ClawHub

Construction Claim Strategy

Strategic planning framework for construction claim responses — plan direction, scope, arguments, and disclosure strategy BEFORE selecting clauses or drafting. Covers situation assessment, scope control, direction decisions, argument ranking, disclosure control, response architecture, and risk assessment for EOT, delay, disruption, variation, and payment claims under PSSCOC, FIDIC, NEC, SIA, and bespoke forms. Includes practical checklists, quantum calculation methods, ADR strategies, delay analysis methods, concurrent delay, disruption claims, arbitration tactics, expert engagement, notice compliance, and legal precedent guidance.

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Install

openclaw skills install construction-claim-strategy

Construction Claim Strategy

Strategic planning framework for construction claim responses.

Plan your direction, scope, arguments, and disclosure strategy before selecting clauses or drafting correspondence.

Why use this?

  • Stop jumping straight to clause selection — plan the strategy first.
  • Rank arguments by strength (Textual Interpretation is strongest).
  • Control what to disclose precisely, keep general, or defer.
  • Choose proven response structures.
  • Avoid common mistakes that weaken your position.

Who this is for

  • Contract managers
  • Claims consultants
  • Quantity surveyors
  • Commercial managers
  • Construction lawyers
  • Anyone preparing responses to claims or formal queries under construction contracts

What this skill does

Use this tool to systematically work through 7 key dimensions:

  1. Situation Assessment — Understand exactly what you are responding to.
  2. Scope Control — Decide what to address and what to avoid volunteering.
  3. Direction Decision — Choose primary and fallback arguments, and what to avoid.
  4. Argument Strategy — Select the strongest type of argument available.
  5. Disclosure Control — Decide what to state precisely, keep general, or defer.
  6. Response Architecture — Choose the most effective structure for your reply.
  7. Risk Assessment — Identify counter-arguments, weak points, and timing risks.

Plus practical tools and reference guides covering:

  • Record keeping checklists
  • Claim preparation checklists (adjudication & arbitration)
  • Notice requirements compliance
  • Expert engagement guidance
  • ADR strategy (negotiation, mediation, adjudication, arbitration)
  • Concurrent delay strategic approach
  • Disruption claims strategy
  • Delay analysis methods (As-Planned vs As-Built, TIA, Collapsed As-Built, Windows)
  • Arbitration tactics and prolongation strategies
  • Quantum calculation worked examples (Eichleay, Hudson, Emden, Measured Mile, Actual Cost, Total Cost)
  • Legal precedents overview (Prevention Principle, Common Law vs Civil Law)
  • Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
  • Risk assessment framework

Supported contract forms

Works with any construction contract form:

  • PSSCOC (Construction Works / D&B)
  • FIDIC (Red, Yellow, Silver, Emerald)
  • NEC (NEC3, NEC4)
  • SIA Conditions
  • JCT
  • Bespoke contract conditions

Start here

Quick Reference (all strategy patterns)

python3 scripts/strategy_advisor.py --reference

Outputs all argument types, disclosure levels, response patterns, scope control rules, and risk checklists in one view.

Interactive Strategy Session (Recommended)

python3 scripts/strategy_advisor.py

The wizard walks you through all 7 dimensions and produces a structured strategy report.

Non-Interactive (from JSON)

python3 scripts/strategy_advisor.py --file strategy_input.json --output strategy_report.md

Save Strategy for Reuse

python3 scripts/strategy_advisor.py --save-strategy my_strategy.json

Examples

The examples/ folder contains a worked scenario demonstrating the full 7-Dimension workflow:

FileDescription
strategy_input.jsonSample JSON input — PSSCOC 2014 (7th Edition) EOT scenario
strategy_report_sample.mdGenerated strategy report from the above input

Note: The example uses PSSCOC 2014 clause references (Clauses 12.5, 14.2(m), 14.2(n), 22.1(h), 22.1(i), 14.3, 23.1). The 7-Dimension methodology itself is contract-form neutral — it applies equally to FIDIC, NEC, SIA, JCT, and bespoke contracts. Future versions will include additional worked examples for other contract forms.

