Cornerstone Seminars have been providing public and in-house training courses for more than a decade, giving focused and practical training on the full suite of FIDIC Contracts.
We offer in-person and online training courses that focus on employing the FIDIC conditions of contract and how to effectively defend and make claims. All of our trainers are experienced in using FIDIC Contracts on international projects and can bring their expertise and real-life insights to our courses.
The International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) has, over the years, issued a number of standard documents, referred to as a FIDIC Book, for use on construction projects. The FIDIC Books which are the most commonly used in construction projects around the world are The Conditions of Contract for Construction (The Red Book); The Conditions of Contract for Plant and Design-Build (The Yellow Book); The Conditions of Contract for EPC Turnkey Projects (The Silver Book).
Cornerstone Seminars was founded by Edward Corbett, who ran the leading construction law company Corbett & Co. for 30 years before it was acquired by law firm Howard Kennedy in 2023. Edward continues to lead the international construction team at Howard Kennedy as a Consultant. He is also the Principal of the College of Independent Trainers and owner of Cornerstone Seminars.
Cornerstone Seminars brings together some of the leading authorities in FIDIC contracts who use their practical experience gained from advising on international construction and engineering contracts in their training
Our trainers come from a range of backgrounds including Legal 500 ranked Lawyers, Barristers, Consultants, Arbitrators, Adjudicators and Mediators.
Our trainers include recipients of the FIDIC Trainer of the Year Award, ex-FIDIC Board members, published authors on FIDIC, and those named Global Elite Thought Leader by Who’s Who Legal.
We all have expensive practical experience in drafting and negotiating FIDIC contracts, as well as making and defending claims, for civil engineering and construction projects acting governments, developers, service providers, and contractors throughout Europe, Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East and the Far East.
Spring Series of Seminars on FIDIC Contracts with Howard Kennedy
Cornerstone Seminars are getting together with Howard Kennedy's International Construction team to put on a series of 8 weekly online seminars.
Date(s): 12, 19 and 26 February, 5, 12, 19 and 26 March and 2 April 2026
Time: 10.00am-11.30pm CET (09.00am-10.30pm BST)
What people say about us
“Thank you very much for organising today’s workshop and for your excellent presentation. I found it truly outstanding, as it offered a comprehensive overview of design risk allocation and succinctly addressed one of the most debated aspects of FIDIC-based contracts. I found the workshop both interesting and valuable, and I must say that you both [Jo and Fritha] did a marvellous job.
I would be grateful if you could pass on my best regards to Edward. I have admired his expertise in FIDIC, construction law, and dispute resolution ever since I first met him around 10–12 years ago in Stockholm at a Cornerstone seminar.
I also greatly appreciated the wrap-up and the further reading sources you shared. Beyond today’s excellent session, it is a real pleasure to see Edward’s expert team, dedicated to the 1999 FIDIC, continuing to develop as a strong and long-term unit within Howard Kennedy.
It’s truly amazing — considering that Edward has authored entire textbooks on FIDIC spanning several hundred pages — how effortlessly he presents the topic of EOT, making it as digestible and elegant as if he were reciting a poem.”
Andreas Hupel, Senior Construction and Contracts Professional
Latests Insights
The Dangers of Employer Set Off in your FIDIC Contract: Suspension and Termination
March 16, 2022
Under existing contracts, an employer will not want to pay more for the works. But forcing a contractor to perform works that are unprofitable or causing a massive loss is unlikely to be in the best interests of the project.
Escalating construction costs under FIDIC: is Sub-Clause 13.8 an answer?
January 28, 2023
Under existing contracts, an employer will not want to pay more for the works. But forcing a contractor to perform works that are unprofitable or causing a massive loss is unlikely to be in the best interests of the project.
FIDIC 2022 Reprints: 10 Key Areas Of Change In The FIDIC Red Book 2017
January 18, 2023
FIDIC ‘launched’ the FIDIC 2022 reprints at the FIDIC International Construction Users’ Conference 2022, in London. The reception to the changes was mixed – some embraced the clarity; others questioned the significance and cost.

