CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT  |  BUILDING & INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS

Construction Dispute Solicitors & Lawyers — Do You Actually Need One?

Searching for a construction dispute solicitor or lawyer? Before you commit to hourly legal fees, it's worth knowing there's often a faster, lower-cost route to the same outcome.


RJH Consulting is a specialist construction dispute consultancy not a law firm combining construction law knowledge with decades of hands-on quantity surveying and main-contractor-side experience. For the vast majority of subcontractor payment and contractual disputes, that gets you resolved faster, at a fixed fee, without the meter running.




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“RJH has a robust approach defending our position and achieving our objectives when dealing with all the contractors, quietly and effectively invoked. We also have comfort that there is experience in dispute resolution which should prevent our project requiring those services, and we have benefited from the consistency of working with one person throughout.” 
– Richard Mole. Project Co-Ordinator, Trustees of Driffield Methodist Church

Solution / Process / Agreement / Testimonials

Solicitor vs Specialist Consultant — What's the Difference?

A construction dispute solicitor is a qualified lawyer who can advise on legal rights, represent you in litigation, and handle matters that require formal legal proceedings. Their strength is deep legal expertise but many have limited hands-on experience of how construction contracts actually operate on site, how variations get priced, or how a QS builds a final account.


A specialist construction consultant, like RJH, brings the reverse combination: professional qualifications in construction law and quantity surveying, plus decades of practical experience including time spent on the main contractor side of the fence. For disputes that turn on commercial and contractual detail (which most subcontractor payment disputes do), that practical grounding is often more decisive than legal argument alone.



Neither is universally "better" the right choice depends on your dispute. The next section breaks down when each one fits.



Get a Faster, Fixed-Fee Alternative

When You Need a Solicitor (and When You Don't)



You're likely better served by a solicitor when:

  • Your dispute is heading to formal litigation or arbitration
  • There are complex legal questions of contract interpretation or liability beyond commercial valuation
  • You need formal legal advice on insolvency, professional negligence, or a matter outside construction contract law

A specialist consultant is usually the faster, lower-cost route when:

  • You're owed money for non-payment, contra-charges, retention, or loss & expense
  • Your dispute is likely to be resolved through negotiation, mediation, or adjudication rather than court
  • You need someone who understands the commercial and technical detail of your contract, not just the legal wording
  • You want cost certainty rather than an open-ended hourly billing arrangement


If your case genuinely needs formal legal representation, we'll tell you plainly and can point you toward appropriate legal support, we never suggest you don't need a solicitor when you do.

How Our Fixed-Fee Model Saves You Money

Solicitor fees are typically billed hourly, which means the cost of your dispute is uncertain from day one and can escalate quickly regardless of outcome. RJH works differently:



  • Fixed fee

    Agreed upfront, so you know exactly what you're paying before you commit


  • No-win, no-fee

    Available subject to a review of your case


  • No hourly billing surprises

    Our fees are typically a small percentage of the amount recovered


That means the value of pursuing your dispute is clear from the outset, rather than being eroded by legal costs as the case runs on.

Results for Subcontractors


Over 18 years, RJH has represented 250+ subcontractors across the UK, with a 95%+ track record overturning unjustified contra-charges and consistent success across 200+ adjudications. Our founder, Richard Hildrick, holds professional qualifications in construction law, quantity surveying and construction management (BSc(Hons), MSc, MRICS, MCIOB, FCIArb), backed by over 20 years working for major UK construction companies before founding RJH.


"We were able to obtain settlements at levels that we could not have achieved without RJH's contractual expertise and their presence at the negotiating table." 


Tony Bell, Managing Director, Proclad Ltd



Talk to Us First


Before you commit to hourly legal fees, get an honest, no-obligation view of your options. We'll tell you straight whether a fixed-fee consultant is the right fit for your dispute or whether you genuinely need a solicitor.




Book A Free Strategy Session
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“RJH has a robust approach defending our position and achieving our objectives when dealing with all the contractors, quietly and effectively invoked. We also have comfort that there is experience in dispute resolution which should prevent our project requiring those services, and we have benefited from the consistency of working with one person throughout”

Richard Mole

Project Co-ordinator, Driffield Methodist Church
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“I found Richard Hildrick to be supremely professional, innovative in his thinking yet remaining clear and concise. In a matter of weeks, Richard had outthought the other side and obtained a reduction of over 35% on what was being sought by the main contractor on his final account.”

Arthur Wilby

Managing Director
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“Richard proved to be extremely knowledgeable and proficient in resolving our financial problem with a prominent, nationwide, but particularly difficult Client. His efficiency in dealing with the situation prevented the exacerbation of further problems, allowing a swift and successful outcome for our Company. We would have no hesitation in recommending his expertise to anyone in a similar situation.”

David Cook

M.D. - H. Smith Electrical

"Our goal is to ensure that you obtain the building work that you want, on time and within budget, without suffering any adverse impact on your business."

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Richard Hildrick - Founder
BSc(Hons) MSc MRICS MCIOB FCIArb
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