Ms Karen Gidwani > Fenwick Elliott LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Ms Karen Gidwani

+44 20 7421 1986 kgidwani@fenwickelliott.com View profile

Work Department

Construction and energy

Position

Karen specialises in dispute resolution and avoidance for a wide range of domestic and international clients, advising on managing risk effectively in the course of complex construction and engineering projects. Karen regularly advises and represents clients in litigation, international arbitration, mediation and adjudication.

Karen’s experience covers a broad spectrum including contract formation and interpretation, amendments to existing contracts, claims for additional cost, loss and expense and extensions of time, liquidated damages liability, defects liability, termination and repudiation, and the nature of and rights arising out of bonds and guarantees.

Karen is well versed in the principal standard forms of construction and engineering contract, including JCT, NEC, IChemE and FIDIC. Karen has also advised on disputes arising from PFI contracts for schools, custody facilities, healthcare and roads, and has dealt with a variety of bespoke construction, engineering and energy contracts.

The Legal 500 UK lists Karen as a key lawyer at Fenwick Elliott, noting in particular her work in the offshore wind sector. Karen has been previously been described in the Legal 500 as “an exceptional and dedicated lawyer” with “a wealth of experience within the offshore energy industry”.

Career

Partner Fenwick Elliott 2006, associate 2002, joined 2000; construction department Titmuss Sainer Dechert; qualified 1999; trained Sharpe Pritchard. Editor of the ‘Construction Industry Law Letter’ (CILL) since 2014 (co-editor since 2004).

Karen is the editor of the Construction Industry Law Letter (CILL), a role that she has undertaken now for 15 years, and has contributed to Practical Law Company (PLC). She has spoken at various industry-related conferences and events including at Fenwick Elliott seminars.

Languages

English

Memberships

• fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb);
• member of the King’s College Construction Law Association (KCCLA);
• member of the Society of Construction Law (SCL);
• member of the Technology and Construction Solicitors’ Association (TeCSA).

Education

Cox Green School, Maidenhead; Jesus College, Oxford University (1996 MA Hons (Oxon) Jurisprudence); Oxford Institute of Legal Practice (1997 Dip LP); King’s College, London (2003 MSc Construction Law and Arbitration); Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Leisure

Reading, travel, culinary arts.