The project consisted of a newly built hotel in Derby. The subcontract sum was £2.5 m and the terms and conditions were the main contractor’s amended form of Dom/2.

The specialist subcontractor (a steel worker) was on the receiving end of a withholding of £500k in respect of alleged design defects in the steel frame which were apparently impacting upon the floor levels.

Ramskill Martin referred the dispute to adjudication on behalf of the steel worker to recover the £500k withholding and other outstanding sums.

Ramskill Martin provides the specialist subcontractor with commercial, contractual and adjudication services including the employment of an expert structural engineer. The adjudicator’s decision gave rise to the steel worker defeating the withholding of monies together with an additional payment of £200k. The specialist subcontractor had therefore improved his financial position by £700k.