ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to look at the phenomenon of “partnering” from a construction lawyer’s perspective; to place it in the context of the major trends currently shaping the UK construction industry; and to explore a strategy by which construction lawyers can participate in partnering projects to the benefit of those in the construction industry and the legal profession. Many lawyers see a clash between the New Age culture of partnering and the legal world of ruthlessly defined contracts. The turning point for construction lawyers came in 1996 with the passing of a new Arbitration Act. The rise of non-lawyers participating in dispute resolution continued apace. Integrated information and technology are also affecting the role of the construction lawyer. The single project lawyer would be engaged to improve the process of project deliveries, rather than advance the immediate interests of any particular project participant.
