This presentation will focus on the legal risks that need to be managed by geotechnical and geosynthetic professionals. Contractual risks such as onerous contract terms, uncertain contract terms and liability for the actions of others will be discussed, and specific issues such as warranties, indemnities, elevated standard of care, force majeure and the contra proferentem rule will be considered. Tortious risks will be described together with an overview of the professional’s duty of care. Other more technical risks such as design responsibilities, unexpected ground conditions, quality control, quality assurance and inappropriate use of geosynthetics will be discussed. Consideration will also be given to the role of appropriate insurance in the risk management process.

Dr Russell Jones is currently a Senior Legal Consultant with Golder Associates, part of WSP, and a legal director of the Golder UK and Irish companies. He liaises with the company’s business units, providing a strategic blend of business and legal advice and the reviewing and negotiating standard industry and bespoke contracts, subcontracts, master services agreements, non-disclosure agreements, reliance letters and collateral warranties. Prior to his current role, Dr Jones was a Project Director involved in the technical direction and review of a range of geotechnical engineering and expert witness projects. He is also a recognised international leader in the field of containment engineering and geosynthetics, and is currently Immediate Past President of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). Russell is a past Chairman of the IGS UK Chapter.