Construction

Our clients are drawn from all sections of the construction industry and include building owners, investors and funding institutions. They require user friendly, cost effective, legal advice which helps them to deliver value and manage risk.

The single most critical issue in construction is cost. Our objective is to deliver a service which is both cost effective and directed towards helping our clients drive down cost and create value for their projects and businesses.

We have a detailed knowledge of standard and non standard provisions in all forms of construction contract, the underlying law, as well as a close appreciation of the way the industry operates. This enables us to provide confident and prompt advice to clients on draft legal documentation and on a full range of construction law issues.

We represent our clients at all stages in the timeline of a project from procurement and tenders, contract negotiation and drafting through to the resolution of disputes during or after the project. We have advised on construction law issues in connection with PFI schemes, commercial and residential property development and projects involving civil and process engineering. Our experience covers a range of specialist sectors such as healthcare, rail, roads, schools, hotels and leisure, defence and housing.

We work closely with our colleagues in the commercial property, tax and banking teams on projects such as 'golden brick' schemes where the contract documents have to be drafted to reflect taxation issues. We provide a range of security documentation for on and off balance sheet funded projects and regularly advise upon and negotiate bonds and collateral warranties.

We have particular expertise in the recovery and restructuring of projects distressed due to insolvency and we are actively involved in the renegotiation of subcontract packages to enable insolvent projects to be re-established with a minimum of additional expense.

Construction expertise at a glance:

  • adjudication, arbitration, mediation and litigation in the TCC
  • claims relating to defects, extensions of time, variations and loss and expense
  • construction contracts - drafting and negotiating bespoke documentation and amendments to standard contracts
  • construction security documentation such as performance bonds, parent company guarantees and collateral warranties
  • frameworks and partnering
  • operating and facilities management agreements
  • PFI
  • professional appointments - drafting and negotiating appointments for architects, engineers and other construction professionals
  • public procurement and tenders