£4.8m Construction Dispute Settled in Just 3 Months

Go Legal helped a subcontractor unlock full payment from a main contractor using targeted adjudication and strategic negotiation—before any decision was issued

Problem:

Our client—a subcontractor working on a major UK development—completed a significant package of works with a final account of £4.8 million.

But when it came time to pay, the main contractor stalled.

They raised allegations of:

• Defects (with no substantiation);
• Delays (without notices);
• Contra charges (never properly notified);
• And generally failed to comply with the contract’s payment procedures.

Despite the fact that our client had submitted compliant applications and no valid Pay Less Notices had been issued, payment was withheld.

For our client, this wasn’t just frustrating—it was financially damaging. They had delivered the work, followed the rules, and now they were being kept waiting. They didn’t want a legal battle—they wanted payment.

That’s when they instructed Go Legal.

Outcome:

We were brought in in October 2024. By January 2025, the dispute was fully resolved, and our client had recovered the full £4.8 million without going to court or writing off a single pound.

Here’s how we made it happen:

• We issued a strategic adjudication referral, designed not just to win but to bring the other side to the table;
• Built a clear, contractually grounded claim based on valid applications, payment terms, and the lack of any compliant withholding notices;
• Carefully scoped the dispute to focus on the sum due—cutting through the noise of irrelevant counterarguments;
• Ran a controlled negotiation alongside the adjudication, creating real commercial pressure.

The result was a pre-decision settlement on terms that reflected 100% of our client’s final account claim. There were no deductions or discounts.

Timeframe: Resolved in 3 Months

• Instructed: October 2024
• Settlement and cleared payment: January 2025

From instruction to full recovery in just 3 months.

For our client, this meant:

• No lengthy court process;
• No public dispute;
• No further commercial disruption.

Just resolution—and a clean slate.

Details of the Case and What Made the Difference:

What set this apart wasn’t just that we acted quickly—it’s that we acted strategically.

We didn’t throw every issue into adjudication. We picked the dispute we could win now: the final account sum due, supported by properly issued applications and a lack of Pay Less Notices.

We understood what the contractor was trying to do: delay, complicate, and exhaust the claim. So, we structured the process to eliminate that option.

When the adjudication clock started, so did the negotiations.

When we were 3 weeks in, the main contractor understood their position was procedurally weak and financially exposed.

That’s when they settled. Not because they wanted to—but because they had to.

What This Means if You’re in a Similar Position:

If you’re a subcontractor or supplier owed serious money—and facing excuses, delays or silence—you’re not alone.

We see this pattern time and time again:

• You’ve followed the contract;
• You’ve submitted compliant payment applications;
• You’ve delivered the works;
• But the contractor is now finding reasons not to pay.

What makes the difference is how you respond.

If you act early and strategically, you can control the process, apply pressure quickly, and recover what you’re owed.

That’s what we do.

Legal Tip:

Adjudication is a powerful tool, but it’s not just about fighting. When structured properly, it’s about creating leverage—and converting it into payment.

Why Choose Go Legal:

• We specialise in construction final account disputes, especially for subcontractors;
• We know how to use adjudication to apply pressure, not just make noise;
• We focus on fast commercial outcomes—not legal theatre;
• We act quickly, we speak plainly, and we get results;
• We offer fixed-fee adjudication support for qualifying disputes.

If you’re owed six or seven figures on a project and it’s being stalled, we’ll help you take control and get paid. Call Go Legal on 0207 459 4037 or request a Free Consultation today.