Systech Group

Morris Associates — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:00:03 +0000

With effect from 30 June 2008, Richard Morris has joined global top-ten Quantity Surveying and Dispute Resolution Consultancy Systech Group Limited as Divisional Director, Systech Dispute Services.

Adjudication Support – Bespoke

Morris Associates — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:52:49 +0000

Morris Associates has been appointed by a developer to provide advice in relation to a dispute over an architect’s fees. The fee agreement is the Architect’s own agreement/schedule.

Adjudication Support – DOM/1

Morris Associates — Mon, 09 May 2005 17:32:00 +0000

Morris Associates has been retained to provide advice to a contractor in relation to a DOM/1 mechanical and electrical services sub-contract where the sub-contractor has submitted a grossly inflated final account and loss and expense claim and was threatening to adjudicate and litigate, including issuing winding-up proceedings.

Adjudication Support – NHS Trust

Morris Associates — Tue, 01 Oct 2002 15:41:00 +0000

Morris Associates has been retained to provide independent advice to a National Health Service Trust in relation to potential adjudication proceedings from a main contractor for a new-build ward block.

Adjudication Support – Electrical Sub-Contractor

Morris Associates — Tue, 02 Jul 2002 19:56:40 +0000

Morris Associates provided advice on possible adjudication proceedings in relation to non-payment of interim applications for a sub-contractor.

Claim Defence – Multiple Proceedings

Morris Associates — Thu, 17 Jan 2002 15:35:12 +0000

Richard Morris was retained by a major regional contractor to prepare independent reports on the major sub-contractor’s extension of time entitlements and to assist with multiple adjudication proceedings in relation to extensions of time.

One sub-contractor’s initial projected final account sum including loss and expense of c.£7M was successfully agreed at c.£4.5M.

Adjudication Support – DOM/1

Morris Associates — Wed, 14 Nov 2001 11:27:49 +0000

Morris Associates was retained by a London-based Contractor to defend potential adjudication proceedings and the resolution of a related final account.

Adjudication Case Management

Morris Associates — Wed, 16 Feb 2000 18:49:00 +0000

Morris Associates successfully case-managed an adjudication for a Sub-Contractor, managing the appointment of an adjudicator to decide upon matters in dispute on a services sub-contract. This led to a quick negotiated settlement with the Main Contractor.

Previous Appointments – Pre-2000

Morris Associates — Wed, 01 Dec 1999 22:59:42 +0000

In addition to all the later, 21st Century appointments, Morris Associates carried out many other appointments since its founding in 1993:

