Liability for the design of a building or structure is of fundamental concern to construction professionals, design-build contractors, specialist sub-contractors, and lawyers. Although other texts cover a wide range of aspects of liability, only Cornes and Lupton’s Design Liability in Construction draws together all those matters that relate specifically to design.

A number of factors have come together recently and are addressed in this significant update and rewrite of the 4th edition, including: 

• popularity of design & build procurement
• partnering arrangements and early contractor involvement
• new standard forms of construction contract and appointment, and revisions to older forms
• technical innovations in construction
• collaborative working and BIM systems
• many well-publicised cases regarding design failures
• significant developments in the law of tort and professional liability
• the development of the single European market and increased provision of services overseas

Together these factors create a new range of design liability issues which the construction professional has to face. Written for lawyers, architects, engineers, and contractors, the fifth edition of Design Liability in Construction will also serve as a useful text for masters level courses in engineering, surveying and construction law.

About the Author

Sarah Lupton has degrees in architecture and law, and has over 30 years’ experience as a partner in the London-based architects’ practice of Lupton Stellakis. She combines practice with an academic post at the Welsh School of Architecture, as Professor and director of the MA in Professional Studies. She lectures widely on subjects related to construction law, and is an arbitrator, adjudicator and expert witness. Sarah is a member of many industry and professional committees and is chair of the CIC Liability Panel and past chair of the RIBA President’s Advisory Committee on Dispute Resolution. As well as this publication, she is the author of many books, including a series on standard form construction contracts.