In Babcock Marine (Clyde) Limited
("Babcock") v HS Barrier Coatings Limited
("HSB"), reported in June 2019, the Technology and
Construction Court (TCC) considered whether the English Courts had
jurisdiction in a Scottish case concerning adjudication
enforcement.
Facts
Babcock engaged HSB to carry out ship lift docking cradle
re-preservation works at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde. The
contract was based on the NEC 3 Engineering and Construction Short
Contract (June 2005). It was subject to Scots law and contained an
arbitration clause based on the Scottish arbitration statute.
However, the contract did not include a choice of court clause.
By later agreement between the parties ("the Variation
Agreement"), the parties agreed to revise the contract in
certain respects. This agreement contained a choice of court
clause, being the courts of Scotland.