In 1985 two Engineers with project management and consulting experience formed a partnership in order to provide the construction industry in Southern Africa with a focussed approach to construction claims and disputes. That partnership, Binnington Copeland & Associates, became a (Pty) ltd company in 1996 and in 2013 this highly successful company was acquired by a listed US company operating in the fields of claims, disputes and project management, Hill International Ltd. In 1997, Chris Binnington, one of the founders, was elected as Chairman of the Association of Arbitrators of Southern Africa, South Africa’s oldest arbitral body, and he fulfilled this role until 2010. In 2017 a new consulting entity was formed, “Binningtons”, drawing on the considerable experience of Chris Binnington together with Civil Engineer and respected Forensic Delay Analyst David Jamieson operating out of the original Binnington Copeland offices in Rondebosch. In 2018, specialist forensic quantity surveyor, Mark Hamilton, joined Binningtons and opened their Johannesburg office. These three very experienced practitioners, together with a number of Associates, continue to provide the Southern African construction industry with a comprehensive claims and dispute service.

Whether the claim involves delay, disruption or extension of time, it is certain that Binningtons depth of experience will assist in achieving the most favourable outcome either for a contractor or sub-contractor promoting a claim or for an employer defending a claim. Binningtons can take the raw data and transform it into a well presented and supported claim submission either for consideration by the Principal Agent, or as a submission to the dispute resolution process. In addition, their years of experience as expert witnesses can assist clients to achieve a favourable outcome from the more formal dispute resolution processes of arbitration or litigation. Whether the contract arises out of the building, civil, heavy engineering or process industries and irrespective of whether it is JBCC, NEC, FIDIC or the South African domestic civil contract, clients can be assured of a professional and highly experienced approach to whatever problem has arisen. In addition, tailored training is offered on standard form contracts, construction contract law related topics, and the various dispute resolution processes embodied within those contracts.