BWP TERMS AND CONDITIONS

BWP Construction & Property Consultants Limited

In the BWP Terms and Conditions and the Engagement Letter the following terms shall have the following meanings:-

1.1 “Client”, the person, firm or company to who BWP is to provide Services in accordance with the Terms of Business.

1.2 “BWP Construction and Property Consultants Limited”: whose registered office is at 6 Hewitt Street, Manchester, M15 4GB where appropriate, any subsidiary and/or associated company of BWP Construction and Property Consultants Limited and/or any holding company of BWP and/or any subsidiary and/or any associated company of such holding company.

1.3 “BWP Terms and Conditions”: these BWP standard terms and conditions of business.

1.4 “Engagement”: the Client’s appointment of BWP to provide particular Services pursuant to the Terms of Business.

1.5 “Engagement Letter”: The BWP letter for a BWP business line issued to the Client which identifies particular Services to be provided by it and that sets out other terms and conditions that shall form part of the Engagement contract between BWP and the Client together with the BWP Terms and Conditions. Where the context admits, documents cross referenced and/or attached to the BWP letter shall form part of the Engagement Letter.

1.6 “Force Majeure Event”: an event falling within the definition set out at Clause 13.1.

1.7 “Intellectual Property Rights”: all patents, copyrights and design rights (whether registered or not and all applications for any of the foregoing), and all rights of information, data, know-how or experience whether patentable or not whensoever and howsoever arising and all renewals and extensions thereof.

1.8 “Party”: BWP or the Client as the case may be.

1.9 “Services”: services falling within the known areas of expertise and specialisation of BWP as more particularly identified in an Engagement Letter or, where no Engagement Letter has been issued, that are the subject of a Client instruction to BWP to proceed to act on the Client’s behalf.

1.10 “Terms of Business”: Subject to Clause 23.7, the BWP Terms and Conditions and any applicable Engagement Letter.

Clause 2- Scope of Business

2.1 Where the Client appoints BWP to provide Services, the appointment shall be on the basis of the Terms and Conditions and any applicable Engagement Letters. The purpose of an Engagement Letter shall be to address business line and project specific issues, including the precise scope of Services, timescales for deliverables and fee levels as well as certain other terms and conditions.

2.2 In carrying out the Services BWP shall exercise reasonable care and skill in the performance of the Services. No other warranty or representation, express or implied, shall apply under and/or in connection with the Engagement.

Clause 3 – Fees and Expenses

3.1 All fees for performance of the Services shall be calculated in accordance with the fee structure set out in the Engagement Letter.

3.2 BWP reserves the right to require payments to be made on account before commencing or completing any Services. In such event, the amount of the on account payment shall be calculated having regard to the programme for performance of the Services and the likely timing and amounts of expenses to be incurred.

3.3 Fees stated shall be exclusive of value added tax which, where applicable, shall be charged to the Client at the prevailing rate.

Clause 4 – Payment

4.1 Invoices are payable to the Client within 30 days of the date of the invoice.

4.2 All payments due to be made to BWP under the Terms of Business shall be made without set-off or counterclaim and free of and without deduction for any taxes, levies or duties of any description. If the Client is required at any time by any applicable law to make any such deduction from any payment, the sum due in respect of such payment shall be increased such as shall result (notwithstanding such deduction in BWP’s receipt on its due date) in a net sum equal to the sum BWP would have received had no such deduction have been required.

4.3 BWP may charge the Client interest (both before and after any judgment) on the balance of any unpaid invoice, at the rate of 3% per annum over the Bank of England base rate. Such interest shall run from the due date of settlement of the invoice until the date payment of the balance is received.

Clause 5 – The Client’s Obligations

5.1 The Client shall pay to BWP all fees, expenses and value added tax, as required pursuant to Clause 3 and 4, BWP may suspend and/or cease further work on behalf of the Client in the event of none, partial or late payment of any BWP invoice.

5.2 The Client shall provide to BWP all information reasonably required, and at the necessary times, enable BWP to carry out the Services pursuant to the Terms of Business.

5.3 The Client acknowledges that BWP is entitled to rely upon the accuracy, sufficiency and consistency of any information supplied to it by the Client, BWP shall have no liability for any inaccuracies contained in any information provided by the Client or any third party on behalf of the Client.

