Published Wednesday 22 July 2026 · By the JustEng team
Landmark technical findings, a live structural failure in Manhattan and a precedent-setting cladding judgment define this week in forensic engineering and construction disputes — and each sharpens the case for specialist forensic engineer recruitment and expert-witness hiring. Here is what our consultants are tracking.
NIST publishes technical findings on Champlain Towers South collapse
The US National Institute of Standards and Technology has released its technical findings on the causes of the 2021 partial collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, one of the most consequential forensic investigations of the decade. The report points to design and long-term degradation factors at the pool-deck and structural interface. Read the NIST release.
Hiring angle: Findings of this weight raise the bar for investigative rigour, fuelling candidate demand for structural forensic specialists and expert witnesses through our forensic engineering recruitment desk.
Manhattan tower buckling triggers forensic evaluation
Support beams began buckling at the former Pfizer headquarters on East 42nd Street in early July, causing several floors of the 37-storey conversion to cave under stress. No injuries were reported, and New York’s Department of Investigation has launched an inquiry, with the owner ordered to appoint a third-party engineer for a forensic evaluation. CNN has the details.
Hiring angle: High-profile failures during refurbishment drive urgent forensic engineer recruitment and structural-assessment hiring, precisely the fast-turnaround investigative roles we headhunt for globally.
First default building liability order lands on cladding supplier
In Mulalley & Co Ltd v Sto Ltd & Sto SE & Co KGaA, the Technology and Construction Court granted the first building liability order by default judgment, holding a German parent jointly liable for its UK subsidiary’s defective cladding and assessing the supplier’s “just and equitable” contribution at 87.5%. Osborne Clarke analyses the ruling.
Hiring angle: As liability reaches further up the supply chain, demand grows for façade engineer jobs and cladding-defect experts able to support litigation and remediation — a core strength of our specialist search.
Angeles City collapse investigation continues
Investigations remain open into the May collapse of a nine-storey building under construction in Angeles City, the Philippines, which killed at least 13 people. Local authorities, the Department of Public Works and Highways and national police are examining construction records and materials. Background on the incident.
Hiring angle: Major collapse inquiries generate sustained international candidate demand for geotechnical and structural forensic engineers, reinforcing why specialist forensic engineer recruitment networks matter.
Grenfell prosecution files head to the CPS
Up to 20 firms and 57 individuals could face criminal charges over the Grenfell Tower fire, with police due to hand evidence files to the Crown Prosecution Service by 30 September and charging decisions expected before June 2027. Potential charges range from corporate manslaughter to fraud. Read the update.
Hiring angle: The prospect of prosecutions keeps fire engineer vacancies and expert-witness roles in high demand as firms strengthen compliance and defence capability.
ICC introduces highly expedited arbitration for board decisions
The new ICC Arbitration Rules, effective 1 June, add a Highly Expedited Arbitration procedure that could give parties a faster route to enforce dispute adjudication board decisions on construction projects. White & Case explains the change.
Hiring angle: Faster dispute mechanisms increase the value of delay, quantum and technical experts, sustaining demand across our forensic engineering recruitment practice — benchmark rewards with our forensic engineering salary guide.
JustEng is a specialist engineering recruitment agency headhunting hard-to-find forensic and disputes engineers worldwide. Looking for your next role? Submit your CV or browse current engineering jobs. Building an investigations or expert-witness team? Register your vacancy and let our consultants find the talent others can’t.