The Legal 500

Ashurst LLP’s practice head Marc Hanson is driving forward a ‘responsive’ team, in which rising star Alex Cunliffe has been promoted to partner. Cunliffe advised on Westfield’s £2bn Stratford City development, while other major civil engineering and development instructions included advising Crossrail on procurement for its £16bn project, as well as representing the Connect Plus consortium as preferred bidder for the M25 widening project. The group recruited Ann Minogue from Linklaters LLP in 2009.

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s construction team provides ‘sound advice based on exemplary knowledge’, service levels that are ‘beyond reproach’. The firm is reputed for its strength in real estate, but also won significant infrastructure appointments from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and National Grid, as well as Thames Water, which the firm is advising on construction and procurement for the £2.4bn Tideway Tunnel project. Group head Bob Maynard is a ‘knowledgeable and gritty fighter’, while Caroline Pope has an ‘ability to deliver solutions’, and Stella Mitchell is ‘excellent’.

Pinsent Masons LLP’s ‘cradle-to-grave expertise is its ultimate strength’, say clients, who praise the firm for work that is generally ‘superior to work received from other firms’. Headed by London-based John Salway, ‘an unfussy businessman who understands what the client needs and requires’, the firm’s increasingly high-end construction practice spans a broad range of transactional, project advisory and disputes work, both domestically and internationally. The team is advising Thames Water on procurement for a £5bn asset management programme, and has recently attracted big-ticket international arbitration work out of the Persian Gulf.

Caroline Cummins heads CMS Cameron McKenna LLP’s team, which is deemed ‘excellent on all counts’. Non-contentious lawyer Victoria Peckett ‘provides unparalleled, prompt and commercially aware advice’, and ex-barrister Rupert Choat is ‘very bright and patient’. An expanding international portfolio includes fresh instructions from Iberdrola and a heavyweight Japanese contractor. The practice remains a strong choice for disputes, with clients including Honeywell.

Clifford Chance advises on complex engineering projects, primarily for sponsors, developers and funders. Recent instructions include advising Petroperu SA on a US$1.2bn Peruvian refinery modernisation, and representing the developer on the £1.75bn redevelopment of Chelsea Barracks. Practice head Tim Steadman is ‘in a class of his own’, while lateral hire Tracy London from Herbert Smith LLP adds expertise in energy and renewables. Clients say ‘you get what you pay for’, with quality offsetting higher rates.

Fenwick Elliott LLP handles the full range of construction work, but primarily acts on high-calibre contentious matters, particularly for contractors, and is increasingly international in scope. Simon Tolson’s team regularly advises on arbitrations, such as for BOTAS Petroleum Pipeline Corporation in an ICC arbitration relating to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline construction. The domestic market malaise is resulting in a growing body of adjudication work.

Mark Lloyd-Williams became head of Herbert Smith LLP’s contentious construction practice after returning from Asia. His group is ‘extremely responsive and very well qualified in terms of legal knowledge’, and includes ‘excellent litigator’ Tony Dymond. Clients include Halliburton, Land Securities and Vestas. The team recently advised Hammerson on its £1bn redevelopment of Sevenstone, a retail quarter in Sheffield.

Gillian Thomas and John Gerszt’s team at Lovells LLP targets high-end projects and high-value disputes, and regularly attracts standalone work. The firm advised Dubai Ports World on the £1.5bn development of the London Gateway port project in Thurrock, and Rio Tinto on the proposed expansion of the Corumbá mine in Brazil, a projected US$2bn undertaking spanning three jurisdictions.

Mayer Brown International LLP’s reputation for contentious work under practice head Michael Regan has yielded repeat business. Recent highlights include a case for an insurer and developer in relation to £150m worth of claims over defects in the design and construction of a retail-centre car park. Regan remains lead procurement counsel to the Panama Canal Authority regarding its planned eight-year US$5.2bn extension programme. Clients are ‘very satisfied’ with the firm’s ‘high level of service’ and ‘commercial realism’.

