Case study
Payment Notice Recovery for an M&E Subcontractor
Payment notice strategy delivers six-figure recovery for M&E subcontractor.
- Client
- M&E subcontractor
- Issue
- Payment was withheld following a disputed interim application.
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.
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
Relevant Commercial Matters
Examples of payment, claims, quantum and defence issues supported across ICRS appointments.
Case study
Delay and Disruption Expert Report for a Joinery Subcontractor
Delay and disruption expert report supports high six-figure adjudication recovery for joinery subcontractor.
- Client
- Joinery subcontractor
- Issue
- The subcontractor experienced delay, disrupted access, inefficient working and productivity loss.
Case study
Quantum Expert Report for an M&E Subcontractor
Quantum expert report supports high six-figure adjudication recovery for M&E subcontractor.
- Client
- M&E subcontractor
- Issue
- The dispute concerned valuation, variations, deductions and payment entitlement.
Case study
Retention Recovery for a Brickwork Subcontractor
Five-figure retention recovery secured for brickwork subcontractor.
- Client
- Specialist brickwork subcontractor
- Issue
- Retention remained withheld after completion of the subcontract works.
Case study
Contractual Defence to a Substantial Damage Claim
Contractual defence limited a mid-six-figure damages claim to a minimal commercial settlement.
- Client
- HVAC subcontractor
- Issue
- A substantial damages claim arose following an incident during the construction period.
Case study
Quantum Expert Report for a Civil Engineering Subcontractor
Quantum expert report supports mid-six-figure adjudication recovery for civil engineering subcontractor.
- Client
- Civil engineering subcontractor
- Issue
- The payment dispute concerned delay-related costs and disruption-related losses.
Case study
Final Account Adjudication for a Painting Subcontractor
Approximately £184,000 plus VAT and interest awarded in final account adjudication.
- Client
- Specialist painting and surface preparation subcontractor
- Party representation
- Referring Party
- Issue
- The parties’ final account positions differed by approximately £137,000 across original works, variations and additional works.
Case study
Interim Valuation Adjudication for a Groundworks Subcontractor
Approximately £188,000 awarded in interim valuation adjudication.
- Client
- Specialist groundworks and civil engineering subcontractor
- Party representation
- Referring Party
- Issue
- The parties’ interim valuation positions differed by approximately £215,000, including disputed variations and additional works.
Case study
Delay and Disruption Adjudication for a Cladding Subcontractor
Approximately 65% of the £2 million delay and disruption claim was dismissed.
- Client
- Major specialist cladding and curtain walling subcontractor
- Party representation
- Responding Party
- Issue
- The main contractor advanced a claim of approximately £2 million for alleged delay and disruption on a commercial office development.
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.
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.
Highly experienced in the preparation of construction claims. He produced a very clear and comprehensive EOT claim for us.
A highly experienced claims practitioner who has an in-depth understanding of complex construction claims.
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.
Need Stronger Commercial Control Across Live Projects?
If payment, notices, variations, final accounts or subcontract risk are consuming director time, discuss the retained support that fits your workload.
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.