5.4 The Client authorises BWP to speak to or meet with any other person it may need to contact in order to provide the Services. BWP may release to such person for the purpose of the Services any information reasonable necessary to perform the Services and which it has obtained during the Engagement. BWP shall not be liable for any use subsequently made of that information.

Clause 6 – Intellectual Property

6.1 BWP is the beneficial owner of all intellectual Property Rights arising out of or in connection with the provision of the Services to the Client.

6.2 Subject to all payments due under the Engagement having been paid, the Client shall have an irrevocable, royalty free, non-exclusive licence to copy and use all materials created by or on behalf of BWP (and in relation to which BWP is the beneficial owner of the Intellectual Property Rights) for any purpose relating to the Engagement.

Clause 7 – Electronic Communications

7.1 BWP shall not be liable for any loss arising from the Client’s receipt of any information, data or communications supplied or sent by BWP electronically. The Client shall use all reasonable procedures to seek to ensure that any materials sent by any electronic medium and/or by computer disc to BWP are virus free.

7.2 BWP may communicate with the Client by email.

Clause 8 – Documents

8.1 The provision of the Services is for the Client’s benefit only. No part of any report or advice produced by BWP for the Client shall be reproduced, transmitted, copied or disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of BWP and BWP shall not be liable to any third party which relies upon any such report or advice.

8.2 After completing an Engagement, BWP shall be entitled to keep any Client papers and documents held while payments due under the Engagement are outstanding.

8.3 BWP shall keep its Engagement files for 6 years after issue of BWP’s final invoice, on the basis that BWP shall have the Client’s authority to destroy the files upon the expiry of that period unless the Client has beforehand requested in writing the return of Client papers or documents. BWP shall not be liable for any loss of documentation after the stated retention date.

8.4 The Client shall be responsible for BWP’s charges in producing any documentation which the Client requires in order to comply with a third party request for disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). For the avoidance of doubt, the Client, not BWP, shall liaise with such third party.

Clause 9 – Confidentiality

9.1 BWP shall seek the Client’s prior consent to BWP announcing without limitation, through advertising, and by reference in proposals or submissions to prospective Clients, that they are providing or have provided the Services to the Client. Such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

9.2 The Client shall keep confidential and not disclose to any other person (whether before or after termination or expiry of the Engagement): (a) any information received by it in respect of the methodologies and/or technologies used by BWP in providing the Services; (b) the details of the commercial terms on which BWP provides the Services: and (c) any other information in respect of BWP’s business activities which comes into its possession as a consequence of BWP providing the Services and which is not publicly available.

9.3 BWP shall keep confidential and not disclose to any other person (whether before or after termination or expiry of the Engagement) any information in respect of the Client’s business activities which comes into its possession as a consequence of BWP providing the Services and which is not publicly available.

9.4 The provisions of Clauses 9.2 and 9.3 shall not apply to either Party to the extent that disclosure is required by law or regulatory authorities or to the respective professional advisers of the Parties.

Clause 10 – Professional Indemnity Insurance

10.1 BWP shall effect and maintain, for a period of 6 years from completion of any Engagement, professional indemnity insurance with a limit of indemnity of no less than £5 million provided always that insurance remains available at commercially reasonable rates.

Clause 11 – Limitation of Liability

11.1 BWP shall not be liable for any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage (including, without limitation, loss of profits of business revenue) suffered by the Client (including as a result of an action brought by a third party).

11.2 Without prejudice to the other sub-clauses of Clause 11, where the Engagement involved BWP being appointed as part of a Client project team, liability for loss and/or damage arising under or in connection with the Engagement shall be limited to that proportion of the Client’s loss and/or damage which it would be just and equitable to require BWP to pay having regard to the extent of BWP’s responsibility for the same and on the basis that all other Client consultants and contractors shall be deemed to have provided contractual undertakings on terms no less onerous than this Clause 11.2 to the Client in respect of the performance of their services in connection with the project and that there are no exclusions of or limitation or liability nor joint insurance or co-insurance provisions between the Client and any other party referred to above and on the basis they shall be deemed to have paid to the Client such proportion which would be just and equitable for them to pay having regard to the extent of their responsibility.

