THE SCL HUDSON PRIZE

2008 Prize

Entries are now invited for the 2008 Competition from all entrants with an interest in construction law and an idea which they wish to share.  The length of essay is a maximum of 5,000 words and the judging panel places emphasis upon originality of thought and approach. The winner will receive £2,000 (up from £1,500) and second prize will be rewarded with £1,000 (up from £750). The closing date for entries is Friday, 2nd January 2009. Full details in the flyer.

Information about Prize winners in previous years

Background to the Prize

Anthony Lavers, Professor of Law, School of Real Estate Management, Oxford Brookes University, and a Member of Council, Society of Construction Law, explains the background to this annual prize.

Introduction

The Society of Construction Law is well-known to most of those involved in construction procurement, contract claims and dispute resolution. Founded in 1983, it comprises some 1400 members from all sections of the construction industry and associated legal practices. Sir Philip Otton is its President and Christopher Miers is the Chairman. Its mission is to promote and encourage the study of construction law and the exchange of information and ideas concerning it. This is done in a number of ways, including the giving of papers by invited speakers at the monthly meetings in London and the regions, publishing papers and supporting educational activities in the construction law field in universities and colleges.

The idea of an essay prize

In the mid-1980s, Leonard Fletcher and other leading members of the Society at that time conceived the idea of an annual prize to be given for the best essay on a construction law topic. The name was chosen in honour of Alfred Hudson, who was virtually the founding father of the subject, and author of what was for many years the only comprehensive principal text. Thus the Alfred Hudson Prize, as it was then known, came into being.

The SCL Hudson Prize

After a decade as the Alfred Hudson Prize, the competition was re-launched with a slightly different format as the SCL Hudson Prize in 1996 to encourage the widest range of participants and topics. A maximum limit of 5,000 words was introduced and the emphasis placed upon originality of thought or approach. The Society has increased prize money from £1,000 to £1,500 for 1st Prize and £750 for 2nd Prize. Entrants can also be Highly Commended or Commended. All who are awarded prizes or commendations receive a year's free membership of the Society.

Appropriate topics for entry

The Society's Council decided on a formulation of appropriate subject matter for entries: "The subject matter for entries for the SCL Hudson Prize shall be: A topic which is part of, or closely related to, construction law, including (but not restricted to) Construction and Engineering Contracts, Contract Administration, Claims, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, Construction Litigation, The Law of Torts, Company Law, Property Law, Taxation relating to Construction and any other aspect of law or procedure relevant to the construction industry".

This is an attempt to express the extent of the range of appropriate topics for entry. It does not represent a change in emphasis; the scope has always been wide. Previous winning titles have included "Rules of Conduct for the Engineer", "Management Contracting: Low Risk for Contractor - Low Recovery by Employer", "Developments in the Methods of Managing Construction Projects in the UK, USA and France", "Payment for Materials or Goods not yet incorporated in the Works", "The Ascertainment of Damages for Delay in Construction Contracts", "An Analysis of the Risks Inherent in the Build-Own/Operate - Transfer Method of Infrastructure Procurement" "Extensions of time: The conflict between the 'prevention principle' and notice requirement as a condition precedent", "Damages in the shadow of a penalty clause - tripping over policy in the search for logic and legal principle" and "Separability - a tale of two agreements".

Judging the entries

Because of the eclectic choice of topics submitted, it has been seen as important to have a panel with a variety of backgrounds, which currently include engineering, arbitration, legal practice and academia. As has already been indicated, the judging panel will give considerable weight to the freshness of the ideas and the value of the work and 50% of the marks are attached to the criterion "Originality of thought or approach and contribution to the study or practice of construction law or its applications in the industry". Naturally, the substance of the submission is also important and 40% of the marks are for the "Quality of analysis, explanation and discussion of chosen topic". Finally, reflecting the requirement of a high standard in all respects, the remaining 10% of marks are awarded for "Clarity of presentation, grammar, spelling, punctuation and any referencing".

The entrants

It has been remarked that the Society comprises many disciplines related to construction. As might be expected, the legal profession is well represented, barrister Helen Payne winning in 1994 and solicitors Peter Barber (1988) and Jonathan Hosie (1993). However, practising lawyers have by no means had it all their own way: John Barber (1987) is an engineer, albeit legally qualified, D. E. Ballard (1992) was the Deputy Director of the British Constructional Steelwork Association and Richard Lyndon (1996) a quantity surveyor with Wakemans.

The growing international interest in the Society has been reflected with recent success for entrants from Northern Ireland, Scotland and in 2001 from Australia and Hong Kong.

Past winners

A list of past winners can be viewed on this website.

Winning papers published

Many of the winning essays have been published by the Society.