Our solicitors at Good & Murray Smith LLP have extensive experience advising on construction disputes.
We act for property owners, apartment owners, small developers, main contractors, subcontractors, landlords, tenants, investors and advisers.
In our experience, construction disputes can take a variety of paths. Depending on the issue, the most appropriate route may involve:
Defects may involve design, construction, materials, coordination, or compliance. Some issues emerge immediately; others appear years later.
We work with engineers, architects, surveyors and other specialists to determine cause, extent and responsibility. This covers matters such as structural failures, water ingress, fire-safety concerns, mechanical and electrical faults, cladding issues, improper installation, and workmanship falling below required standards.
Common issues include:
We present delay and disruption cases in a structured, evidence-driven way so that adjudicators, arbitrators or judges can easily follow how the project progressed and where responsibility lies.
Planning and development conflicts can stop a project outright. We assist with disputes concerning planning conditions, objections, access, boundary issues, restrictive covenants, rights of way, title defects and landowner or joint-venture disagreements.
Construction disputes often involve multiple parties such as contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, insurers, landlords, tenants and lenders. Responsibility may be shared or disputed between several parties.
We manage contribution claims, indemnity issues, professional negligence allegations, and disputes where contractual responsibilities overlap.
Clients come to us because we focus on cost effective and practical solutions. Some disputes can be resolved through discussion or negotiation when the issues are identified early. Others are better suited to mediation, arbitration, or court proceedings.
Property and construction disputes require solicitors who understand how construction projects work and the contracts that govern them. At Good & Murray Smith LLP, our team includes solicitors who trained in major Irish and international firms and who have spent their careers handling complex commercial litigation, including high-value property and construction matters.
We represent homeowners, developers, contractors, landlords, tenants and investors in disputes involving defects, delays, professional errors, boundary and access issues, planning complications and multi-party construction claims.
Our approach is straightforward: review the contracts, identify the issues, gather the evidence, and move the matter forward.
You may be able to, but it depends on the contract and the records. To claim these losses, you usually need clear evidence showing what caused the delay and how it affected time or costs. Documents like programmes, meeting notes, invoices or expert reports can make a difference.
Mediation or other forms of ADR can be helpful when the parties want a practical outcome without the cost or time of court proceedings. It is particularly useful where the parties need to keep working together or where a private, flexible process is preferable.
It varies. Some straightforward cases resolve within a year. More complex disputes can last two or three years.
Expert evidence is very important in construction disputes. Engineers or surveyors may be needed to explain why something went wrong, how long work should have taken, or whether the work met the required standard. Clear expert reports strengthen a case significantly.
Planning conditions, access rights, boundaries or covenants can delay or block a project. These are technical issues which require careful legal analysis.
Usually, the sooner you speak with a solicitor, the better the outcome. Early advice helps you protect your position, avoid mistakes, and deal with the issue before it becomes more expensive or disruptive.
