November 2025 marks the fifth anniversary of the publication of FIDIC 2017: A Practical Legal Guide, a milestone achievement for the Construction team at Howard Kennedy LLP. First published in November 2020, the guide was developed to provide practical, clause-by-clause commentary on the FIDIC 2017 suite of contracts, with a particular emphasis on the Yellow Book, alongside comparative insights into the Red and Silver Books.

The book was conceived in response to the growing need for accessible, practitioner-focused guidance on the revised FIDIC contracts. Drawing on the team’s extensive experience in international construction law, the guide offers:

• Detailed legal commentary on each clause of the Yellow Book, with cross-references to the Red and Silver Books
• Practical guidance on contract administration, risk allocation, and dispute resolution
• Over 100 pages of draft Notices, designed to assist professionals in drafting compliant and effective communications under the contract
• Extensive references to case law and arbitral decisions, providing context and legal grounding for key contractual concepts

Since its release, the guide has been widely adopted by engineers, contractors, adjudicators, arbitrators, and legal professionals working across jurisdictions. It has been praised for its clarity, depth, and practical utility, and continues to serve as a trusted resource for those navigating the complexities of FIDIC 2017 contracts.

What Readers Say

Daniel Alcon, founder of the Linked In Official FIDIC Contract Users’ Group:

• “here is another of these wonderful reference works many of which I and numerous others, no doubt, have had the good fortune to have on our bookshelves to buttress our knowledge of this very complex subject.”
• “this is a book that every practitioner who intends to use the 2017 FIDIC Suite of Contracts should have in their library and if a hardback book is not to your liking I gather that soft copy versions are also available.”

Dr Donald Charrett, writing in Construction Law International (CLInt):

• “The wealth of detail in respect of each of the sub-clauses provides some invaluable information in summary form.”
• “For anyone involved in administering a 2017 FIDIC contract, Appendix 1 alone justifies the cost of this book. It will save many hours of scrutiny of the requirements of the General Conditions and for the necessary drafting to comply with those requirements.”
• “The meticulous preparation of these draft Notices is a substantial contribution to the proper administration of 2017 rainbow suite contracts, by providing a comprehensive collection that identifies the issues that need to be formally communicated.”
• “The Contractor, Employer or Engineer who issues all the relevant Notices identified in Appendix 1 will undoubtedly minimise the chances of ending up in dispute, or the costs of an unavoidable dispute, by having the contractually required and appropriate paper trail comprehensively documented.”
• “FIDIC 2017 – A Practical Legal Guideis an essential addition to the library of every practitioner who is involved with the FIDIC 2017 rainbow suite, whether as front end or back end lawyer, employer, contractor, engineer, claims consultant, Dispute Avoidance/Adjudication Board member or arbitrator.”
• “The team … are to be congratulated on their magnum opus that will facilitate a better understanding of FIDIC contracts and encourage the detailed communication that is an integral feature of the 2017 rainbow suite, and essential for dispute avoidance.”

The success of the publication reflects the strength of our team’s collaborative approach and our commitment to sharing knowledge that empowers others in the industry. We are proud of the contribution this guide has made to the field and grateful to our colleagues, clients, and peers who have supported its journey.

FIDIC 2017: A Practical Legal Guide is available via Wildy & Sons:
🔗 Wildy & Sons

FIDIC 2017: A Practical Legal Guide is also available via soft copy on Amazon:

🔗Amazon Kindle Store