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ARTICLE · 15 APRIL 2025

Changes To NEC4 Contracts – Dispute Management And Conflict Avoidance Clauses

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NEC contracts are widely used internationally and have become more common in Ireland in recent years in the utilities and infrastructure sectors.

IrelandCorporate/Commercial Law
Cassandra Byrne
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Jarleth Heneghan
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NEC contracts are widely used internationally and have become more common in Ireland in recent years in the utilities and infrastructure sectors.

They are used on some semi-state and large infrastructure projects in Ireland. For example, Metrolink on their website has indicated that the design-build contracts for the civil infrastructure contracts for the tunnels, shafts, portals, station structures (underground, retained cut, and at-grade), viaducts, and related civil infrastructure will be based upon the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) Option C Target Contract with Activity Schedule.

The NEC4 contract suite was launched in 2017 and further updated with amendments in 2023. NEC recently published new conflict avoidance clauses and a practice note with guidance for using its conflict avoidance process on NEC4 contracts and sub-contracts.

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