About this episode

Jacob Austin discusses the importance of crystallisation in dispute resolution within the construction industry.

Episode 149 of The Subcontractors Blueprint sees Jacob Austin tackle crystallisation — the jurisdictional gate every dispute must pass through before it reaches adjudication. Continuing the disputes mini series, Jacob explains why a claim is not a dispute, how the Construction Act lets you refer a dispute only once one actually exists, and why even a watertight claim can be thrown out in its first 48 hours. Drawing on the leading AMEC case, he sets out the three ingredients of a real dispute and the four mistakes that gift contractors an easy jurisdiction challenge. The message: get crystallisation right first time, or pay to teach the other side how to beat you. KEY TAKEAWAYS       Why a claim sitting in an application isn't a dispute - and the single moment that turns it into one.       How a perfectly valid, fully-owed claim gets knocked out in the first 48 hours, before the merits are ever heard.       The three things every dispute needs before you can refer it, straight from the AMEC case. The four classic ways subcontractors crystallise too early and hand the other side a jurisdiction challenge on a plate. Why a contractor's…

People in this episode

Host: Jacob Austin

Topics covered

• dispute resolution
• construction law
• jurisdiction
• adjudication
• claims management

Keywords

• dispute
• crystallisation
• jurisdiction
• adjudication
• claims
• Construction Act
• AMEC case

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Construction Act, AMEC

More episodes of The Subcontractors Blueprint

• Disputes Mini-series: Wrong Isn't A Defence · July 20, 2026 · 20 min
• Disputes Mini Series: One Missed Notice Hands You The Full Sum · July 13, 2026 · 19 min
• Disputes Mini Series: Whoever Moves First Has Already Won- As Long As They're Prepared · July 6, 2026 · 21 min
• Disputes Mini-Series: Four Routes to Dispute Resolution · June 22, 2026 · 20 min
• Your Valuation Got Slashed - Here's How to Fight it Without Starting a War · June 15, 2026 · 23 min

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