Project Delay & Disruption Lawyer in Dubai
Delay claims are won or lost on the programme, not just the narrative. A well-argued cause of delay means little if the analysis behind it can't withstand scrutiny — and disruption, which affects productivity rather than completion date, requires an entirely different kind of proof.
An extension of time claim requires showing that a specific, contractually recognised event caused critical delay to the completion date — which in turn requires a defensible critical path analysis, not just a list of problems encountered during the works. Where delay is concurrent — caused partly by the employer and partly by the contractor at the same time — the legal and contractual treatment can differ significantly depending on the applicable contract wording and law.
Disruption claims are a different animal from delay claims — they concern loss of productivity or efficiency in carrying out the works, even where the completion date is unaffected, and are typically harder to prove because they require demonstrating what productivity would have been absent the disrupting event, not simply what happened.
We advise contractors, subcontractors, and employers on extension of time claims, concurrent delay analysis, disruption and prolongation cost claims, and the programme evidence needed to support or defend them in negotiation, adjudication, arbitration, or litigation.
How We Handle Delay & Disruption Matters
- Programme and Records ReviewWe review the baseline programme, as-built records, and progress updates to establish what actually happened on site and when, before forming a view on causation.
- Causation AnalysisWe assess whether the delay event caused critical delay to completion, applying the delay analysis methodology appropriate to the contract, the available records, and the applicable law.
- Concurrency AssessmentWhere delay may be concurrent, we assess how the applicable contract and governing law treat concurrent causation, since this materially affects entitlement to time and cost relief.
- Claim Preparation or ResponseWe prepare extension of time and prolongation cost claims, or respond to and test claims made against our client, built on the underlying programme and factual evidence.
- Disruption Quantification SupportFor disruption claims, we work through the productivity evidence and quantification methodology needed to support a claim that will withstand challenge.
- Dispute ResolutionWhere a delay or disruption dispute proceeds to adjudication, DAB/DAAB, arbitration, or litigation, we present the programme and causation case supported by the technical analysis.
When to Bring in a Delay & Disruption Lawyer
- You've been served with, or need to submit, an extension of time claim and want the causation analysis reviewed before it's relied upon.
- Delay on the project appears to be concurrent and you need advice on how this affects your entitlement to time or cost relief.
- You're pursuing or defending a disruption claim and need to understand what evidence is required to prove lost productivity.
- A dispute over the critical path or delay analysis methodology has arisen between the parties' respective programmes.
- You need to prepare a prolongation cost claim and want it properly linked to a substantiated extension of time.
- An adjudicator, DAB, or tribunal has requested a delay analysis and you need it prepared to a defensible standard.
Services We Provide
- Extension of time claim preparation and review
- Concurrent delay analysis and advice
- Critical path and programme analysis
- Disruption claim evidence and quantification
- Prolongation cost claim preparation
- Delay analysis review for adjudication, DAB/DAAB, or arbitration
- Representation in delay and disruption disputes
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a delay claim and a disruption claim?
A delay claim concerns the completion date being pushed back by a critical delay event; a disruption claim concerns loss of productivity or efficiency during the works, which can occur even where the completion date is unaffected — the two require different types of evidence and analysis.
What happens if delay is caused by both the employer and the contractor at the same time?
This is concurrent delay, and how it's treated depends heavily on the specific contract wording and the applicable law — some approaches allow time relief without cost relief in genuinely concurrent situations, so the contract needs to be checked before assuming an outcome.
What evidence do I need to support an extension of time claim?
At minimum, a baseline programme, contemporaneous progress records, and a critical path analysis showing that the specific delay event affected the completion date — a narrative description of problems encountered, without programme analysis, is rarely sufficient on its own.
Can I claim prolongation costs without a valid extension of time?
Generally no — prolongation costs are typically only recoverable in connection with a period of delay that's been established through a valid extension of time claim, which is why the two need to be prepared together rather than treated separately.
How is a disruption claim quantified?
Common approaches include measured mile analysis (comparing productivity during disrupted and undisrupted periods) and, less favoured by tribunals, the total cost or modified total cost method — the appropriate method depends on what records are available and how rigorously they support the comparison.