Contract Strategy

I design contracts that are execution-ready and assurance-grade: selecting the right form/option, clarifying scope & interfaces, aligning risk and incentives, and hard-wiring program or commissioning hold points. The result is fewer grey areas, faster decisions, and clauses your team can actually run, backed by clean supply-chain flow-downs.

Objectives & Risk Appetite

Define your success metrics (cost, time, quality, carbon) and risk appetite by workstream.
Identify constraints (scope maturity, market volatility, logistics, FX, permits) that influence contract choices.
Key deliverables: Strategy brief, success‑criteria matrix, risk‑appetite statement.

Contract Form & Option Selection

Recommend the contract that is suitable for the type of project, value, time, risk tolerance, scope maturity and volatility.
Specify Contract Data/Articles, secondary options and key riders.
Deliverables: comparative matrix, selection rationale, Contract Data checklist.

Scope Architecture & Interfaces

What I do

Lock package boundaries, interface responsibilities, and Information Release (IRS).
Define design ownership and approval routes; specify attendances and “industry standard” items explicitly.

How it helps

Removes grey scope the root cause of many CE/VO disputes.

Deliverables

Scope schedule • Interface matrix & RACI • IRS with decision dates.

Pricing Model, Fee & Incentives

What I do

Calibrate fee structure, prelims treatment, pain/gain, share ranges, and KPI-linked incentives (availability, energy, commissioning readiness).
Set rules for allowances/provisional sums and re-rate triggers.

How it helps

Rewards outcomes that matter and prevents margin drift via uncontrolled re-rates.

Deliverables

Fee/pain-gain model • KPI incentive schedule • Allowance & re-rate protocol.

Risk Allocation & Relief/Compensation

What I do

Allocate design/latent/gateway/utility/permit/third-party/FX risks by capability and insurability.
Draft workable relief and compensation triggers with evidence standards.

How it helps

Converts unknowns into priced risks or explicit exclusions; reduces unenforceable positions.

Deliverables

Risk allocation matrix • Assumptions/exclusions schedule • Relief/CE trigger table.

Programme, Delay & Time-Risk

What I do

Recommend the contract family and mechanism that fits scope maturity and delivery volatility (e.g., NEC4 A/C/E; JCT D&B with sectional completion; FIDIC Yellow/Silver).
Specify the Contract Data/Articles, secondary options, and necessary riders.

How it helps

Mechanisms match reality: fixed price when scope is stable; target cost where change is structural; reimbursable where investigation is ongoing.

Deliverables

Comparative form/option matrix • Selection paper • Contract Data/Articles checklist.

Change Control (EWN / CE / VO)

What I do

Build the practical pathway: Early Warnings, CE/VO triggers, response SLAs, quotation/assessment standards, dispute “off-ramps”.
Tie quotes to the accepted programme and cost baseline.

How it helps

Cuts CE cycle time and keeps change commercialised not litigated.

Deliverables

Change workflow • EWN/CE/VO templates • Evidence checklist • CE tracker spec.

Supply-Chain Strategy & Flow-Downs

What I do

Align subcontract terms to head contract (risk, time, testing, warranties, IP, step-in, LDs, security).
Define variation mechanics, prompt payment/PLN controls, and claims data standards.

How it helps

Stops term slippage and claim leakage at package level.

Deliverables

Model subcontract schedules • Mandatory flow-downs • Bond/PCG/LD matrix.

Quality, Testing & Commissioning

What I do

Bake FAT/SAT/Pre-Functional/Functional/IST into the contract with payment hold points, evidence packs, and defect/retention triggers.

How it helps

De-risks PC, accelerates acceptance, and protects the final account.

Deliverables

Commissioning schedule • Hold-point payment map • IST evidence list.

Digital, Data & Notices

What I do

Specify CDE/CEMAR/BI data standards, notice routes/recipients, and month-end reporting cadence aligned to contractual obligations.

How it helps

Preserves notice validity and gives leadership one version of the truth.

Deliverables

Data/reporting protocol • Notice map • Month-end pack specification.

Approach DDNE

Discover: Review goals, market, draft terms, and delivery constraints.
Design: Produce strategy paper, matrices, schedules, and draft clauses.
Negotiate: Lead/assist redlines; resolve risk allocation without stalling award.
Embed: Translate clauses into workflows, templates, dashboards; brief teams and supply chain.

Run an Assumptions Register to decision: (a) employer-confirmed fact, (b) priced allowance with trigger, or (c) explicit exclusion with change mechanism. Anything else is risk.

How do we prevent ‘assumptions’ becoming disputes?