Claims consultant, lawyer or quantity surveyor: who do you need?

What each one does

• Claims consultant: reads the files, finds each change, analyses delay and prices the claim.
• Construction lawyer: advises on the contract and the law, serves formal notices and acts in adjudication or court.
• Quantity surveyor: measures work done, values variations and prepares final accounts.

Which to call first

• Unsure what happened: a claims consultant.
• A deadline is close or a notice is needed: a lawyer.
• You need a valuation of the work: a quantity surveyor.
• A formal dispute is under way: a lawyer, with a consultant as support.

What affects the cost

The cost depends on the size of the claim, the state of your records, the number of events and how fast you need the work. A first look at your files is the cheapest way to learn how much work the claim needs.

Related answers

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• Who can help with project controls?
• How do i defend a claim from my contractor
• How do i claim variations after the job is finished