Kirsti Olson > Dentons > Edinburgh, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Dentons
QUARTERMILE ONE
15 LAURISTON PLACE
EDINBURGH
EH3 9EP
United Kingdom

Work Department

Contentious-Construction

Position

Dual-qualified in Scotland and England, Kirsti is a construction dispute resolution lawyer with 24 years’ PQE. She is Head of our Edinburgh office.

 

Kirsti deals with multi-million-pound construction disputes arising out of the transport sector (rail and roads), energy-related projects (rig construction and refurbishment, offshore decommissioning and renewables) as well as regularly advising and representing parties in PFI/PPP projects (schools, hospitals, prisons and roads) throughout the UK.

Key clients include Bouygues E&S Solutions Limited, Taylor Wimpey, Jacobs, Capita and Network Rail.

Kirsti has an LLM (with Distinction) in Construction Law. She has extensive experience of all forms of dispute resolution including court proceedings, arbitration, adjudication and mediation. She is a Member of the Society of Construction Law and the Scottish Arbitration Centre and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Kirsti was the Chair of Oil and Gas UK’s Decommissioning Working Group, which drafted the first LOGIC standard form decommissioning contract for the North Sea oil industry. She lectures on decommissioning at Aberdeen University.

Career

Trainee Paull & Williamsons, Aberdeen 1992-94; assistant Paull & Williamsons, Aberdeen 1994-95; assistant Paull & Williamsons, Edinburgh 1995-96; assistant Bird Semple 1996-98; assistant Maclay Murray & Spens 1998; associate Maclay Murray & Spens 1998-2001; partner June 2001.

Memberships

Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; Law Society of Scotland; Society of Construction Law; Adjudication Society. Chair of Oil & Gas UK’s Decommissioning Working Group (drafting the first LOGIC standard form decommissioning contract).

Education

University of Aberdeen (1991 LLB (Hons); 1992 Dip LP); University of Strathclyde (2000 LLM in Construction Law, Dist).

Leisure

Skiing; silversmithing; running; sailing; music; reading.

Lawyer Rankings

Scotland > Real estate > Construction

(Leading individuals)

Kirsti OlsonDentons

With procurement expert Mark Macaulay (Glasgow) heading up Dentons‘ construction practice, the team is well-equipped in the non-contentious arena. Macaulay is a regular port of call for Scottish, UK-wide and international development, infrastructure and energy sector projects and the group also has a strong profile for contentious work in the transport sector, including rail, ports and roads, due not least to the expertise of the Edinburgh-based Kirsti Olson. Also active in the contentious sphere is Linzi Hedalen, who was promoted to partner in May 2022. Paul Young departed for Shepherd and Wedderburn in January 2023.

Comparative Guides

United Kingdom: Construction April 2023 This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Construction laws and regulations applicable in United Kingdom.