Law for Project Managers

Law for Project Managers provides an easily understandable and practical guide to the laws of contract, liability, intellectual property and so on, entirely from the perspective of the project manager. It will enable you to approach projects forewarned and forearmed, able to avoid potential legal problems altogether. The book covers everything from intellectual property disputes with the client organisation about who actually 'owns' the outcome, to confusion arising during an international project from the different legal systems and their approach to contracts and health and safety problems in the management of contractors. Most importantly, it explains everything in very straightforward terms; legal jargon is either avoided altogether or defined with its relevance to the project manager explained. In essence, Law for Project Managers is a clear, readable and expert guide on this and many other important legal matters for the practising project manager as well as a supplementary text for post- or undergraduate students studying the commercial aspects of law, contracting and project management.

PART 1 – GENERAL The law’s approach Law is about relationships Legal systems Law and companies The Contract The real world The basic principles A practical approach PART II – THE ORIGINS OF LAW Law in the UK A summary Law made by legislation What legislation means Law made by judges Keeping up to date European Union law An introduction to the EU The organisation How the EU makes law PART III – CONTRACT LAW How contracts are made Introduction The requirements for a contract Offer and acceptance Putting it in writing Agency and the commercial organisation The Letter of Intent What is a Letter of Intent The preliminary contract Authorisation to start work A cautionary tale The meanings behind the words The problem of words The role of terms Civil law Interpretation The principles in practice Lateness Specifications and Defects Liability for lateness The specification Liability for defective work and equipment Excluding and limiting liability The Law of Breach Contract termination Remedies for breach Civil law PART IV – USING THE LAWYERS Using the professionals The rules Finding advice Preparing for dispute Disputes Fairness in law Methods of resolving disputes Other countries PART V – LIABILITY LAW Negligence The law of tort The principles of liability for negligence Civil law Liability for Escapes Corporate and personal liability Strict liability for creating a hazard Nuisance liability PART VI – OTHER TOPICS Intellectual Property Introduction The patent Design rights Copyright Knowhow The consequences Forms of Security Assets as security Sureties and bonds Exporting and Importing The letter of credit The negotiable instrument The world system Shipping terms

David Wright is an independent consultant, specialising in project management and engineering. He is an experienced arbitrator, mediator and adjudicator in the process industry and has author and contributed to a number of books, including The Purple Book, the standard guide to the ICHEME conditions of contract.