Key Concepts

Argument Strength Ranking

  1. Textual Interpretation (Strongest) — Argue from the actual wording of the relevant clause in the Contract.
  2. Factual Distinction (Strong) — Show that the facts fall outside the clause's scope or trigger conditions.
  3. Concede-then-Distinguish (Moderate-Strong) — Acknowledge the normal case, then distinguish the current situation.
  4. Implied Terms (Weakest) — Use only as a last resort when no express clause wording supports the position.

Disclosure Control Levels

LevelUse for
State PreciselyClause references, formal correspondence, key dates, and legal reasoning
Keep GeneralOperational context and high-level details
DeferDetailed quantification and supporting analysis

Recommended Response Patterns

  • Standard Query Response — acknowledge, pivot, argue, reserve, close
  • Risk Allocation Rebuttal — concede ordinary application, distinguish, factual support, legal conclusion, mitigation evidence, close cooperatively
  • Chronology-Based Response — state known facts, flag pending items, commit to supplement, reserve
  • Cost / Quantum Claim Response — contractual basis, heads of claim, ongoing assessment, commit to detailed breakdown, reserve
  • Reservation of Rights Closing — always recommended

Scope Control Rules

  1. Limit to letter — respond only to what was asked; do not volunteer unrequested information.
  2. Preserve future claims — use "reserves its position" and "without prejudice" language.
  3. Keep operational details general — do not name specific zones or quantities prematurely.

Common Anti-Patterns to Avoid

  • ❌ Citing the wrong clause (e.g., a clause for other contractors when the Employer caused the issue)
  • ❌ Leading with "the clause doesn't apply" — this antagonises the other party
  • ❌ Volunteering information about topics not yet raised
  • ❌ Naming specific zones/quantities before they are finalised
  • ❌ Reaching for implied terms when express clause text supports your case
  • ❌ Hedging dates that have formal letter references behind them
  • ❌ Quantifying costs before records are complete

How to use

# Show all reference tables
python3 scripts/strategy_advisor.py --reference

# Run interactive wizard
python3 scripts/strategy_advisor.py

# Non-interactive from JSON
python3 scripts/strategy_advisor.py --file input.json --output report.md

# Save strategy for reuse
python3 scripts/strategy_advisor.py --save-strategy strategy.json

Reference Library

All reference documents are in the references/ folder. These are standalone reading material for human use — the strategy_advisor.py script does not load them at runtime.

DocumentDescription
seven_dimensions_guide.mdFull guide to the 7-Dimension framework
argument_ranking_guide.mdDetailed argument types with examples
worked_examples.md4 complete worked strategy examples (Variation, EOT, Disruption, Combined)
delay_analysis_study_guide.mdComprehensive delay analysis study guide — SCL Protocol 22 principles, 7 analysis methods, concurrent delay, pacing, float, disruption, force majeure, case law
quantum_worked_examples.md8 quantum calculation examples (Eichleay, Hudson, Emden, Measured Mile, Actual Cost, Total Cost)
adr_overview.mdADR methods comparison and strategy recommendations
arbitration_tactics.mdArbitration tactics and prolongation claim strategies
concurrent_delay.mdConcurrent delay — strategic approach within the 7-Dimension framework
disruption_claims.mdDisruption claims strategy — Common Law vs Civil Law
delay_analysis_methods.mdDelay analysis methods — strategic overview
legal_precedents.mdLegal precedents and the Prevention Principle
notice_requirements_checklist.mdNotice compliance checklist
expert_engagement.mdExpert engagement tips and best practices
record_keeping_checklist.mdPrintable record keeping checklist
claim_preparation_checklist.mdClaim preparation checklist for adjudication & arbitration
common_pitfalls.md10 most common claim pitfalls and how to avoid them
risk_assessment_framework.mdExpanded risk assessment categories and practical questions
response_template.mdLetter template mapping strategy to formal response
quick_reference_card.mdOne-page desk reference card
blank_worksheet.mdPrintable blank 7-Dimension worksheet
training_guide.mdWorkshop-ready training material
strategy_patterns.mdAll strategy patterns reference

Companion skill

For clause analysis, notice calendars, obligations registers, SOP calculator, and claims templates, see the companion skill construction-law on ClawHub.

