Approach
From project event to defensible commercial outcome
CEACM's method is structured, analytical and evidence-led. We seek to identify issues early, protect entitlement, support payment recovery, reduce avoidable disputes and give senior management practical options before matters escalate.
Four steps
Facts, obligations, impact, position.
01
Establish facts
Review the contract, drawings, instructions, correspondence, site records, programme data and payment records.
02
Map obligations
Identify the relevant clauses, notice requirements, time limits, valuation rules, records and response periods.
03
Assess impact
Evaluate cost, time, resource, procurement, programme and cashflow effects using traceable evidence.
04
Communicate position
Prepare letters, reports, notices, registers, claims and negotiation briefs in structured language.
Commercial systems
Systems and deliverables
| System or deliverable | Purpose and typical content |
|---|---|
| Contractual correspondence system | Drafting and review of formal letters, notices, responses, submissions, records of instruction and contractual reservation of rights. |
| Variation and change register | Instruction reference, scope, valuation basis, cost build-up, programme effect, status, approval route and payment treatment. |
| Claims substantiation file | Event chronology, clause basis, cause and effect narrative, records matrix, programme link, cost build-up and annexure list. |
| Payment and cashflow tracker | IPC status, certified amounts, due dates, outstanding balances, delayed payment issues and forecast recovery. |
| Subcontract administration tracker | Subcontract scope, payment certification, variation status, claims, back-to-back obligations and final account status. |
| Management dashboard | Concise reporting for senior management showing key risks, commercial exposure, action deadlines, claim status and required decisions. |
Working style
Plain language, tied to the record.
We work from the contract and the records, we say what the evidence supports and what it does not, and we report in plain language. Entitlement is managed responsibly: we advise on the duty to mitigate and to act reasonably as well as on the right to claim.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What does "evidence over opinion" mean in practice?
Each position we set out is tied to a clause, a record or a calculation. Where evidence is missing, we say so and recommend how to obtain or reconstruct it.
Why do notices matter so much?
Many contracts set short periods for notices of claims and other events. A late or incomplete notice can reduce or remove an entitlement, depending on the contract and the governing law. For that reason notice requirements are mapped in step 2, at the start of an assignment.
What is a contemporaneous record?
A record made at or about the time of the event: site diaries, instructions, photographs, minutes, correspondence and measurements. Such records are usually more persuasive than recollections written later.
Contact
Tell us about your contract.
Tell us about the contract, the stage it has reached and the decision you need to make. We reply by email.