All articles by Francis Ho
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Calling the shots – what the law says about vaccination and employment
How far can construction employers go in urging covid-19 vaccination upon their staff, asks Francis Ho
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Legal tips on drafting contracts in a pandemic
Covid-19 has already transformed operating procedures on site, but how we draw up and sign contracts must also adapt
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Laser pointers: Collateral warranties and construction projects
Is it possible for a party to provide a collateral warranty without realising it, asks Francis Ho
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Cracking the code: Dealing with defective housing
Francis Ho discusses the government’s proposals to improve redress for buyers of new homes
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The CIOB’s project programming protocol is good news
Too often, project schedules just aren’t fit for purpose – so this initiative on standard programming benchmarks is welcome
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A friendly warning: free advice can prove costly
Francis Ho recites a cautionary tale of how offering free services to friends can land a professional in very hot – and expensive – water
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Slavery – construction needs to clean up its act
Current modern slavery laws fail to do enough to interrogate supply chain details, writes Francis Ho
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Legal: Full time
A recent case in the High Court puts limitation periods under collateral warranties on the spotÂ
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Legal: Second time's a charm
Francis Ho concludes that the new edition of the CIC’s BIM Protocol effectively addresses the main concerns about its predecessor
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Legal - for fools rush in...
While the Carillion disaster highlights the need for action on retentions, says Francis Ho, we must not rush into legislation
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Legal blog: A false sense of security
Francis Ho warns that legislation permitting the assignment of payment rights could do more harm than good
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Taking the fifth
This year’s FIDIC White Book shows worthy progress. Here is a look at the latest iteration of the client/consultant model services agreement
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Taken on trust
Cash is king and nowhere is this truer than construction. Contractors should take steps to guarantee payment or be prepared to face the consequences
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Features
Interview: Richard Saxon
Richard Saxon, chair of the Joint Contracts Tribunal, speaks to ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø legal columnist Francis Ho about new kinds of contracts, the competition, and where he thinks the industry is heading
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Contracts: A frame of mind
Francis Ho reviews a new framework contract with a greater focus on alliancing and partnering
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Subcontractor discounts: An offer you should refuse?
Who should benefit from subcontractor discounts? Or are they past their sell-by date?
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Insurance: Blown out of the water
Do all-risks policies permit contractors to avoid liability for insured losses? A recent Court of Session case suggests not
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Caught in a bind
Our columnist examines a homeowners’ dispute where an adjudicator’s decision was held to be finally binding – that is what they asked for
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Adjudication: Collateral damage
Francis Ho considers a world where parties can adjudicate under collateral warranties and asks what can be done to put the genie back in the bottle
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RIBA: High noon or the wild bunch?
For short works contracts, there’s a new sheriff in town called RIBA - plain talking, bold and ambitious. But is it going to be able to outgun the competition?