Habitat Consultants

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

I read an interview with a Lawyer in one of the dailies and I think it worth sharing with you. Copied and posted as published.

Question: Have you ever had any embarrassing moment in the course of practice; if yes, how did you handle it?

Answer: Yes, I reviewed a contract for a client and in the agreement, it was stated that “our Client shall be responsible (instead of “shall not be responsible) for any breach occasioned by the other party. The word “not” was omitted. The client sent the document back to me and underlined that part. For me, it was very embarrassing. I simply apologized to the client for that embarrassment and since then I have learned to read contracts in between the lines, word for word.

Lesson learnt my views as Construction Lawyer anyway:

1. Never always be in a haste a to roll-out your deliverables to your client;

2. Always endeavour to have at least two eyes proof read your documents for you before submission;

3. Don’t assume that your secretary or assistance won’t make mistakes;

4. Sometimes, such mistakes could come at a huge monetary cost to the client in which “am sorry or apology” could not rectify, especially the Bills of Quantities prepared by Quantity Surveyors;

5. Always endeavour to be on the side of caution so as to save yourself from apologising for errors which could have been averted if you have been more meticulous and cautious.