Our Global Construction & Infrastructure Disputes Practice brochure
Read and download
4 ธ.ค. 2025
Insight
We are pleased to present this year's Global Perspectives: Construction & Infrastructure Disputes, featuring key insights and legal developments of 2025 from around the world, with significant implications for construction and infrastructure disputes.
A common theme across jurisdictions is the ongoing impact of external pressures on project timelines and cost, including inflation and market volatility, policy changes and constraints of existing infrastructure. In some jurisdictions, subdued domestic markets have led developers and contractors to step up overseas expansion. As many countries advance ambitious transnational energy and infrastructure projects, these factors are driving a renewed focus on robust risk allocation, flexible contracting, and proactive dispute avoidance strategies.
Several jurisdictions have introduced major legal and regulatory reforms, targeting broader sustainability and energy transition goals, alongside amendments to construction sector-specific legislation such as security of payment. The practical application of recent reforms, such as those in relation to building safety, continues to be tested in the local courts, which in turn remain critical in shaping key aspects of construction law and disputes, such as the law on penalties, payment and motions to amend in construction disputes.
Meanwhile, the global AI boom has accelerated demand for critical infrastructure such as data centres and critical minerals. Given the significant financial stakes and inherent risks involved in constructing such assets, complex and high value construction disputes are anticipated.
Across jurisdictions, the emphasis on dispute prevention and avoidance remains strong, with local courts demonstrating a readiness to uphold contractually agreed alternative dispute resolution processes. Whilst congested court lists continue to challenge some systems, others have taken positive steps, for example, by seeking to better align domestic arbitration laws with international standards through the release of a draft new arbitration law.
These recurring themes underscore that, despite the increasingly global nature of challenges in the construction sector, effective management and mitigation of construction and infrastructure disputes require an understanding of local legal nuances, as well as the ability to anticipate emerging risks at both regional and global levels.
Asia
China
China’s outbound construction drive: trends, risks and disputes
Japan
Offshore wind ambitions blown off course by market and regulatory headwinds
Singapore
Powering the future: Singapore's expansion of the ASEAN power grid
South Korea
South Korea's renewable ambitions meet infrastructure constraints
Thailand
Delay penalties under Thai law: Judicial discretion and practical considerations
Europe & UK
France
Additional works in public contracts: The Conseil d'État clarifies entitlement to payment for works performed pursuant to informal instructions
Germany
New power plant strategy and CO2 infrastructure development
Spain
Spain updates sustainability requirements and aims to simplify urban planning processes
UK
Building/fire safety cases continue to be in the spotlight
Construction notes
Find the latest developments on our blog.
Subscribe now
Key contacts
James Doe
Partner, Head of Construction and Infrastructure Disputes, London, Kazakhstan Group, Central Asia Group and Africa Group
Ante Golem
Partner, Head of Disputes, Australia, Perth
Clare Smethurst
Managing Partner, Brisbane Office, Brisbane
Mike McClure KC
Partner, London
Nick Oury
Partner, Head of Construction Disputes, Middle East, Dubai and Africa Group
Daniel Waldek
Partner, Singapore and Vietnam Group
Geoffrey Hansen
Partner, Melbourne
Catrice Gayer
Partner, Germany
More insights
Legal Notice
The contents of this publication are for reference purposes only and may not be current as at the date of accessing this publication. They do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking any action based on this publication.
© Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer 2026
Stay in the know
We’ll send you the latest insights and briefings tailored to your needs
Subscribe now