CPD | Valuable lessons from the Grenfell Tower incident and their implications for Hong Kong's construction industry

Content 

This seminar covers important topics in the construction industry in relation to project management and safety.

1. Mark will address the tragic consequences of the Grenfell fire in 2017, which resulted from failures in the design and construction of the project. His presentation will incorporate findings from the Phase 2 Grenfell Inquiry Report, released on September 4 of this year. This comprehensive report, the result of a seven-year investigation, provides critical insights into project procurement, design, and construction practices from 2012 to 2016. He will also address regulatory failures and what is characterized as deliberate misrepresentation by manufacturers regarding certain cladding products, providing necessary context for the overarching theme of project management.

    

2. Dennis and Justin will discuss the issues concerning manslaughter charges. A notable case involving an authorized signatory in a crane collapse in 2022 has led to heightened concerns among stakeholders regarding their responsibilities and liabilities. They will also dissect the components of gross negligence manslaughter within the construction context.

This seminar will delve into the details, including:  

• Failure of procurement to “Construct the Team”

• Over reliance on Building Control and focus on guarantees

• Responsibilities of Authorized Signatory, Technically Competent Persons and Technical Director

• Negligence v. Manslaughter

Speakers 

Dennis Wong, Partner

Dennis is a partner of Cocking & Co. He studied law and obtained his legal qualification in New South Wales, Australia in 1999. Dennis became a Hong Kong solicitor in 2005 and had since engaged in construction law practice at international firms in Hong Kong and China. Dennis is also a qualified Greater Bay Area (GBA) lawyer.

Dennis brings more than 24 years of experience in advising on both contentious and non-contentious issues related to major infrastructure projects across Hong Kong, Macau, London, Dubai, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. He has significant expertise in managing construction disputes related to final accounts, delays, extensions of time, liquidated damages, variations, defects, and other construction matters. Dennis frequently represents employers, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, and developers in complex construction disputes, resolving them through mediation, expert determination, arbitration, and litigation for significant infrastructure projects both locally and internationally.

Justin Lo, Partner 

Justin is a partner of Cocking & Co. He studied law and obtained his legal qualification in Hong Kong in 2007. He became a Hong Kong solicitor in 2010 and has since engaged in construction law practice at international and prominent domestic firms in Hong Kong. 

Justin has over 14 years of experience advising on contentious and non-contentious matters in major infrastructure projects in Hong Kong, Asia Pacific, UAE and Latin America. He also advises on the full life cycle of a construction project, including contract negotiations and management of claims and disputes. Justin regularly represented contractors, consultants and developers in complex construction disputes resolving by means of mediation, expert determination, arbitration and litigation for major infrastructure projects locally and internationally. 

Mark Ashton, Director

Mark serves as a director at Ashton Associates Ltd. He studied civil engineering at Brighton Polytechnic in the United Kingdom and is a member of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.

With more than 40 years of experience in large-scale infrastructure projects, Mark frequently takes on advisory roles within Independent Review teams, helps with project interventions, and offers expert support for resolving issues. His technical background brings deep, practical experience to risk management and strategic assignments, whether the focus is technical or organizational in nature. Mark has also received training on the provision of expert services from the Academy of Experts and has been engaged to provide services to arbitration in Hong Kong.

Languages 

Cantonese and English

Fees

Free of charge

CPD Seminar (1 hour)

* Participants will receive an electronic CPD certificate after the event.

Enquiry

Tel: 5398 2707

Email: info@aapmhk.org