The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > South East > Construction

The ‘highly attentive and supportive‘ construction team at Blake Morgan LLP is active in both corporate work and dispute resolution. In Southampton, Edward McMullen leads on construction and engineering transactions for regional property developers and contractors, public service entities and clients operating in the financial services sector. Also based in Southampton is Jessica Tresham, who represents both specialist contractors and commercial entities in adjudications. In Oxford, practice head Richard Wade and James Bessey are names to note.

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP's team 'does not disappoint', as is reflected by it generating work from construction sector clients, as well as those active in the healthcare, transport, energy, education and not-for-profit arenas. Practice head David Savage, who is dual-qualified as a solicitor and barrister, is knowledgeable about the gamut of construction issues; he advises on matters arising from the earliest procurement strategy discussions through to dispute avoidance/resolution, the close out of major final accounts. Recently promoted partner Andrew Keeley advises on construction and engineering contracts for commercial and prime residential projects, as well as professional negligence claims.

Cripps Pemberton Greenish  resulted from a merger between Cripps LLP and Pemberton Greenish in 2018. Its construction department supports clients in mixed-use regeneration project developments and infrastructure projects. Clients include banks, national and independent housebuilders, pension funds and REITs. Team head James Lee specialises in non-contentious transactional work. Nitej Davda is the key contact for contentious issues; his experience includes claims under collateral warranties and performance bonds, among other matters.

Construction and engineering boutique Sheridan Gold LLP acts for large contractors and sub-contractors, as well as consultants and employers, at both national and international levels. It is increasingly active in high-value contentious mandates, including construction litigation, adjudications and international arbitration. Joint practice heads Peter Sheridan and Jonathan Gold collectively have 50 years of specialist experience between them. Jane Ryland is also highly recommended.

Stevens & Bolton LLP's construction and engineering group sits within the firm's wider real estate practice. It generates a steady flow of contractual and procurement work in relation to high-value projects, and also handles contentious work, with a strong penchant for technical engineering disputes. Practice head Stephen Rockhill, who qualified as a mechanical and electrical engineer before becoming a solicitor, 'combines robustness with wisdom'. Ben Willis, who primarily undertakes non-contentious construction work, joined from Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP.

Led by Jane Miles, who is noted for her transactional expertise, Dentons' Milton Keynes office focuses exclusively on non-contentious construction. The majority of the group's notable client list comprises of major developers and fund clients. In addition to advising on the day-to-day construction complexities of live projects, the team assists clients with negotiating contractual changes and drafting bespoke agreements.

Hewitsons acts for a wide range of clients on construction projects across the UK, including contractors, developers, investors and consultants, among others. It has established specialist business units, which enables the firm to provide sector-specific advice; one area of strength is the education sector, where the construction department (together with practitioners in ancillary areas, such as planning and real estate) provides bespoke advice to schools and other institutions. In 2018, the firm advised developers, contractors and clients active in the charity and investment sectors on multimillion pound construction contracts. Practice head Tim Richards and Colin Jones both have expertise in contentious and non-contentious matters.

Irwin Mitchell's 'responsive and thorough' construction and engineering team acts for clients across a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, energy, public sector and residential development. In addition, the firm's specialist expertise in the education sector attracts numerous complex instructions from higher education institutions. Dispute resolution is an area of recent growth for the team. Practice head Mark Clinton has more than 30 years of construction law experience.

BDB Pitmans 'unique' construction and engineering group supports clients at all stages of the construction process, from site acquisition, planning and procurement advice to disputes (including adjudication). Besides residential developers, the team regularly acts for marine engineering and hospitality clients (the firm has key specialisms in the last two sectors). Practice head David Gwillim boasts over 35 years of construction law experience.

Birketts LLP's construction team, which has extensive expertise in 'highly technical and complicated issues', covers development funding, contract negotiations, building transactions and dispute resolution work. In addition to acting for contractors and sub-contractors, the firm generates work from commercial lenders, developers and suppliers. Andrew Rush heads up the team. Associate Carolyn Porter is a specialist in complex adjudications.

Thomson Snell & Passmore provides comprehensive support at all stages of construction projects (of any size), with the work encompassing project documentation (pre-tender to pre-commencement), project support (in relation to live and recently completed projects) and dispute resolution. Developers, funders, main contractors and sub-contractors are among the clients of the practice. Consultant Chris Whittington heads up the group. Chris Kirby-Turner is the name to note for contentious work.

The construction practice at Birkett Long LLP assists a wide range of commercial clients, including developers, employers, contractors, subcontractors and consultants. The group drafts contracts and represents clients in adjudications and litigation. Peter Allen is the team head.

Brachers' construction and engineering team generates a regular flow of work from employers, contractors, banks, developers, consultants and insurers. It advises on issues arising at all stages of projects, ranging from inception to completion. The scope of its expertise includes procurement routes, construction and engineering contracts, and dispute resolution. Michael Oatham is a key contact.

Rix & Kay Solicitors LLP's construction offering focuses on purely contentious matters, and is led by dispute resolution specialist Richard Ludlow. The practice is particularly strong in representing clients in adjudications, disputes arising from JCT contracts and construction liability cases. Other key areas of work include contested payment applications, defects claims and applications for time extensions. Another name to note is Dan Sherlock, who has a growing construction practice.

At Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP, Southampton-based associate Amy Hodge undertakes non-contentious construction matters for employers, funders and main contractors from the public and private sector. Her work includes reviewing and advising on different forms of building contracts, drafting amendments to construction documentation, and drafting consultant's appointments, warranties and assignments. Simon Lewis in Newcastle is the head of the team nationally.