Week commencing 8 June 2026 · Published 11 June 2026 · By the JustEng team
The week in forensic engineering, expert witness work and construction disputes worldwide.
TCC orders landlord to strip ACM cladding in landmark lease ruling
In Essendi UK Hotels 2 Ltd v London Property Company Ltd [2026] EWHC 1354 (TCC), handed down on 5 June, the court held that a landlord’s covenant to keep a Wembley hotel in good condition included an obligation to remove and replace Grenfell-type ACM cladding, ordering specific performance within 18 months plus damages (4 Pump Court).
Hiring angle: Commercial cladding disputes are widening beyond residential — instructing parties need facade and fire experts who can write CPR Part 35 reports, a skill set our forensic desk places every month.
Angeles City collapse investigation continues
Investigations by the Philippine DPWH, national police and city government continue into the collapse of a nine-storey building under construction in Angeles City on 24 May, which killed 27 people, with soil testing, construction procedures and material quality all under scrutiny (Wikipedia).
Hiring angle: Major failures of this kind drive sustained international demand for structural forensic engineers with collapse investigation and materials expertise.
GAR 100: construction leads the expert witness market
The 2026 GAR 100 Expert Witness Power Index again shows construction as the busiest category, with the top-ranked consultancy alone recording 93 hearings and instructions covering more than 37 billion dollars in claims (HKA).
Hiring angle: Quantum and delay practices are hiring — for senior QS and planning professionals, expert witness work offers a well-paid second career; see our forensic salary guide for current bands.
AI arbitrator opens for documents-only construction cases
The AAA-ICDR has made its AI arbitrator available for two-party, documents-only construction cases, the latest sign of technology reshaping dispute resolution (AAA-ICDR).
Hiring angle: Routine disputes may automate, but technical causation still needs human experts — and tribunals increasingly expect them to be fluent with AI-assisted delay analysis tools.
Building a forensic or expert witness team, or considering the move into expert work? Talk to our forensic and expert witness desk or submit your CV in confidence.