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Nicholas is an international specialist arbitration, construction and engineering lawyer. Nicholas conducts a mix of international dispute resolution and projects work. Nicholas acts for contractors, employers and governments in a wide range of technically complex construction sectors internationally including: energy, infrastructure, rail and metro, communications, industrial, waste, water, desalination, process plant, oil and gas, and petrochemical, as well as defects, collapse and fire safety. Advising on numerous power projects around the world, he has advised in relation to Europe’s largest gas combined-cycle power plant, as well as on nuclear (new and old), oil, coal, hydro, offshore wind farm, biomass, solar and innovative ocean current projects and data centres. Nicholas’ dispute resolution experience spans litigation, arbitration, adjudication, DAB/DRB/DAAB, mediation, early neutral evaluation and expert determination. His FIDIC experience is wide ranging including acting as a special adviser to FIDIC in respect of its 2017 edition contracts and in 2021 he was the FIDIC Adjudicator of the Year. Nicholas’ contract experience includes NEC, IChemE, JCT, MF/1, LOGIC, bespoke EPC/EPCM and PFI/PPP contracts. Nicholas is frequently selected to work on high value complex projects, including advising BAA in respect of T5 (£4.2 billion), the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, Expo 2020 in Dubai, CERN’s nuclear research facility, and the world’s most leaning building at Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi. In the Legal 500 he is listed in the Hall of Fame for International Arbitration and has been described by clients as “eloquent” and having “excellent advocacy skills”. The directory has also recognised him for being “extremely good – he is very convincing during hearings at drilling down the issues to the core”. Nicholas is Visiting Professor at King’s College London and a vice president of the ICC’s Arbitration Commission (past chairman, Standing Sub-Committee ICC’s International Centre for Expertise 2007–14). He is past president of the DRBF and past chairman of the Society of Construction Law. He has been published widely in the field of construction law and dispute resolution.

Gilbert provides advice in relation to complex and high value disputes throughout the construction, real estate and oil & gas sectors. He has experience in acting for various members of the construction and engineering supply chain including Main Contractors, Subcontractors and Engineers/Designers where he has particular expertise. Gilbert has provided clients with legal and strategic advice in a number of jurisdictions throughout the Middle East including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as in England & Wales where he gained his LLP and LPC. Gilbert has also previously spent time as a secondee for a major developer based in Dubai where he led an in-house team.

Leonie is a dual qualified lawyer specialising in international arbitration, with a particular focus on contentious construction, energy, and infrastructure projects. Based in the Middle East for over 10 years, Leonie has acted for and advised both local and international companies on a range of complex construction and infrastructure disputes and has extensive experience in advancing and defending claims under the ICC, LCIA, DIAC, ADCCAC and UNCITRAL rules, as well as in the enforcement of arbitral awards in the local courts. In addition to her experience in construction disputes, Leonie has broad experience in non-contentious construction, infrastructure, and energy related matters. In addition to her years spent in private practice, Leonie has also spent time as in-house counsel for a leading developer of water and power projects, and most recently as a seconded interim general counsel for a multinational conglomerate. Leonie has been described in Legal 500 EMEA as showcasing a “solid mastery of construction and commercial law” (Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation, 2022) and as “excellent, with a strong work ethic, excellent with clients, good on detail and not afraid to be firm with experts and opponents when the occasion calls for it. An excellent lawyer and a star for the future: one to watch” (Construction, 2021).

Patrick has significant experience of construction and engineering disputes on major international projects, with a particular focus on the Middle East where he has spent a large part of his career. Patrick specialises in International Arbitration and has worked on disputes relating to projects in a number of jurisdictions including the UK, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Iraq, Egypt, South Africa and Madagascar and has acted on arbitrations being heard pursuant to ICC, LCIA, DIAC and ADCCAC rules. Patrick is familiar with a number of standard form construction contracts including FIDIC and NEC, and has acted on disputes arising out of bespoke forms of contract, particularly EPC contracts. The Legal 500 EMEA 2021 list Patrick as a recommended lawyer for construction. They describe him as having “a clarity of view which brings comfort to his clients. He is adept at quickly scrutinizing complex issues and understands possible solutions. He displays empathy for his client and is adept at getting to the route of an argument offering sound judgements and proposing optional solutions and strategies.” They also note that he has “substantial experience in construction and engineering disputes. His strategic input on international arbitration matters is invaluable.”