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Day in the life - John Aslett

John Aslett is one of our legal consultants, based in Toronto, Canada. John has worked on a range of contentious and non-contentious projects in Asia, the Middle East and North America and he is currently assessing contractual risk on one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America.

What is your typical day?

A typical day on my current project changes depending on the stage we are at with the contract package. We are currently at an early stage of the quality assurance process reviewing the front-end contract to assess any initial issues. As with all large projects there is a significant risk of contractual claims or conflicts and the quality assurance team is tasked with attempting to reduce the amount of claims that may arise during the project term. Once these have been identified we can discuss any specific issues with the drafting team at a kick-off meeting before we commence a full assessment of the package providing them with commentary and areas that require redrafting.

What are the interesting aspects of your work?

One of the most interesting aspects of the work with Systech is the experience of being part of a multidisciplinary team. This provides the opportunity to work directly with engineers and other disciplines to understand the day to day complexities of projects, giving a different perspective on how best to serve the client's needs.

I was based in Yokohama, Japan for around 18 months and I am now in Toronto, Canada. During my time with Systech I have also been on site visits in Jazan, Saudi Arabia and assisted on an arbitration in Dubai between two Japanese contractors.

What are the challenges?

As with all construction projects there are a myriad of challenges but one of the challenges on the current project is the competing objectives between the teams. The engineers drafting the technical specifications and tender documents have tight deadlines to get the tenders to market and the quality assurance process is one of the last steps in getting these documents complete. Early involvement with the drafting teams and open lines of communication assist in the success of the team.

In terms of other challenges, Systech is an international consultancy working on projects across many jurisdictions and therefore we often have to manage the fact that we are operating in many different time zones. The use of shared document platforms and video conferencing is essential to the success of working on projects across the globe.

What is the culture like?

Since I started with Systech over 2 years ago, it was evident that I would be part of an international team. Each jurisdiction is involved with different projects but there is the same focus on results for the client. From my experience there are many likeminded individuals from a variety disciplines and the teams work seamlessly together.

What training and support has Systech given you?

Systech are keen for their consultants to attend regular training and stay up to date with relevant developments in the construction industry. For example, whilst working on the projects in Japan I was able to get the latest legal updates when attending the annual ICLA conference in Tokyo.

As part of my current role with Systech they are assisting with the process of qualifying as a solicitor with the SRA in England & Wales.

What words of advice would you offer someone thinking of working for Systech?

If you are someone that is flexible and able to adapt to different surroundings and situations, then working for Systech is a great opportunity. Systech offer the ability to work on some of the largest global projects and live in some of the most vibrant cities in the world.

How has working for Systech helped you achieve your career goals?

Systech is certainly propelling me towards a number of my career goals. One of my ambitions was to travel and work in different countries and Systech has certainly facilitated that. I have gained an enormous amount of experience working with Systech and believe I can achieve my goals with them as they give you the right support and opportunities to progress.

What has been your greatest achievement working for Systech?

Working with large international businesses, on multiple projects, has been my greatest achievement since starting with Systech. Working within the multidisciplinary teams has meant successfully meeting the objectives set by the clients.

Tell us about a project where you have learnt a key lesson?

One of the key lessons that I've learnt from the projects to date is the need for “back to back” contracts to be reviewed and drafted in a way to mitigate any gaps in obligations and liabilities. It is important for the main contractor to agree the appropriate risk allocation with any subcontractor and drafting bespoke subcontracts with standalone terms, as opposed to a ‘copy & paste’ approach, could potentially assist in avoiding future conflicts.

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