Real estate
Contracts and procurement
We provide advice on procurement strategy, including the use of appropriate forms of contract, advising on construction contracts, bonds and warranties, consultants' appointments, development agreements and risk analysis. We are familiar with the various standard form contracts such as JCT, NEC as well as standard form appointments (ACE, RIBA). We also advise on bespoke arrangements such as two stage tendering and partnering.
The projects we work on range from office builds, mixed-use developments, and fit-outs to retail and leisure developments and other schemes across the UK. We act for employers, developers, occupiers, investors, consultants, contractors and sub-contractors, and so we understand the pressures faced by all sides of the industry in delivering projects quickly and cost-effectively without sacrificing quality.
On large construction schemes, we work closely with other members of our client’s team and understand the importance of co-operation across all professional advisers from an early stage.
To provide a seamless real estate service, we work closely with the firm’s commercial property, tax and corporate teams, in particular working on agreements for lease ensuring clients have the right level of recourse for the design and construction of new buildings.
Claims avoidance and dispute resolution
We often advise clients from start to finish of construction schemes. This helps us to take a proactive role in helping to avoid and manage disputes in the most effective manner, in the event that a problem occurs. We have substantial experience of all forms of dispute resolution including mediation, adjudication and litigation and have acted on claims for defective workmanship, bad design, loss and expense as well as measurement and final account claims.