Nabarro LLP’s practice is managed by well-known industry personality Terry Fleet, and is particularly recommended for large-scale developments. Its team is ‘responsive, capable and diligent’. Recent highlights include advising Minerva and European Land on sizeable London projects, as well as Brookfield on the Pinnacle. A drive to expand abroad has netted instructions from Dorchester Group (Slovakia) on a multi-building skyscraper scheme near Bratislava. Steven Williams is engaged in some of the UK’s largest disputes, and is ‘pragmatic, hardworking and client focused’.

‘One of the best in the industry’, Shadbolt LLP has a strong non-contentious record alongside its more traditional focus on contentious matters. It recently advised German energy contractor MAN Ferrostaal on a US$700m natural gas power plant in Trinidad. The economic downturn has resulted in more adjudication cases to add to a regular caseload of ICC arbitrations. Disputes partner Simon Delves leads a ‘user-friendly practice’. Regular clients include Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Kier Group and Galliford Try.

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s London-based construction front man Andrew McVeigh was elevated to the partnership in 2009. With firm-wide strength in public sector projects, including health and education, McVeigh assisted on the landmark £700m Greater Manchester Waste PFI. Close banking relationships are resulting in work relating to the restructuring or ‘mothballing’ of construction projects. The firm assisted Diageo in drafting contracts for projects in Africa and South America.

The ‘thoroughly dependable’ DLA Piper UK LLP is rising to prominence on infrastructure projects. It advised the ODA on Olympic venues, and Powerfuel Power on a new US$3bn coal-fired power station in Yorkshire. The diverse practice has notable expertise in public procurement, real estate and hotel development advice, and earned a spot on the ODA’s disputes panel. Cecily Davis and practice head Stephen Haller provide advice that is ‘quick, accurate and successful’.

Davies Arnold Cooper LLP’s contentious offering is proving the mainstay of its practice in the current market. Major US contractors Jacobs and Black & Veatch instructed a team headed by Danny Gowan on several disputes. Other highlights included advising Arab Investments on its £600m Pinnacle tower development.

Denton Wilde Sapte LLP targets high-value, complex construction projects. Examples include Robert Turner’s advice to the Highways Agency on the £4.5bn M25 widening scheme, as well as John Woolley’s mandate from John Laing on the £300m Pembury Hospital PPP project. The practice has notable energy leanings, and advised new client REpower Systems on a contract with RWE Energy to supply wind turbines worth £2bn.

Dundas & Wilson LLP’s Hamish Lal continues to drive the team forward. Recent instructions include advising The Savoy Hotel on its £45m restoration and Candy & Candy on its One Hyde Park development. Other clients include Scottish & Southern Energy and the Bank of Scotland.

Eversheds LLP targets purchaser clients and boasts a strong infrastructure and transport practice, including key clients Transport for London and London Underground. Headed by Simon Oats, the practice advised an international mining company on a potential dispute and represented the ODA on an underground power-lines project.

‘In a league of their own’, the lawyers at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP receive praise for ‘profound industry knowledge and technical expertise’, with Jane Jenkins being particularly ‘precise in her analysis while confident and calm in negotiation’. Disputes expert Sally Roe is representing Brookfield Construction in its £250m dispute relating to Wembley Stadium. The team has been appointed to the ODA’s construction disputes panel.

Kevin Greene heads the construction team at K&L Gates, which recruited Cathy Harris, formerly head of projects at Osborne Clarke. The team’s appointment to the London Underground panel has led to significant instructions. Key clients include Laing O’Rourke and Henderson Global Investors, which the firm advised on £60m worth of developments.

Linklaters LLP’s City-focused team includes Huw Baker. The practice advised British Land on the complex £350m extension to the London Square Mile’s Broadgate estate, including two new buildings. In addition to central London developments, the practice boasts a national and international portfolio, with Baker advising Mubadala on the US$2bn development of Al Sowa Island, a new finance and commerce centre in Abu Dhabi. Former practice head Ann Minogue departed for Ashurst LLP.

Macfarlanes LLP has a broad practice, and ‘technically very bright’ lawyers who ‘have a real understanding of commercial issues’. Clients include consultants, such as architects Kohn Pederson Fox on London’s Pinnacle development, and education sector clients, such as Christ’s Hospital School and Lambeth College. Patrick Holmes heads the non-contentious group, while the ‘first-class’ Simon Nurney’s contentious team promoted Douglas Wass to the partnership in 2008.

