Expertise
Stephen is experienced in respect of both non-contentious and contentious construction matters across a range of projects and clients, including housebuilders, developers, contractors and sub-contractors.
On the non-contentious side, Stephen provides advice and also reviews, negotiates and drafts construction documentation, including building contracts, consultancy appointments, collateral warranties, sub-contracts, deeds of novation, assignment deeds, parent company guarantees, performance bonds, agreements for lease, letters of intent, framework agreements and other related documents.
Stephen also has considerable experience in contentious matters, including litigation and adjudication. He provides commercially sensible advice to assist a range of clients in resolving potential and ongoing disputes concerning payment, defective design/workmanship/materials, claims for additional time and money, variations, and loss and expense.
Experience
- Drafting, advising and reviewing schedule of amendments to JCT suite of contracts for clients in a range of industries, both in the UK and abroad including a Belgian Pharmaceutical company expanding into the UK.
- Drafting, providing advice and managing the execution of professional appointments for a range of construction disciplines including architects, quantity surveyors, mechanical & electrical engineers, and structural engineers across various projects, including a multi-million-pound distillery and student accommodation blocks.
- Defending an adjudication valued in excess of £50million arising out of an infrastructure project, concerning the impacts of Covid-19. Assisting with the provision of advice to the employer and participation in settlement discussions with the legal representatives instructed to act on behalf of the main contractor.
- Assisting with the defence/launching of adjudications and provision of advice to main contractors across a range of projects under various standard form and bespoke construction contracts. For example, acting on behalf of a main contractor engaged in numerous road improvement schemes. Disputes and adjudications stemmed from various allegations including alleged entitlement to additional time/money due to a change in the scope of the works and to loss and damage incurred as a result of negligent advice given to the main contractor by a designer at tender stage.
- Advising developers, contractors and insurers in relation to alleged fire safety defects in building façade systems in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.