Max Abrahamson facts for kids
Max Abrahamson (born October 29, 1932 – died October 7, 2018) was a famous Irish lawyer. He was known around the world as a top expert in construction law. This means he specialized in the legal rules for big building projects.
Early Life and Education
Max Abrahamson's parents were Tillie and Leonard Abrahamson. His family came from Eastern Europe, like Ukraine, around the early 1900s. They were Jewish.
Max went to Sandford Park School in Dublin. After that, he studied at Trinity College Dublin starting in 1949. He was a very bright student and became a Trinity Scholar. He finished his studies and became a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer, in 1955.
A Career in Construction Law
In the 1950s, it was hard to find much work for lawyers in Ireland. To earn more, Max started teaching engineering students about contract law at Trinity College. This teaching helped him become a super expert in this special area of law. He later taught at King's College London and even in China.
In 1965, Max wrote a very important book called Engineering Law and the ICE [Institution of Civil Engineers] Contract. This book became so helpful that people all over the world called it "the engineers' bible."
He also developed something called the "Abrahamson Principles," which were first published in 1973. These principles were ideas about how to fairly share risks in big building contracts. They became widely used by builders and lawyers around the world.
During his career, Max Abrahamson gave advice on projects in more than 60 countries. He helped with major projects in Ireland, such as the Jack Lynch Tunnel, the West Link Toll Bridge, and the International Financial Services Centre. Outside of Ireland, he advised on projects like the Heathrow rail tunnel, Eurodisney, and the Bahrain Causeway. He also worked on many projects in Asia and Africa.
Max's Ideas About Law
Max Abrahamson had strong ideas about how lawyers should work. He believed that lawyers should work more closely together and not always be in a fight. He thought that helping the client was the most important thing.
He was also very interested in computers. He encouraged other lawyers to use computers in their work. He believed that if they didn't, they would fall behind those who did.
Today, the Law Society gives out the Max Abrahamson Award every year. This award goes to the student who gets the highest score in a special exam module about solving problems without going to court.
Artistic Work
Max Abrahamson was not just a lawyer; he was also an artist! He sculpted with clay, and some of his bronze sculptures were shown at the RHA (Royal Hibernian Academy). He also enjoyed carving wood in his office to relax during the workday. His most amazing wood carving was his own version of Jacques-Louis David's famous painting, Napoleon Crossing the Alps.