11.3 BWP shall have no duty or liability in tort to the Client save that nothing in this Clause 11, or in the Engagement, shall exclude or restrict any liability either Party may have for death or personal injury arising out of negligence.

11.4 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in the Engagement, the total liability of BWP arising under or in connection with an Engagement shall not exceed £1,000,000.

Clause 12 – Money Laundering and Anti-Bribery Procedures

12.1 The Client shall provide all necessary cooperation so as to ensure that BWP is able to meet its obligations under:

12.1.1 The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and Money Laundering Regulations 2007; and

12.1.2 The Bribery Act 2010

And shall itself comply with such obligations.

Clause 13 – Force Majeure

13.1 Neither party shall be deemed to be in default or liable to the other Party for any matter whatsoever for any delays in performance or from failure to perform or to comply with the Terms of Business due to any cause beyond that Party’s reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God, acts of Government or other competent regulatory authority, telecommunications, network operators, war or national emergency, riots, civil commotion, fire explosion, flood, epidemic, lock-outs, strikes and other industrial disputes (in any case, whether or not relating to that Party’s workforce).

13.2 Each Party agrees to give notice forthwith to the other upon becoming aware of a Force Majeure Event, such notice to contain details of the circumstances giving rise to the Fore Majeure Event.

Clause 14 – Termination

14.1 Without prejudice to any other rights or remedies a Party may possess:

14.1.1 BWP may terminate the Engagement by notice immediately if the Client has failed to pay an invoice within 30 days of the final date of payment of that invoice.

14.1.2 Either Party may terminate the Engagement by notice immediately if the other Party becomes insolvent.

14.1.3 Either Party may terminate the Engagement by notice immediately if the other Party is in breach of its obligations and where such breach is capable of remedy the other Party fails to remedy such breach within 30 days of receipt of a notice specifying the breach.

14.2 For the purposes of Clause 14.1.2 a Party is insolvent if it enters into an arrangement, compromise or composition in satisfaction of its debts or goes into liquidation (in either case otherwise than for the purpose or amalgamation or reconstruction), or has a winding up or bankruptcy order made against it, or it has appointed to it an administration or administrative receiver or any step analogous to any of the foregoing occurs.

14.3 Either party may terminate an Engagement by giving not less than 30 days written notice to the other. In such event BWP shall be entitled to payment of fees for the Services it has performed, and payment of the expenses it has properly incurred, up to the date of termination. Where the Engagement Letter does not identify how to calculate the fees that shall be payable where termination under this Clause 14.3 occurs, a fair and reasonable pro-rata calculation shall apply having regard to the fees payable for the completion of the Engagement, the expected duration of the entire Engagement and the Services performed prior to termination.

14.4 The expiration or the termination of an Engagement, however arising, shall not operate to affect such of the provisions of the Engagement as are expressed to operate or continue in effect after then and shall be without prejudice to any rights or liabilities accrued at the date of such expiration or termination.

Clause 15 – No Waiver, Partnership or Joint Venture

15.1 No waiver by a Party of any breach by another Party in the performance of any of its obligation under this Agreement shall operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or further breach whether of a like or different character or be effective unless in writing duly executed by an authorised representative of the affected Party.

15.2 The failure by a Party to insist on any occasion upon the performance of the terms, conditions and provisions of the Engagement, or time or other indulgence granted by one Party to another shall not thereby act as a waiver of any breach, as acceptance of any variation, or as the relinquishment of any right under the Engagement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

15.3 An Engagement shall not be interpreted or construed to create an association, joint venture or partnership between the Parties, or to impose any partnership obligation or liability upon either Party.

Clause 16 – Entire Agreement

16.1 The Terms of Business constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties as to the subject matter of the Terms of Business. They supersede any prior agreement or understandings between the Parties and no variation of the BWP Terms and Conditions or any Engagement Letter shall be binding unless agreed in writing.

16.2 The Client expressly acknowledges that it has not been induced to enter into the Terms of Business by any warranty or representation or other assurance not expressly incorporated in the Terms of Business.

Clause 17 – Severability

17.1 If any provision of the Terms of Business is or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of the Terms of Business shall not be impaired.

Clause 18 – Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999

18.1 No term of the Engagement is intended for the benefit of a third party and the Parties do not intend that any term of the Engagement shall be enforceable by a third party either under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 or otherwise.

