"An excellent and very modern practice with a practical approach and an understanding of business issues."
Chambers & Partners 2012

Construction is one of the oldest forms of technology, but we take a modern and practical approach to it.  We treat construction and infrastructure as a specialisation, but within the context of a bigger commercial picture - we have advised on projects and disputes in Sectors ranging from Real Estate, Education and Retail to Sport, Leisure and Gambling.  We regularly provide integrated advice to clients in conjunction with members of our Corporate, Finance, Real Estate, Litigation and Tax teams. 

Our clients rely on construction and infrastructure advice from members of the Team in our various international offices including in England, Germany, Spain and Singapore and elsewhere through our best friends network.

We work with our clients from project conception to completion and beyond advising on procurement methodology as well as drafting and negotiating a full range of appropriate construction documentation.  We also advise on the construction aspects of development, property sales and acquisitions and issues relating to investment property. 

Where they find themselves facing disputes, our clients benefit from our recognised contentious capability with its emphasis on problem solving.  We are experienced in representing clients in various types of ADR, but if there is no alternative or the client elects to pursue formal proceedings (such as adjudication, arbitration or litigation), we help our clients to manage risk and maximise the return from their investment in these processes.

Our Construction Team has a clear understanding of the issues that affect the construction industry as well as access to good contacts across various Sectors.  Team members include lawyers who have first-hand in-house and industry experience and the editor of a leading construction law text book.

Our Blog, Constructive, demonstrates our thought leadership on the latest legal, technological and policy developments that shape the industry.  We also write regularly for leading publications and we are currently involved in helping the CIOB to produce a new standard form of contract for domestic and international use on complex projects.

We are committed to producing high quality legal solutions which are business-conscious and cost-effective.

Visit our construction and development blog: Constructive

Aspers Stratford City - providing construction advice on all aspects of the complex and high spec fit out of the Aspers Casino at Westfield, Stratford. Advice included procurement, drafting and negotiation of all building contracts and appointments, and providing input into the Agreement for Lease and Lease 

F&C Reit - we have provided comprehensive construction advice and support on various property acquisitions and disposals for F&C Reit, including the recent £160 million sale of St Katharine's Docks, London. We have also acted for F&C Reit on their development of various sites in England. 

Help for Heroes - pro-bono construction advice (drafting and negotiating building contracts, appointments, warranties, bonds and escrow agreements) on three major projects helping wounded soldiers transition from the armed services into civilian life and providing a "safety net" for the rest of their lives : (1) the £20 million capital works/refurbishment of Tedworth House into a Personnel Recovery and Assessment Centre ; (2) Phoenix House, a new build rehabilitation centre costing £12m  within the garrison at Catterick;  and (3) the development of the Royal Navy Personnel Recovery Centre in Plymouth comprising  accommodation and rehabilitation facilities at a cost of £21m  

Legal & General - We regularly act for Legal & General in relation to the drafting and negotiation of the construction documents across all property sectors as part of their development activities. This involves providing our client with advice relating to building contracts, appointments, associated collateral warranties and novation deeds. It also involves providing ongoing advice to the client in the event issues arise on site during the course of its developments. Finally, we also regularly consider construction-specific issues for Legal & General when negotiating property documents such as agreements for lease and licences for alterations.

"We acted on behalf of a civil engineering contractor in relation to a contract involving the removal of decommissioned sewer pipes and associated infrastructure works in South-East Asia. Our work included reviewing the client's main contract and associated tender documentation and drafting a brand new set of amendments to a specifically tailored sub-contract." 

Partner Projects - We successfully represented a contractor client, Partner Projects Limited, in enforcement proceedings in the TCC brought against Corinthian Nominees Limited ("CNL") in respect of an Adjudicator's award over PPL's interim account entitlement.  The dispute arose over the development of a luxury new build property in St John's Wood, London which fell into delay.  The enforcement proceedings involved complex issues regarding the Adjudicator's award of interest and whether or not this fell outside of the Adjudicator's jurisdiction as well as dealing with CNL's application for a stay on the basis that PPL was allegedly insolvent.  Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart decided that the Adjudicator's award of interest fell within his jurisdiction and refused CNL's application for a stay.

Regent St - We acted for two high profile developer clients in a long running multi million pound delay claim arising from the refurbishment of an iconic building in one of London's prime retail areas.  Under the building contract the property was transformed to mixed use retail, restaurant and high end office areas in ten sections of work.  Unfortunately, the project fell into substantial delay and the contractor brought two adjudications against our client, first alleging that the liquidated damages provisions of the building contract were unenforceable and second claiming a full extension of time.  Our client successfully defended both adjudications.  Disputes also arose over the variation account, loss and expense entitlement and complex issues regarding partial possession of services and sectional completion and we strategically managed every aspect of the claim."