In construction, a successful claim is rarely created at the end of a project. It is built throughout the project by protecting contractual entitlement, issuing timely notices, maintaining accurate records, and demonstrating clear cause and effect.

Many contractors lose legitimate claims not because they lacked entitlement, but because they failed to preserve it.

A strong construction claim is built on five key foundations:

• Clear contractual entitlement
• Timely notices in accordance with the contract
• Accurate contemporaneous records
• Proven causation between the event and its impact
• Well-supported time and cost substantiation

Common reasons why claims fail include:

• Late or missing contractual notices
• Poor site records and documentation
• Weak programme and delay analysis
• Failure to establish cause and effect
• Insufficient evidence supporting additional time or cost

Effective contract administration is not simply about compliance—it is about protecting commercial entitlement before a dispute arises.

Whether working under FIDIC or bespoke construction contracts, the strongest claims are developed while the project is progressing, not after completion.

At PactWise, we support contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and project teams with practical advice on construction claims, contract administration, commercial management, delay analysis, and dispute avoidance across complex infrastructure and building projects.