Norton Rose LLP’s international practice is regularly approached to advise on its main focus of infrastructure and energy projects. The group is led by ‘excellent communicator’ Richard Hill, who has niche expertise in wind power and recently advised AES Wind Farms on a Bulgarian wind farm worth €270m. Nick Pincott is advising DP World on the £1.5bn London Gateway port and logistics development. Mubadala Development Company is another key client, which the firm is advising on several multimillion-dollar land development schemes.

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is ‘first rate’, well known for its insurance practice, and ‘one of the top PI firms in the City’. Led by Robert Hogarth, who places an ‘emphasis on settling disputes by understanding the commercial realities’, the firm advised insurers on coverage for the £250m claim by Brookfield Multiplex against Mott McDonald for alleged negligence in the design of Wembley Stadium. Other clients include Carillion and the medical UKCMRI Consortium.

Speechly Bircham LLP is best known for its contentious prowess, under the leadership of the ‘cool-headed’ Tim Raper. Clients get ‘a strong sense of the solicitors working as a team’, and praise the ‘creative and persistent’ David Gwillim and the ‘honest, hardworking and entrepreneurial’ Jonathan Rosshandler. Recent matters include representing PC Harrington in a dispute against Multiplex. The firm’s merger with real estate focused Campbell Hooper adds ‘experts in the field of development, property and construction’. These include the ‘precise, straight-talking and committed’ Steven Carey, the ‘experienced’ Duncan Salmon, and Julian Holloway.

Taylor Wessing LLP’s Helen Garthwaite ‘inspires confidence’, helping the firm attract new work from Heron International on procurement for a large-scale redevelopment at Milton Court, near London’s Barbican Estate. The group represented Kier in tripartite arbitration regarding office refurbishment, while the construction finance team represents clients such as Deutsche Bank and HSH Nordbank. Clients say the lawyers ‘present potential solutions when problems arise, but will hold their ground on issues they feel are not acceptable’.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP exhibits ‘a great depth of expertise in the UK and abroad’; its key strengths lie in infrastructure projects, procurement and its strong ties to the Middle East. The London office is highly active domestically, and is advising London International Exhibition Centre on its £160m ExCeL Phase 2 development, an extension of the Docklands exhibition and conference centre. The ‘proactive’ Anthony Yates manages the contentious practice, while David Mosey ‘has a strong knowledge of partnering philosophy in the industry’.

White & Case LLP boasts a comprehensive construction practice, strengthened by the lateral hire of Phillip Capper, formerly head of Lovells LLP’s international arbitration team. The firm has strength in large-scale international projects and boasts a formidable portfolio of emerging markets work, including advising Gazprom, E.ON, BASF and NV Nederlandse Gasunie on the €7.4bn Nord Stream Pipeline linking Russia to the EU via the Baltic Sea. Ellis Baker heads this high-end practice, which is currently handling a US$1bn-plus ICC arbitration.

Simon Baylis leads Wragge & Co LLP’s team, which won new clients Bovis Lend Lease, National Grid and Colas Rail. The firm advised infrastructure services firm Morgan Est on a multiparty design and workmanship defects claim before the TCC, while Leicester Tigers Rugby Club sought non-contentious advice in relation to building contracts for a new North Stand at its stadium. The firm has particular expertise in wind power construction and claims.

Allen & Overy LLP’s recent work includes advising the developer in connection with London’s The Shard project, destined to be the tallest building in Europe. The firm is highly regarded on EPC contracts and expert in advising lenders on major domestic developments. The practice recently advised the project developer on the €5bn petrochemical Nizhnekamsk Refinery in Russia. Nigel Pritchard and Trevor Cosgrove are the primary contacts.

The ‘very professional’ Michael Webster leads Baker & McKenzie LLP’s London team, which stands out for the scale of its international projects, sourced from the firm’s network in Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. The firm has niche expertise in oil and gas processing plants. It also advised Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) on the development of a bauxite mine, alumina refinery, aluminium smelter and other infrastructure in Saudi Arabia worth US$11bn.

