Muscat—Leading global law firm Dentons, in collaboration with the leading contractual and claims consultant Driver Trett, hosted a gathering of construction sector specialists in Muscat earlier this month.  The forum explored the key issues facing the construction industry in 2016 and some practical steps to overcome them.

The forum was the fourth in the Topical Construction Issues series, examining the legal and contractual challenges confronting the construction sector in Oman and the wider region. Commenting on the popular series, Dentons Partner David Courtney-Hatcher said: "We were delighted once again to host a huge number of guests representing all sides of the Sultanate's busy construction sector. This is always a highly interactive forum with many interesting and provocative issues and views expressed and best practices shared."

Welcoming guests, Martin White Associate Director at Driver Trett emphasised the relevance of the speakers' topics and introduced Peter Shaw, Senior Consultant at Dentons, who focused on means of avoiding conflicts in the often challenging employer/contractor/nominated subcontractor relationship. Courtney-Hatcher shared some personal perspectives on how changes in attitudes and professionalism, as much as changes to contract terms and conditions, could greatly reduce claim time and disputes. Finally,  Andrew Smith, Operational Director at Driver Trett, considered modern approaches to delay analysis, identifying some of the pros and cons of the best-known methodologies.

Dentons' top-rated Middle East construction and dispute resolution team has been active in Oman and across the Gulf region for many years, advising clients from all sides of the infrastructure development, engineering and construction industries on contract and dispute resolution issues on many of the Sultanate's and the region's landmark projects.

Driver Group Plc has excelled at providing construction and engineering focused services since 1978. Its project management, programming, commercial management, quantity surveying, contracts and dispute teams support the delivery of major projects worldwide and bridge the gaps between the construction, legal and financial sectors; supporting the engineering and construction industries it serves, from ‘cradle to grave’.

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