ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING LLP
Company number: OC306763
Reporting period:
1 May 2025 to 31 October 2025
Report filed on:
27 November 2025
Approved by:
Herve Ekue
Contracts and payments
Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? Yes
Payment statistics
Average time taken to pay invoices: 23 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £462,920,363 (88%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £46,684,428 (9%)
- in 61 days or more: £16,516,421 (3%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 86%
- in 31 to 60 days: 10%
- in 61 days or more: 4%
Late and disputed:
- total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £66,881,544
- payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 13%
- not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 0%
Payment terms
Shortest standard payment periods
30 days
Longest standard payment period
Answer not provided
Standard payment terms
30 days, or less, is our standard payment term for the majority of vendors, however we pay a number of vendors on 60 day payment terms (vendors in this category are typically our largest vendors by spend with whom we have centrally procured and negotiated payment terms)
Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?
No
Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?
N/A
Maximum contractual payment period agreed
60 days
No further comment provided
Any other information about payment terms
No further comment provided
Retention clauses
How does this business use retention clauses?
All construction contracts include retention clauses.
Does this business only use retention clauses in construction contracts above a specific contract sum?
No
Does this business use a standard percentage rate in retention clauses?
No
Does this business apply retention clause practices that are no more onerous than those applied to it on the same project?
No
Releasing money under a retention clause
Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause
Upon completion of the timeline, which is generally 12 months, we would review the work undertaken by the contractor to ensure we are satisfied with the workmanship and quality. Our contract administrator would then quantify using the RICS proforma to release retention, which has been held back by our cost consultants. All of those documents would then come through our Business Services and Accounts Payable Team for payment, subject to sign off on each stage.
Is the money released in stages?
No
Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the money retained from this business by its clients
100%
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the total construction payments made by this business
3%
Dispute resolution process
We pay valid, undisputed invoices within the agreed payment period. If we dispute any item in an invoice, we aim to (a) promptly inform the supplier of the disputed item and (b) work with the supplier to (1) explain why the relevant item has been disputed and (2) reach a mutually acceptable outcome. Suppliers are encouraged to contact Account Payable by email at accountspayable@aoshearman.com with any questions relating to the payment of invoices
Other payment information
Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices? If so, which?
For example, signatories to The Fair Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.
No, this business has not signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices.
Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?
This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.
No
Does this business offer supply chain finance?
This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.
No
Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No
During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No