RMJM sued over 'unpaid fees' on tower project

Architecture firm RMJM is being pursued in the Russian courts over claims of unpaid fees to contractors working on its design for Europe's tallest building.

German acoustic consultant Mller BBM, which was subcontracted to RMJM to work on the proposed 403m-high tower in St Petersburg, told industry magazine Building Design that it was suing the practice for €100,000 (88,000) worth of unpaid fees.

Mller said it had reluctantly begun proceedings against the practice, ranked eighth largest in the world.

Edinburgh-based RMJM, which until recently employed Sir Fred Goodwin as a consultant, has been hit by major crises on three continents in recent months, including an exodus of staff in Hong Kong and a $664,000 (410,000) lawsuit from former employees in the United States.

Mller managing director Jrg Kmmel said his firm had been forced to turn to the courts after chasing payment for more than two years. He said Mller had stopped working on designs for the complex attached to the tower six months ago because "we saw no chance to get paid".

A spokesman for RMJM said the case was a "commercial matter that is related to the quality of delivery".