Requirements

  • Python 3.6+
  • Standard library only — no third-party dependencies

Tests

python3 -m pytest tests/test_smoke.py

Security & Safety

  • ✅ No network access
  • ✅ No external calls
  • ✅ No subprocess execution
  • ✅ No dynamic code loading
  • ✅ Safe for use with confidential project information
  • ✅ Safe to install and use 🛡️

Changelog

v1.6.0 (May 2026)

  • Added: examples/strategy_input.json and examples/strategy_report_sample.md — preview output before installing
  • Added: tests/test_smoke.py — smoke test covering --reference, --file, and --version modes
  • Added: LICENSE file (MIT-0) shipped at package root
  • Added: Requirements section in SKILL.md (Python 3.6+, stdlib only)
  • Added: Tests section in SKILL.md
  • Changed: Vocabulary normalisation — replaced contract-form-specific terms ("Authority", "Engineer") with neutral language ("certifier", "the other party") for consistent applicability across PSSCOC, FIDIC, NEC, SIA, JCT, and bespoke contracts
  • Changed: SKILL.md clarifies that references/ is human reading material, not loaded by the script at runtime
  • Fixed: Removed stale reference to construction_law.py in module docstring
  • Fixed: Removed dead conditional branch in title block of generate_report

v1.5.0 (May 2026)

  • Added: Delay Analysis Study Guide — comprehensive reference covering SCL Protocol 22 Core Principles, 7 delay analysis methods (incl. Retrospective Longest Path), negative float & EOT entitlement, concurrent delay (Malmaison, North Midland, City Inn), pacing delays, disruption causation (Walter Lilly test), force majeure vs hardship, COVID-19 lessons, 15 key cases, and full definitions glossary
  • Sanitised from project-specific study guide; all generic content with public case law citations
  • Total reference documents: 22

v1.4.0 (May 2026)

  • Major expansion: Integrated full Construction Claim Strategy Practical Tools Guide v1.4
  • Added: Notice Requirements Checklist
  • Added: Expert Engagement Tips
  • Added: Legal Precedents guide (Prevention Principle, Common Law vs Civil Law)
  • Added: Concurrent Delay — Strategic Approach
  • Added: Disruption Claims Strategy (with Common Law vs Civil Law comparison)
  • Added: Delay Analysis Methods — Strategic Overview (As-Planned vs As-Built, TIA, Collapsed As-Built, Windows)
  • Added: Arbitration Tactics & Prolongation Claim Strategies
  • Added: ADR Overview with Adjudication vs Arbitration detailed comparison
  • Added: Quantum Calculation Worked Examples (8 examples: Eichleay, Hudson, Emden, 2× Measured Mile, Actual Cost, Productivity Loss, Total Cost)
  • Added: Common Claim Pitfalls (10 pitfalls with fixes)
  • Added: Risk Assessment Framework (expanded categories and practical questions)
  • Added: Record Keeping Checklist (printable)
  • Added: Claim Preparation Checklist (printable, adjudication & arbitration)
  • Total reference documents: 21

v1.3.0 (May 2026)

  • Added argument ranking guide, seven dimensions guide, worked examples
  • Added response template, quick reference card, blank worksheet
  • Added training guide and strategy patterns

v1.1.0 (May 2026)

  • Fully sanitized — all examples use generic/neutral language
  • Improved interactive wizard with examples and input validation
  • Better README for public listing
  • Added review step before report generation

v1.0.1 (May 2026)

  • Removed all project-specific references
  • Added disclaimer

v1.0.0 (May 2026)

  • Initial release — 7 strategy dimensions
  • Interactive wizard mode
  • Non-interactive JSON mode
  • Reference tables dump
  • Strategy save/reload

This is a generic strategic planning tool. It does not constitute legal advice. Users should verify all information independently and seek qualified legal counsel before relying on any analysis for dispute resolution, adjudication, arbitration, or court proceedings.