Clause 19 – Assignment

19.1 An Engagement shall not be assigned or transferred by either party without the prior consent of the other save that BWP shall be entitled by writing to the Client to assign all or any of its rights under an Engagement to any company in the same group of companies as BWP or associated with BWP.

Clause 20 – Notices

20.1 Any notice or other information to be given by either Party to the other under the Engagement shall be given by:

20.1.1 Delivering the same by hand;

20.1.2 Sending the same by pre-paid registered post; or

20.1.3 Sending the same by telex, facsimile transmission or comparable means of communication; to the other Party at the address given in Clause 20.4.

20.2 Any notice or information sent by post in the manner provided by Clause 20.1.2 which is not returned to the sender as undelivered shall be deemed to have been given on the second day after the envelope containing it was so posted; and proof that the envelope containing any such notice or information was properly addressed, pre-paid, registered and posted, and that it has been returned to the sender, shall be sufficient evidence that the notice or information has been duly given.

20.3 Any notice or information sent by telex, facsimile transmission or comparable means by communication shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date of transmission, provided that a confirming copy is sent to the other Party at the address given in Clause 20.4 within 24 hours after transmission.

20.4 The address of either Party for service for the purposes of Clause 20 (but excluding legal proceedings) shall be that of its registered or principal office, or such other address as it may last have notified to the other Party in writing from time to time.

Clause 21 – Miscellaneous

21.1 Each Party warrants that it has power to enter into the Terms of Business and that it has obtained all necessary consents and/or approvals to do so.

21.2 The Engagement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the permitted successors, and permitted assignees to the Parties.

21.3 Where the Client comprises two or more Parties their liability under the Engagement shall be joint and several.

21.4 No actions or proceedings arising under or in respect of the Engagement shall be commenced against BWP after 6 years after the date of completion of the Engagement, or such earlier date as may be prescribed by law.

Clause 22 – Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

22.1 In the event that the Client is dissatisfied with the provision of the Services by BWP under the Terms of Business it must refer such complaint in the first instance to the partner in charge of the Engagement in accordance with the provisions of BWP’s complaints procedure current at the time of the complaint. BWP shall supply to the Client a copy of the complaints procedure upon the request of the Client.

22.2 The parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts, subject to the rights of either party to enforce a judgement obtained in the English Courts in any other jurisdiction.

22.3 The terms of Business shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English Law.

Clause 23 – Interpretation

23.1 Words importing the singular also include the plural and vice versa where the context requires.

23.2 Words importing persons or parties shall include firms, corporations and any other organisation having legal capacity.

23.3 The headings in the Terms of Business are not part of the Terms of Business nor shall they be taken into consideration in its interpretation or construction;

23.4 All references in the Terms of Business to Clause numbers are references to Clause numbers in the BWP Terms and Conditions and not to those in any other documents forming part of the BWP Terms and Conditions unless the context otherwise indicates.

23.5 Reference to a stature or statutory provision includes it as from time to time amended, extended or re-enacted.

23.6 These BWP Terms and Conditions and any applicable Engagement Letter shall be read together as a single document.

23.7 If there is any conflict between the provisions of:

23.7.1 The BWP Terms and Conditions and any applicable Engagement letter, The Engagement Letter shall have priority;

23.7.2 An Engagement Letter and any documents cross referenced and/or attached to that Engagement Letter, the Engagement Letter shall have priority.

Clause 24 – Data Protection

24.1 BWP may use the Client’s details in providing the Services under this Engagement and for the ongoing administration of the Services. To the extent that the Data Protection Act applies, BWP undertakes that:
i) It shall comply with the obligations of a “data controller” under the provisions of the Seventh Data Protection Principle as set out in Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998;
ii) BWP shall not disclose or allow access to any personal data provided by the Client or acquired by BWP during the course of executing its obligations under this Engagement, other than to a person employed or engagement by BWP and their legal or financial advisers;
iii) Any disclosure of or access allowed to personal data shall be made in confidence and shall extend only so far as is necessary for the purposes of carrying out the Engagement and shall not be disclosed in breach of any Law.

24.2 It is a condition of this Engagement, that BWP may search your record at Credit Reference Agencies for the purposes of verifying your identity and to assess whether you are able to fulfil your payment obligations under the Terms of this Engagement.