Advisory Services
Our decades of experience have enabled us to be an integral part of today’s most complex projects. We are leaders in quantum (cost), delay (time), project controls (cost/time/schedule), and dispute resolution (quantum/delay/technical), but what truly sets us apart isn’t bound by theory; it’s our commitment to putting that expertise to work side-by-side with you, every day, on your project. Each member of our team has current field knowledge, meaning they combine their specialized understanding of construction with practical experience. Our experts are impartial, balanced, and above all contextually aware.
Our team works from DeSimone offices around the world, with key projects in the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and countries in Europe and Africa. They are experienced with the various compliance regulations and best practices endorsed by both domestic and international organizations, including, but not limited to, the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineers (AACE) International, the Society of Construction Law (SCL), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and The Academy of Experts (TAE).
What sets DeSimone apart is our collaboration across disciplines. Our team with expertise in quantum, delay, structures, façades, vertical transportation, and other specialized disciplines bring together their knowledge, perspectives, and methods to solve problems.
Your vision is always our focus. Our interdisciplinary team provides you with exceptional service to keep your goals in sight and under control—from cost planning to contract completion.
From project conception to completion, we advise you on your best options at every phase and for every challenge. We provide independent review and support for performance improvements. The advantage of partnering with a team focused on due diligence is accurate and timely insights into the progress and potential of your project so you maximize profitability.
Often cost planning happens after the event, against a design already sold to a client. This may lead to disappointment from value engineering, poor procurement, or a reduction in quality. We use DeSimone's extensive knowledge of construction cost/value, timescales, and supply chains to ensure informed planning and procurement decisions.
Bills of quantities remain the most transparent comparable method to achieve a level playing field in competitive tenders. We can help you produce and review bills of quantities. Our quantum team understands all common measurement protocols and can provide a clear procurement strategy. This is essential for complex project delivery along with accurate identification and management of risk.
Let our team help you with planning any construction project. We'll work from initial feasibility assessments to preparation of tender and contract schedules. Our planning and scheduling experts have a proven track record of helping to deliver successful projects on time and on budget.
To fail to plan is to plan to fail. Project planning and scheduling are essential to the success of the construction process. Our experienced planners can make the difference between success and failure.
High-profile, complex, or strategically important construction projects require a steady hand to plan for sustained success, which we provide by holistically considering every moving part. Our team clarifies progress by integrating schedule, cost, and risk data, which allows us to prevent costly delays and protect the project’s outcomes.
Proper and timely contract administration is essential for project success. Your next project can benefit from tried and tested contract and project management protocols. Our procedures provide a structured framework for each of the recognized phases of a project.
In most standard forms of contract, the "Employer's Agent" acts independently for the client as the contract administrator for construction contracts. Post-contract, our role as the Employer's Agent covers a range of activities, from the issuing of instructions to co-ordination of information and approvals, managing and monitoring change and certifications. As well as acting as contract administrator, our employer's agent team performs pre-contract services, including co-ordinating tenders, novation of consultants, collating contract documents for execution and implementing change procedures.
Whatever the cause of change on a project, our professionals understand the importance of good cost management advice. We'll give you information to make effective proactive decisions. A key indicator of success is the ability to provide accurate cost management throughout a project. Let us help you identify and manage cost risks.
Final account resolution can become protracted. This is particularly true where contract variations or extensions of time are not agreed during the project. Problems increase where project staff are no longer available to explain events. No two final accounts are the same. As a result, things can become very analytical; work with our team to negotiate final accounts. We will help you preserve and enhance commercial relationships.
With any project, tasks need to be broken down into manageable groups. Schedules need regular updating to reflect the accurate progress of the project. Properly managed, the schedule will help you with management and cash flow of the project. We anticipate, avoid, manage, and resolve construction challenges. Risk mitigation is at the heart of our project controls and management practice.
The construction industry can be an adversarial place. Even those who enter projects with the best of intentions can find themselves embroiled in dispute proceedings. Early advice can help you avoid and manage disputes. Our expert dispute resolvers can guide you through the complex process of resolving your dispute.
Adjudication is a time-critical process. After serving a notice of adjudication, a strict timetable must be followed. There is no time to learn the process; you need efficiency and experience on your side. Rest easy in the knowledge that the DeSimone team has extensive experience in adjudication. The team includes a practicing adjudicator who is on the RICS President's Panel of Construction Adjudicators. Let us guide you through the process and provide time-critical and practical support.
Mediation sees a third party engaged to assist parties in reaching an agreement. It is vital for parties to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their positions. You will no doubt need to compromise to reach an agreement. To achieve this, you should seek an impartial, non-emotional understanding of what to hold for and when to give ground. The DeSimone team has represented parties in several mediations. These range from simple small-value disputes to complex high-value disputes. In addition, the team includes three practicing mediators. Let us work to help you reach a successful outcome.
An Expert Determiner is an independent expert appointed by the parties to resolve a dispute. You and your team must understand the requirements of submissions, to put your position forward in the most compelling way. DeSimone's qualified dispute resolvers are included on the Academy of Experts' Register of Expert Determiners. Their input may be critical to the success of the outcome of your dispute.
We provide the confident insight you need to manage disputes effectively. Our experts in quantum, delay, structures, and façades apply deep industry knowledge to every case. By thoroughly and independently verifying your position early on, we equip you with the optional strategies for a successful resolution under these categories of service:
Expert Advisor
A strategic claims management plan is often the best way to avoid disputes. A proactive approach to claims will help you manage the process and mitigate negative results.
Understanding your obligations and entitlements will lead to successful projects. Our claims management specialists can help you prepare your strategy and manage claims effectively. When change occurs, you'll be in a better position to understand the time and cost implications. We guide and advise you as you take steps to reduce delays and cost overruns.
Expert Witness
Despite the best efforts of both parties, negotiated settlements cannot always be reached and formal disputes arise. Sometimes, alternative dispute resolution procedures may not resolve a dispute. One, or both, of the parties may resort to litigation or arbitration. In such circumstances we work to support the legal team apppointed by one of the parties.
We have experience with many formal procedures, including oral testimony in court where a technical input on quantum, delay, structures, or façades is needed.
We have experience in supporting litigation, arbitration, adjudication, expert determination, and mediation—in the roles of either an expert advisor or expert witness.
Tribunal
A number of members of our team are regular tribunal practitioners, in the areas of adjudication, mediation, and expert determination. When acting as a tribunal practitioner, our team member takes on a personal appointment, usually from one of the recognized panels, e.g., RICS or CIArb.
Employing people who act as independent tribunals is a key factor in our success. From an entitlement to claim perspective, we know what good looks like. We know from actual experience what a tribunal needs to see in order to arrive at a predictable determination.
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About us
In an industry in which consolidation has become the norm, DeSimone stands apart from large engineering practices. The diversification of our services enables us to support a global clientele experiencing complex challenges. We remain independent so that we are able to provide bespoke and personal solutions, wherever your vision takes you.
Structural engineering is where we began, and it is still the core of our practice. But through the years, we have expanded the services we offer our clients, from façade and building envelope to vertical transportation to steel detailing and fabrication-ready modeling to advisory services.
