CCNZ ran a webinar with Core Associate Dentons Kensington Swan on 13 May 2020, covering the impacts of COVID-19 on construction contracts.

The webinar featured CCNZ Chief Executive Peter Silcock, Dentons Kensington Swan Partners Paul Buetow and Stuart Robertson, and Dentons Kensington Swan Special Counsel Katrina Van Houtte. 

While Mr Silcock covered off important factors such as general response, relationship-based contracting and the results brought about through the Construction Sector Accord, the webinar focussed on how COVID-19 impacted standard contracts. It explored suspensions and variations, including questions such as whether COVID-19 Alert Level 4 Lockdown should have been treated as a suspension or a variation of contract, and the difference between the two. Lockdown claims were also discussed, including what can be claimed, and how to value the claim.

Future contracts were also covered, including productivity impacts and risk allocation for future COVID and other pandemic-type events.

The webinar recording is available for members only at the members login section of the CCNZ website, under the Member Resources tab.