With a flair for construction dispute resolution, particularly insurance and indemnity cases, Beachcroft LLP’s London-based Chris Doran has expanded the firm’s client base internationally, particularly in the Middle East. Recent work includes a multimillion-euro dispute relating to the Lansdowne Road Stadium redevelopment in Dublin, and several claims involving contractors.

Bird & Bird LLP’s capabilities in this area are owed to its merger with construction and aviation boutique Lane & Partners LLP, whose entire construction team made the move across. ‘Tenacious and determined’ duo Colin Hall and John Wright lead the group, which focuses predominantly on contentious matters and is ‘efficient, approachable, flexible and robust’. It acts on claims relating to time and money, quality and performance, and procedure.

The ‘very responsive’ Boodle Hatfield provides ‘concise, appropriate advice’ on construction matters, with practice head David Johnson described as ‘very experienced’. The firm enjoys repeat instructions from clients including Warner Estate Holdings and Grosvenor, and is active on both contentious and non-contentious matters.

Bristol-based Burges Salmon LLP is ‘excellent overall’, and competes with London rivals. It regularly advises national clients, including Corus. Marcus Harling and Will Gard represented design and build contractor Costain on the £2bn Greater Manchester Waste Management PFI, the largest of its kind in Europe. The firm is often called on for its expertise in transport and energy, and recently advised Helius Energy on a £200m biomass power station.

Providing ‘the right balance of talented individuals at competitive cost’, Clyde & Co LLP’s London group, led by John Morris, was instructed for the first time by the Freshwater Group of Companies in 2008 on four large schemes in the London area. The practice has a spread of developer, consultant and owner-occupier clients, and possesses recognised expertise in insurance-related issues. City & General retained the practice in arbitration, which culminated in a four-month hearing against a contractor and a firm of quantity surveyors and project managers.

Hammonds LLP snapped up a two-partner team from Watson Burton LLP in 2008, with Lawrence Bruce and Olivia Bateman joining Mark Fraser to strengthen the London team. The practice primarily represents developers and funders. New client wins include the Olympic Delivery Authority, Australian group Bilfinger Berger, and Britannia Construction. The practice advised Quintain Estates and Development on the Bristol and Bath Science Park.

LG’s Hillary Cohen, and newly promoted, ‘very supportive’ partner Philip Baker, are lauded for ‘their willingness to simplify rather than mystify’. The firm’s strength in non-contentious matters extends to institutional clients, such as Canada Life, and internationally to Dubai. The practice advised LaSalle on developments in York, Milton Keynes, Colchester and Nottingham.

Manches LLP’s practice is experiencing a market-driven bias towards contentious matters. Joanne Kelly heads the practice and is ably supported by fellow partner Joseph Griffiths. London Underground is a key client, which the practice advised on the Thameslink 2000 upgrade and the redevelopment of London’s Cannon Street Station. The firm also boasts expertise in the healthcare and energy sectors, including advising Exorka International on contracts for a number of geothermal projects.

Maxwell Winward LLP is noted for its ‘strength in depth’. Clients can be ‘assured of receiving prompt, accurate and considered advice from all of the team’. Max Wieliczko is part of a three-partner contingent that handles contentious matters, while Lisa Calderwood is recommended for non-contentious instructions. A diverse client base includes Fitzpatrick Contractors, Barratt Homes and UBS.

Olswang continues to develop its standalone construction department independently of its real estate group, consolidating its contentious offering with the promotion of new partner Nick Lane. Richard Wilson’s team acts for Thornfield Properties on all the construction matters connected with its £2bn development portfolio, while Lane’s clients include AXA Investment Management.

Reed Smith’s construction team benefits from the firm’s wide geographical footprint and energy sector expertise. Lynne Freeman oversees a global spread of non-contentious work, including acting for wind turbine manufacturer Vestas on a US$200m framework agreement for Scandinavian wind turbines, which complements instructions on some of the UK’s highest-profile disputes. Nick Speed is the firm’s contentious specialist.

Julia Court is SJ Berwin LLP’s resident construction specialist, and acts on an assortment of non-contentious matters for clients including British Land, Quintain, Hilton, and Land Securities. The practice recently advised Delancey in respect of new office space at Rolls House in the City of London. Its institutional client base includes AXA Sun Life.