Form of Contract	Type of Appointment	Details
Client’s Own	Adjudication Support	Morris Associates successfully case-managed an adjudication for the Main Contractor following the appointment of an adjudicator to decide upon matters in dispute on a roofing sub-contract.
Amended DOM/1	Expert Witness	Richard Morris was appointed as Expert Witness on Programme Matters by Solicitors acting for the Claimant curtain walling subcontractor in a litigation. The instructions were to consider both the positive case for an Extension of Time as claimed and the negative case, the delays to the Main Contract Works with damages to £1M, as counterclaimed. Following our involvement in providing delay analysis information as part of a Request for Further Information, the matter settled with the Claimant receiving a settlement in excess of *£360,000*.
ICE 6th Edition	Expert Witness	Richard Morris acted as Expert Witness on Programme Matters on instructions from Solicitors acting for the Respondent Employer in an arbitration. The instructions were to form an opinion as to the original commencement date and the original contract period as well as the time in which the Claimant ought to have finished the project.
ACA Form of Sub-Contract	Claim Preparation	Morris Associates has been given further repeat instructions by a construction group of companies to prepare a contractual claim against a works contractor. We are also to advise upon the possible determination of our Client’s employment.
Amended DOM/1	Expert Witness	Richard Morris acted as Expert Witness on Programme Matters on instructions from Solicitors for a Plaintiff curtain walling subcontractor. His instructions were to prepare an Expert Report upon the counterclaim which consisted partly of a disruption claim from the Defendant main contractor.The matter settled with the Plaintiff obtaining full settlement of its claim and costs.
IFC 84	Claim Preparation	Morris Associates was working as part of a team on a recently-completed refurbishment project. An initial Extension of Time application has been made backed up by a full set of programmes, delay narratives, etc. The Client retained the team through to completion of the project to monitor the progress of the works and to update the Extension of Time application as required. The Extension of Time Claim and the Loss and Expense submission are currently being negotiated.
Professional Appointment	Expert Witness Assistance	Morris Associates was appointed by another Expert Witness to assist in a litigation matter between a contractor and its consulting engineer. Specifically, a series of delay impact analysis programmes was produced to show the effects of an alleged breach of contract or negligence.
IFC 84	Expert Witness Assistance	Morris Associates was appointed by another Expert Witness to assist in an arbitration. A series of programmes was produced to reflect the tender position, the as-installed work and a delay impact analysis programme to show the effects of a series of delays.
JCT 80	Claim Preparation	Morris Associates worked as part of a team on a refurbishment project. Two Extension of Time applications have been made, backed up by a full set of programmes, delay narratives, etc. The Client had retained the team through to completion of the project to monitor the progress of the works and to update the Extension of Time application as required.
Amended JCT MTC	Claim Preparation	Morris Associates was retained by another construction group to assist them with a number of disputes at their repair and maintenance subsidiary. In one such dispute, we prepared and negotiated a loss and expense claim resulting in a settlement being made to our Client of a sum in excess of *£0.25 million* – our total fees and expenses for the dispute amounted to only £5,116.40…
DOM/1	Claim Preparation	We were retained by a major Mechanical and Electrical Services Contractor to prepare an extension of time and loss and expense claim on a hospital refurbishment project whilst overseeing the works in progress for actual and potential disputes to enable them to be avoided or dealt with at the earliest opportunity. The work was being carried out in phases with Sectional Completions and thus extension of time entitlements were established on each section. In addition, we prepared a submission for adjudication following an attempted set-off by the Main Contractor and were able to negotiate with the Contractor to ensure that no set-off was subsequently made. The Sub-Contractor was able to secure an entirely satisfactory resolution of the dispute and as a result re-appointed Morris Associates on a public sector project that was already in delay before the Services Contractor started on site.
FIDIC	Claim Preparation	Richard Morris carried out an assignment in Bulgaria for an Italian Client, preparing a claim under the FIDIC Conditions of Contract on a major roadbuilding project. The assignment, including preparing an extension of time and loss and expense claim together with a fully networked construction programme, was completed in less than two weeks. He subsequently returned to Bulgaria for the same Client to update the claim and negotiate it with the expatriate Engineer, obtaining a settlement in mixed currency to suit the Client’s requirements. This in turn has led to an approach from a Greek Contractor to set up and monitor its information systems on a new roadbuilding project in Bulgaria to avoid or reduce any contractual disputes.
Client’s Own	Expert Witness	Richard Morris acted as Expert Witness on Programme Matters for the Defendant in a litigation matter in the UK. The litigation concerned the effects of the Plaintiff’s delays on the progress of the Defendant’s Main Contract Works. The Expert Reports produced by Richard Morris assisted the parties in agreeing a settlement a month before the trial date.
Respondent’s Own	Lay Advocate	Richard Morris acted as Lay Representative for the Claimant in a construction arbitration concerning a groundworks works package.
IFC 84	Claim PreparationExpert Witness	Morris Associates acted in a litigation support role for a major UK plc Contractor on a multi-million pound project, preparing Further and Better Particulars, Re-Amending the Statement of Claim including the preparation of a number of Programmes to demonstrate delays and the preparation of a Consolidated Schedule to the Statement of Claim, taking Witness Statements and subsequently having Richard Morris appointed to act as the Expert Witness on Programme. As a direct result of our involvement, our Client was able to secure an out-of-Court settlement well in excess of *£0.5 million* plus reimbursement of their costs. Needless to say, the same Client continues to appoint us to handle further Expert Witness work and to assist in the preparation of pleadings in other cases.

Morris Associates :: Construction Disputes Specialists » Adjudication Support

Systech Group

Adjudication Support – Bespoke

Adjudication Support – DOM/1

Adjudication Support – NHS Trust

Adjudication Support – Electrical Sub-Contractor

Claim Defence – Multiple Proceedings

Adjudication Support – DOM/1

Adjudication Case Management

Previous Appointments – Pre-2000