International Construction Law Review
THE FIDIC TIME BAR CLAUSE: NEWS FROM RUSSIA
Alexey Vyalkov*
Senior Associate, Aitkulov & Partners, MJur (Oxon)
ABSTRACT
The article addresses some of the most common issues in international construction disputes arising from the FIDIC forms of contract, namely: (1) enforceability of the clause discharging the party from liability where the other party misses the 28-day time bar for giving a notice of its claim; and (2) applicability of this clause to claims for financing charges. The article discusses these issues as a matter of Russian and comparative private law in the context of the case of Plasticana v YVK decided by the Russian courts.
FIDIC sub-clause 14.8 – FIDIC sub-clause 20.1 – Time bar – Limitation – Russian law
INTRODUCTION
It is common to note cases decided very recently to capitalise on attention they have already grabbed. The purpose of this article is rather to attract attention to a Russian case, important for international construction disputes, which has long been overlooked.1
Plasticana v YVK, decided as a matter of Russian law, concerns some of the most common issues in international construction disputes arising from the FIDIC forms of contract, namely: (1) enforceability of the clause discharging the party from liability where the other party misses the 28-day time bar for giving a notice of its claim; and (2) applicability of this clause to claims for financing charges.
* The views expressed in this article are my personal views and do not necessarily reflect those of Aitkulov & Partners, its partners and/or associates. I am grateful to Timur Aitkulov for his insightful comments and to Sophia Korchuganova for her excellent research assistance. Any mistakes are mine alone. I can be contacted at alexey.vyalkov@aitkulovandpartners.com.
1 Even the leading Russian commentaries to the FIDIC forms of contract and articles specifically devoted to notices of claims under these do not mention the case. See Клэе, Л, Никифоров, И, Контракты на строительство по правилам FIDIC: применение и толкование (Статут, 2016); Варавенко, В, “Претензионные процедуры, предусмотренные условиями типовых договоров Международной федерации инженеров-консультантов (FIDIC)”, (2019) 10 Арбитражный и гражданский процесс 8; Трумпель, К, Рассмотрение споров по контрактам FIDIC. На примере Красной книги FIDIC (Издательские решения, 2021).
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