The ‘first-class’ Stephenson Harwood team has attracted increased contentious instructions thanks to Paul Thwaite (‘knowledgeable, up to date and honest’), for example advising Kajima Construction Europe (UK) on a multimillion-pound claim concerning a Leeds housing development. Steven Wait heads a team strong in infrastructure, energy and utilities. The team advised EDF Energy on the installation of the electricity network and substations in the Olympic 2012 Park.

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s construction disputes and risk management capabilities earned it a spot on contractor Carillion’s panel, increasing its recognition beyond its core insurer client base, which includes ACE, Catlin Group and QBE. Patrick Perry’s team also recently won several new contractors and international architects as clients.

‘Very knowledgeable’ non-contentious lawyer Andrew Tobin is the London face of Bevan Brittan LLP’s construction practice, which also includes Bristol-based Duncan Weir and Martin Howe. Tobin receives instructions on matters in the education, health, hotels, leisure and social housing sectors. Highlights included advising the London Borough of Hackney on its £167m BSF project, and Laing O’Rourke Consortium on its bid for the London Borough of Newham’s £200m BSF project.

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has repositioned its construction team under consultant Laurence Fryer and the development-focused Edward Bannister; the ‘excellent and easily understandable’ team is targeting complex work for organisations with construction needs. Multinational clients include the Bank of Ireland, AstraZeneca, and Philip Morris International Management.

Glovers Solicitors LLP’s head of department David Miles has a reputation for ‘seeking alternatives to litigation’ in contentious matters, and possesses strong mediation skills. Philip Eyre is ‘technically sound’. The group is highly regarded for dispute resolution and presents a ‘cost-effective’, comprehensive practice. Regular clients include Sir Robert McAlpine and the City of Westminster.

Kennedys fields a large department known primarily for insurance-related claims work. The lawyers provide ‘clear, simple advice on complicated matters’, with contentious team head Geoff Lord recommended for his ‘excellent awareness and strategic thinking’. James Shaw, best known for advice to architects and engineers, heads the non-contentious team, which has recently won a stream of Olympics-driven instructions from architects Allies & Morrison and Fletcher Priest.

At Lewis Silkin LLP, the ‘excellent, thorough, conscientious and likeable’ James Levy heads the practice jointly with the ‘very thorough and considered’ Clare Reddy. A new strategy to expand the firm’s expertise beyond traditional strengths in social housing and education has paid dividends, with new blue-chip developer clients instructing it on large regeneration projects. The firm continues to work for Rio Tinto in Namibia and South Africa.

Simmons & Simmons combines City skills with a practical knowledge of construction, under Richard Dyton. The practice is primarily geared to support the firm’s wider strengths in PFI/PPP, waste management, transport and energy, but James Pollock adds PI expertise, representing clients such as Mitsui Sumitomo and QBE. The team is representing the architects in relation to Wembley Stadium’s construction, a matter that recently involved TCC litigation.

Slaughter and May’s Steven Edwards is advising Lend Lease on construction and utilities work associated with the Olympic Village for the 2012 Games, and its subsequent conversion to legacy use. It also represents Arsenal FC on its mixed-use residential and commercial development. The firm is described as an ‘excellent’ all-round offering despite its upper-end fees.

Steptoe & Johnson’s recruitment of Jonathan Raynes from Kennedys in early 2008 has assisted the firm in fast-tracking growth in this sector, which is an adjunct to its real estate and dispute resolution teams. Recent work includes advising a developer on supermarket developments worth £100m, as well as contentious matters for BAA and Heathrow Airport.

Travers Smith LLP’s Kofi Atta is active on construction matters in and around London, supporting the firm’s real estate, corporate and banking practices in largely non-contentious matters. Atta is currently representing developer and contractor McAleer & Rushe on the development of a W Hotel, residential apartments and leisure facilities, as part of the wider Leicester Square regeneration.

Watson Burton LLP recruited longstanding industry practitioner David Jones in 2008, while construction partners Lawrence Bruce and Olivia Bateman departed to Hammonds LLP after a short tenure in the London office. Loyal clients say the firm ‘compares well with other national practices’ when it comes to ‘depth and knowledge’.