In his presentation on 18 July, Mr David Kelly, Principal at Exponent Inc, tackled the oft-misunderstood head of claim that is unabsorbed head office overheads. While a mainstay in time-related money claims, this head of claim is notoriously difficult to prove and contractors often find their claims dismissed as a result of insufficient evidence being tendered in support of the claim.

 

Mr Kelly's presentation succinctly summarised the nature and basis of this head of claim as well as the types of expenses that fall within such a claim, and provided a helpful comparison of the various formulas employed in practice to quantify this head of claim. Mr Kelly also brought with him insight from his expert practice across both civil and common law jurisdictions, which was particularly relevant in today's increasingly global market.

The seminar ended with a very interactive Q&A session, in which members of the audience discussed their experiences and the difficulties encountered in advancing this head of claim. In sum, it was an extremely informative and insightful talk put up by SCL Singapore.