Construction & engineering

Our team of construction & engineering lawyers is one of the most significant and specialised practices in the UK. We advise clients across the Real Estate, Construction and Engineering sectors on projects both in the UK and internationally.

Our considerable experience extends to the development, regeneration, infrastructure, energy, building and marine & dredging markets. We represent developers, major contractors, specialist sub-contractors, engineers and consultants.

Several of our Partners are dual qualified with industry experience as architects, engineers and quantity surveyors, as well as qualified adjudicators and mediators. We have earned a reputation for fielding "Talented individuals with strength and depth of knowledge, who represent excellent value for money." (Chambers 2010)

We work energetically to find our clients technically innovative solutions and to manage projects in an efficient and cost-effective way. We provide advice on procurement strategy, contract selection, claims avoidance and dispute resolution.

We recognise that disputes are damaging to projects and to existing relationships, as well as disruptive to a client’s ordinary business activities. We seek to build into our contract mechanisms to assist the resolution of disputes, including choice of law and forum selection, pre-dispute processes and project-friendly methods of dispute resolution. We have extensive experience of domestic and international dispute resolution, including arbitration and litigation, mediation and adjudication.

Experience

Development

Advising the developer P&O Estates, on Regent Quarter, a 240,000 sq ft mixed-use development at the heart of King’s Cross. The scheme involved the regeneration of a whole urban block adjacent to King’s Cross Station, including new build and refurbishment. We advised on both the construction and property aspects of Block B.

Regeneration

Advising Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd. on a number of prestigious projects, including the development and construction obligations in connection with the £80 million first phase construction of 600 affordable home units for the London Borough of Newham and William Sutton Housing Association.

Infrastructure

Advising one of the world’s largest technical services providers in relation to a potential county council dispute over allegations of negligent design in connection with an infrastructure project. We also advised on a potential claim where the client is working as a project manager on a £250 million gas storage unit.

Projects

Advising on a complex transaction involving both Lambeth PCT and the Lambeth Council for the funding and development of a large scale primary care centre through the LIFT framework. We advised the project company, Building Better Health (Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham) Ltd under instruction from its private sector shareholder Fulcrum Infrastructure Group. The deal was especially complex given the need to balance the requirements of the various stakeholders with the tight timescales imposed due to the adjoining Social Housing PFI.

Energy

Acting for a long standing client on an arbitration claim in relation to the design, fabrication and construction of pipework and a mechanical erection at a Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal. We advised our client, the subcontractor, on the merits and strategy for arbitrating the claim between themselves and the main contractor which resulted in the matter recently being settled and our clients receiving a significant settlement payment.

Marine dredging

We advised on a joint venture between a market leader in the field of off-shore contracting and engineering and a marine dredging contractor. We initially supported them on the European landing of this gas pipeline. This project is the world’s largest sub-sea pipeline installation, covering a 1,200 kilometre route and transporting 55 billion cubic metres of gas each year.

Building

Advising on all the construction elements of Northacre’s Lancaster development, an exclusive Northacre revival scheme with 77 prime apartments overlooking Hyde Park. Formerly Lancaster Gate Thistle Hotel, this Grade II Listed terrace gained planning consent for conversion to residential accommodation. This is an extremely complex construction scheme; the restoration of this Renaissance style Ambassadorial Terrace (originally 15 houses) will involve a complete 90ft high façade retention. The building will be restored to its original form with an underground car park beneath private landscaped gardens.

Advising a major hotelier on the fit-out of a new distribution centre. This project will contain a complex robot mechanism and has a project value of approximately £60 million.