You can read the full issue here.
For those discovering InFocus for the first time, it is our regular industry update produced by members of the Pyments team. Each edition brings together informed commentary, case experience and practical guidance drawn directly from live projects, adjudications and industry insights. Our objective is straightforward: we aim to inform, challenge and encourage best practice across the sector.
This latest edition opens with ‘The usual suspects’ from Gordon Connell, Managing Director of Pyments. Gordon reflects on the recurring issues that continue to undermine project outcomes, including weak contract administration, poor audit trails and the disconnect that can arise between delivery and commercial teams. His message is clear: success is not simply measured by practical completion or public recognition, but by protecting margin and avoiding preventable disputes. Early investment in contractual discipline remains far more cost-effective than late-stage recovery.
Jess Whiston, Director at Pyments, article, ‘A Final Statement so onerous it was determined invalid’, examines a recent adjudication concerning a JCT Prime Cost Building Contract 2016 Final Certificate. What should have been a routine close-out became a significant dispute when more than £1.8 million was removed from the established account position. The Adjudicator ultimately declared the Final Certificate invalid, reinforcing the importance of procedural fairness, impartial certification and proper adherence to contractual mechanisms. For contractors and employers alike, the case serves as a reminder that retrospective rewrites of the commercial record rarely withstand scrutiny.
Stuart Neville, Director at Pyments, contributes a detailed technical analysis titled ‘Compensation events – time distant assessments of delay’. The article considers how NEC compensation events should be assessed when notification and programme management processes have not operated as intended. Stuart explores three practical approaches to retrospective delay assessment and reflects on recent adjudications and relevant case law. For project teams working under NEC3 or NEC4, the distinction between prospective assessment and the use of actual data is critical to maintaining credibility in both negotiation and formal proceedings.
This edition also introduces Daniel Trentham, who joined Pyments as a Consultant in October 2025. His background in commercial management and dispute resolution across NEC, JCT and bespoke forms strengthens our ability to support clients in both prevention and resolution of disputes.
For over 35 years, Pyments has supported developers, main contractors, sub-contractors and employers with pragmatic commercial advice and specialist dispute resolution services. From expert witness appointments and forensic delay analysis to project monitoring and bespoke training, our focus remains on delivering clear, defensible and commercially grounded solutions.
We hope you enjoy this latest edition of InFocus. Download it now.
To discuss any of the topics covered, or to explore how Pyments can support your next project, get in touch or speak to a member of the team. Contact us today.
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