Commercial Retainers

Protect Cash Flow and Entitlement Without a Full-Time Commercial Manager

Keep payments, notices, variations, EOT, loss and expense, final accounts and subcontract risk under senior commercial control.

30+

years' construction
industry experience

MRICS

Chartered Quantity
Surveyor

MCIArb

Chartered Institute
of Arbitrators

JCT, NEC, FIDIC

and bespoke
contracts
Engagement Levels

Choose the Right Level of Commercial Support

Two levels of senior commercial support, scaled to your project load, contract risk and required level of involvement.

Commercial Protection Retainer

Structured Monthly Commercial Control

From £1,000/month

Best for firms that need structured monthly commercial control without employing a full-time commercial manager.

Monthly Commercial Control Plan

Each month, you receive a prioritised commercial action plan covering payment, notices, change, time, final accounts and subcontract risk.

The monthly plan covers

  • Current commercial priorities
  • Payment and cash flow risks
  • Notice and deadline actions
  • Variation and change position
  • EOT and loss and expense position
  • Final account and retention actions
  • Subcontract risks and amendments
  • Evidence gaps affecting recovery
  • Correspondence required
  • Director action points
  • Monthly action tracker

Ongoing commercial support

  • Payment application and valuation review
  • Payment notice and pay less notice support
  • Variation and change management
  • EOT and loss and expense support
  • Final account recovery support
  • Commercial correspondence drafting
  • Senior commercial advice as issues arise

Commercial Partner Service

Weekly Senior Commercial Involvement

Bespoke monthly engagement

Best for firms needing weekly senior commercial involvement across multiple projects, higher-risk contracts or demanding contractor relationships.

Weekly Commercial Partner Review

Each week, we prioritise current project risks, recovery positions, negotiations and commercial decisions requiring director attention.

The weekly review covers

  • Project commercial priorities
  • Payment and recovery risks
  • Variation and change issues
  • EOT, delay and prolongation positions
  • Final account and retention strategy
  • Contractor negotiation points
  • Evidence and record weaknesses
  • Dispute warning signs
  • Commercial decisions required
  • Director action points
  • Priority next steps

Enhanced partner support

  • Weekly project commercial reviews
  • Director-level commercial advice
  • Ongoing risk and recovery tracking
  • Strategic contract negotiation support
  • Meeting preparation and attendance
  • Contractor negotiation support
  • Commercial systems and reporting support
  • Early dispute intervention
  • Higher-frequency support as issues arise
  • Ongoing strategic commercial planning
Outcome

What Retained Commercial Support Changes

Ongoing commercial oversight helps directors identify priorities earlier, preserve contractual positions and maintain control across live projects.

Stronger Commercial Control

Earlier Action Across Live Projects

  • Commercial issues are identified and prioritised earlier
  • Payment, notice and change actions are tracked across live projects
  • Variations, EOT and loss and expense positions are addressed while records remain current
  • Directors receive clearer priorities and action points
  • Final account and retention issues receive ongoing attention
  • Contract and subcontract risks receive senior commercial oversight
  • Issues are escalated when further action becomes appropriate
RETAINER SUITABILITY

When Retained Commercial Support Makes Sense

For firms managing multiple projects, recurring commercial issues or limited internal commercial resource.

Is Retained Support Right for Your Business?

Common Signs Ongoing Support Adds Value

  • Multiple live projects requiring ongoing commercial oversight
  • Limited internal commercial resource
  • Repeated payment, variation or final account issues
  • Heavily amended subcontracts or higher-risk contractor relationships
  • Weak or inconsistent notice, valuation or change control
  • Need for senior commercial support without a full-time commercial manager
ICRS Consult

Credentials and Experience

ICRS Consult brings more than 30 years of construction experience across commercial management, contracts, claims, disputes, adjudication and expert appointments.

30+
years' construction
industry experience
MRICS
Chartered Quantity
Surveyor
MCIArb
Chartered Institute
of Arbitrators
JCT, NEC, FIDIC
and bespoke
contracts
  • LLM in Construction Law and Arbitration
  • Expert appointments in arbitration, litigation and adjudication
  • Expert witness in professional negligence proceedings
  • Advanced Professional Award in Expert Witness Evidence
  • UK and Middle East project experience across JCT, NEC and FIDIC contracts
SELECTED MATTERS

Commercial Retainer Case Studies

These matters show how retained commercial support was used to support recovery, manage contractual exposure and resolve live commercial issues.

Case study

Commercial Closeout Support for an MEP Subcontractor

£165,000 of liquidated damages exposure was avoided, £86,000 of prolongation costs was recovered, and disputed variations and the final account were settled commercially.

Client
MEP subcontractor
Issue
Commercial closeout involved disputed variations, unresolved prolongation recovery and potential exposure to liquidated damages.
Case study

Commercial Settlement of a £2.65 Million Change Dispute

The £2.65 million dispute was commercially settled at £2.15 million without proceeding to adjudication.

Client
Civil engineering subcontractor
Issue
A £2.65 million change remained disputed on a road infrastructure project and was at risk of proceeding to adjudication.
Case study

Final Account Settlement Under a Letter of Intent

The final account was agreed at £384,000 following an amicable settlement; the Letter of Intent had stated an £85,000 cap.

Client
Fit-out subcontractor
Issue
A final account dispute arose after the subcontractor substantially completed works under an £85,000 Letter of Intent, without an executed subcontract.
Client Feedback

What Our Clients Say

Very experienced in claims preparation and defence and has provided valuable advice on complex contractual matters. I would recommend the professional and strategic approach to the resolution of construction claims and disputes.

Contracts ManagerInternational Rail Contractor

His technical understanding, level of investigation, and analysis together with the ability to come up with the substance of the case undoubtedly make him the best choice of consultant in the field.

Commercial ManagerM&E subcontractor

Highly experienced in the preparation of construction claims. He produced a very clear and comprehensive EOT claim for us.

Commercial ManagerInternational Main Contractor

A highly experienced claims practitioner who has an in-depth understanding of complex construction claims.

General ManagerMain Contractor

I reviewed an EOT claim prepared by Matt and his team. It was to a high standard which made it easy to follow and evaluate.

Senior Project ManagerDeveloper

Discuss retained commercial support

Speak to ICRS about your project load, contract risk and the level of commercial support required.

The initial discussion is free of charge.

Commercial Retainers

Tell Us What Support You Need

Give us the initial details and tell us how you would like us to contact you. We aim to respond within 24 hours.