Original
In 2014, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first addressed the United Nations General Assembly, he arrived with a mission: to propose a resolution that recognises June 21 as the International Day of Yoga and India as the spiritual birthplace of yoga. To a gathering of nearly 200 political leaders, Modi enthusiastically framed yoga as “an invaluable gift of [India’s] ancient tradition”.
‘Om-washing’: Modi’s yoga day pose of deception
22 hours ago With Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi slated for a June 22 State Visit to Washington, India will, if briefly, be front-page news in the United States. Since President Clinton ended a chill in U.S.-India relations almost 25 years ago, successive American and Indian administrations across …
‘Om-washing’: Modi’s yoga day pose of deception - Sheena Sood
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Let’s do this together - Collaborative Contracting
The Canadian P3 (public private partnership) is a project delivery model that is utilised for public projects with a capital cost greater than $100 million or projects that involve complex factors and significant risk. The delivery and outcomes of P3 projects have been the subject of fairly critical articles and opinions in recent press, with notable projects being delivered late and at a cost that has been substantially beyond the initial estimates.
What will 2023 hold for construction law?
A year ago, when I looked ahead to 2022, no one could have foreseen that Russia would invade Ukraine, nor that a new government would come in and cause utter chaos in the financial markets in barely two months in power. While these events, of course, had much wider repercussions for society, the reality is that they have strengthened the economic headwinds the construction sector will face during 2023.
What the new Building Safety Act means
The much-anticipated Building Safety Act 2022 is an epic piece of legislation in both scale and effect. Its origins of course stem from the tragedy of Grenfell and its raison d’être is to “give residents and homeowners more rights, powers and protections – making homes across the country safer”. The way to achieve this was much debated, and numerous wide-ranging amendments were made to the draft legislation during its passage through parliament.
The year ahead in construction law 2022
Sheena Sood previews what 2022 will hold for the construction industry from a legal point of view The end of 2021 saw the ONS report a 1.8% fall in construction output, the largest monthly decline since April 2020 when the country first locked down – suggesting the industry’s challenges will continue into 2022. Contractual disputes will continue to be fuelled by supply difficulties.
Construction mediation - a mandatory step?
Earlier this year, on the 25th anniversary of Lord Woolf’s landmark Access to Justice report, the UK Ministry of Justice issued a call for evidence seeking views from the judiciary, legal profession, mediators and court users, and anyone who has experience of dispute resolution both within and outside the court system on how mediation can be more fully integrated into the court system.
PFI hand-back - are you at risk?
If you were involved in design or construction of PFI projects about to expire, be prepared for fallout in the form of claims against you as the facilities are handed back. By Sheena Sood PFI was introduced by the UK government in 1992 to encourage private sector businesses to tender to local and central government authorities for the provision of public infrastructure and services such as schools, hospitals and roads.
Petit Kouraj Is the Emerging Handbag Label Merging Whimsy and Sophistication
Fashion Designer Nasrin Jean-Baptiste makes a serious case for fringe. By Alexandra Pauly 23 Mins ago 16 Hypes “I think there is a dormant designer in most stylists,” says Nasrin Jean-Baptiste, founder of accessories brand Petit Kouraj. Jean-Baptiste’s observation is one that took years to manifest within herself — she started out as a fashion assistant and went on to work as a celebrity stylist, fashioning clients including Alicia Keys, for over a decade.
The year ahead in construction law
Sheena Sood previews what 2021 will hold for the construction industry from a legal point of view A year ago, when I considered what 2020 might hold for the industry, no one could have foreseen the turbulence ahead – a global pandemic was far from anyone’s mind. Covid-19, uncertainty over the terms of our exit from the EU and continued concerns over building and fire safety made for a difficult year, but UK construction has soldiered on.
The Trade Deal - What Does it Mean for the Construction Industry? | Lexology
A historic Trade and Cooperation Agreement (Trade Deal) was reached between the European Union and the UK on 24 December 2020, just a week before the transition period came to an end. We highlight here the key parts of the Agreement for the construction industry. Goods and Standards As members of the EU Single Market, UK businesses were able to move goods and materials between EU countries without charges, taxes, quotas or tariffs.
Construction post-Brexit: five things you need to know | Lexology
Since leaving the EU on 31 January 2020, the UK's relationship with the EU has been governed by the Withdrawal Agreement. This has allowed the UK to continue on the same terms it had with the EU prior to departure during a so-called `transition period'. This transition period and the UK's relationship with the EU will come to an end on 31 December 2020. At this stage, the prospect of the UK exiting with no deal seems likely.
Sign At Your Peril
To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com. Since the Grenfell tragedy, we have seen a plethora of reforms designed to improve fire safety, especially in high-rise, multioccupied buildings, including the Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018, which brought important changes for the use of combustible materials. Meanwhile the draft Building Safety Bill was published in July, and the government's consultation on fire safety ends on 12 October.
Sign the EWS1 form at your peril
The EWS1 form was meant to offer reassurance about fire safety, but in liability terms it’s a death trap for consultants Since the Grenfell tragedy, we have seen a plethora of reforms designed to improve fire safety, especially in high-rise, multi-occupied buildings, including the Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018, which brought important changes for the use of combustible materials.
Global Vantage: Risk Transfer On Construction Projects In The Wake Of The Coronavirus Pandemic
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Working Safely during Coronavirus - Government publishes new guidance for those working outdoors May 2020 | Lexology
On 11 May 2020, the Government published new guidance to assist employers, employees and the self-employed who work in or run outdoor working environments in understanding how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic. In this article, Sheena Sood and James Hughes consider the key recommendations for employers to consider as the construction industry begins to return to work.
2019: The year ahead in construction
Sheena Sood previews what 2019 will hold for the construction industry from a legal point of view At the time of writing, it is far from clear whether the UK is heading for Brexit with or without a deal, at the end of March or later – or indeed no Brexit at all. The skills shortage looks set to worsen this year whether we are in or out of Europe, on whatever terms.
Torch tower: Burning questions
A blaze that ripped through the Torch tower in Dubai could have major legal and cost implications for skyscraper fire safety in the UAE
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