Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Claim definition

What does Claim mean? In practice, a claim is a party’s demand for a remedy from a court or tribunal against another, initiated by issuing the originating process. It seeks relief such as damages, an injunction, specific performance, restitution or a declaration, and rests on an identifiable cause of action (or equivalent legal basis). The term is descriptive (not generally defined by statute) and shaped by civil procedure rules. In England and Wales, a claimant brings a claim under the CPR by claim form (Part 7 or Part 8) against a defendant. It includes counterclaims and additional claims (contribution, indemnity or set‑off). In...

Construction consultants’ liability and claims: contract, tort and statute; design, administration and supervision duties; third-party rights, quantum and dispute resolution

Published by a LexisNexis Construction expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note examines claims brought against professional Consultants (often referred to as construction professionals) on building projects, across different procurement routes and delivery models, and the issues that frequently emerge within such claims. It reviews the possible sources of liability, the standard of care owed in delivering services, together with obligations flowing from appointments and instructions, and typical claims/issues concerning designers, Contract administration, and supervision/inspection functions and oversight. This Practice Note also flags matters to weigh when assessing quantum and approaches to dispute resolution in the setting of claims against a consultant. Clients usually appoint consultants to advise on different facets of the scheme and/or to see that the contractor finishes the works correctly, on programme, within budget, and aligned with the client’s requirements. In most procurement routes, they are not parties to the building contract or any sub-contract, nor do they undertake any physical construction operations. For more detail on the principal consultants (including architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, and contract administrators (eg project manager or employer’s agent)) and their core duties, see Practice Note: Roles of professional consultants—construction projects.

The sources of obligations or liability

The principal grounds of liability for a consultant are breach of contract, tortious...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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