IT development disputes: What goes wrong and how experts prove it

This session explores how breakdowns in IT project delivery often originate long before disputes formally arise. It begins with scope definition failures, examining how vague, evolving, or poorly documented requirements create misaligned expectations and lay the groundwork for conflict. The discussion then moves to milestone disputes, where experts assess project progress, delivery obligations, and whether delays or deficiencies were justified. It also addresses acceptance testing challenges, highlighting what constitutes valid acceptance, common contractual pitfalls, and how such clauses are interpreted in legal proceedings. Finally, the session focuses on expert evidence, outlining the forensic methodologies used to document failures, quantify impact, and present robust, defensible findings in arbitration or litigation. Together, these elements provide a practical framework for understanding, preventing, and resolving complex IT disputes. The information provided in this presentation is intended to give general information about the topic. It should not be relied on as a substitute for specific legal advice on any particular topic. Legal comment is from an English law perspective, unless otherwise stated. No responsibility for the accuracy and/or correctness of the information and commentary set out in this presentation, or for any consequences of relying on it, is assumed or accepted by any member of the panel or by their organisations.