Archor has become a mainstay of the local construction market, with a strong bench of partners working between Colchester and the firm's Cambridge office. Standout practitioners are Andrew Rush, Ruth Kavanagh and Rory Abel, who are praised as ‘leaders in their field’. The firm has a large team of development specialists, handling high-value greenfield projects and residential refurbishments in sectors such as the healthcare, infrastructure, and hospitality industries. The practice also handles complex adjudications, and manages a high volume of court proceedings, ranging from small County Court claims to multimillion-pound High Court claims. Oli Worth and Carolyn Porter stand out for work on complex disputes.
Construction in East Anglia
Archor
Praxisleiter:
Andrew Rush; Ruth Kavanagh; Rory Abel
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Oli Worth; Carolyn Porter; Hanna McNab
Referenzen
‘They are leaders in their field due to the strength and depth of their team and with them all being specialists.’
‘Rory Abel – is extremely responsive and gives good quality, commercially sound advice. He is always a pleasure to work with.’
‘I have worked with Archor since their inception and find them to be streets ahead of the competition. They have all the usual strengths and resources expected of a diverse, experienced and skilled legal team but alongside one hugely important USP which is their personal non nonsense friendly service.‘
Kernmandanten
Hub Residential
VolkerFitzpatrick Limited
Dunmoore Group
Kadans Science Partner
Amro Real Estate Partners
Higgins Partnerships 1961 PLC
Morrisroe Limited
John Henry Group
Frontier Estates
Compound
Highlight-Mandate
- Acting for Hub Residential on a number of projects across England and Scotland, such as a mixed-use BTR scheme in Maidenhead (Trehus) alongside a timber clad super-sustainable office building targeting net zero carbon emissions, a BREEAM rating of Outstanding and WELL platinum certification.
- Acting for Guildmore in defending multiple adjudications from a sub-contractor on both procedural and substantive (final account) issues, and commencing Part 8 court proceedings for the final resolution of certain disputes.
- Acting for Compound:Re on a number of projects across England, for example assisting on the construction elements of the funding agreement as well as drafting, negotiating and finalising the construction pack of documentation for a £12m net-zero self-storage unit in Milton Keynes.
Birketts LLP
Birketts LLP has a large construction and engineering team in the region, with dedicated team members in Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich. Stefan Harris-Wright in Cambridge leads the practice, while Patrick Cooney is ‘responsive and very good at managing a wide number of different stakeholders’, and Katrina Bretten is known for her non-contentious construction knowledge, frequently assisting the real estate and investment teams with due diligence exercises, acquisitions and disposals. In Ipswich, senior non-contentious construction lawyer Iain Thom is highly regarded. Simon Oats joined the team in May 2025 from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, bringing his extensive expertise in contentious construction work.
Praxisleiter:
Stefan Harris-Wright
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Katrina Bretten; Patrick Cooney; Iain Thom; Emma Chiaramello; Simon Oats
Referenzen
‘Stefan Harris-Wright knows what we require and effortlessly gets the job done so that we are covered in the event of a dispute.’
‘The team gets to grips with the complexities of the task with apparent ease.’
‘Patrick Cooney has a great grasp of our needs. He’s responsive and very good at managing a wide number of different stakeholders on our behalf.’
Kernmandanten
Moor Bio-Energy Limited
Selsdon Building Contractors
Tru Demolition Limited
Stephen James (Automotive) Limited
Acai (Bruton Street) Ltd
Welcome Break
Churchmanor Estates Company Plc
Oxford Instruments NanoTechnology Tools Limited
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
The construction and engineering group at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is ‘readily available when required and always able to assist and pull in the required expertise’. Group head Dominic Lacey, who is also head of the firm’s international infrastructure group with responsibility for transport and digital infrastructure clients, recently worked with transactional construction work specialist Tom Douglas to assist with various financings, land acquisitions and developments documents. Joanne Naylor handles both disputes and transactional matters arising from major infrastructure projects.
Praxisleiter:
Dominic Lacey
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Tom Douglas; Joanne Naylor; Hollie-Mae Mackay
Referenzen
‘Readily available when required and always able to assist and pull in the required expertise.’
‚Dom Lacey, Tom Douglas and Hollie-Mae Mackay are all really good.’
Kernmandanten
Transport for London
London Legacy Development Corporation
National Grid Group
Network Rail
Midland Expressway Limited
Legal and General
Greater London Authority
Persimmon
Audley Group
Costello Medical Consulting Limited
Signature Senior Living
CyrusOne
Witham Fourth District Internal Drainage Board
Mills & Reeve LLP
Mills & Reeve LLP is known for its ‘strong construction contract and procurement knowledge, with a good grasp on current market trends’. Alexandra Pike now leads the Cambridge team, which calls upon the considerable skills of Stuart Thompson, who has experience in construction procurement issues, non-contentious construction work, and government outsourcings; Pike handles both disputes and transactional matters. In the same office, Ed Freeman handles transactional work with a particular focus on senior living and large-scale regeneration work, and Emma Nash focuses on construction and engineering contacts. Emma Raspin in Norwich stands out for projects in the education, later living and renewable energy sectors.
Praxisleiter:
Stuart Thompson; Alexandra Pike
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Ed Freeman; Emma Nash; Emma Raspin; Dominic Taylor
Referenzen
‚Stuart Thompson & Alexandra Pike are both standout individuals, exceptionally knowledgeable on construction law repeatedly offering valuable advice during the establishment, execution and administration of NEC construction contracts.‘
‚They strike an excellent balance between providing clear legal advice and offering pragmatic, real-world solutions that acknowledge the volume of competing priorities and stakeholders we manage. They’ve taken the time to truly understand the construction projects and programmes we’re delivering, enabling them to contribute as an integrated member of the client team rather than as an external legal adviser at arm’s length.‘
‚Emma Nash, Stuart Thompson, Dominic Taylor all give clear professional advice whilst remaining personable and retaining a sense of humour throughout (which helps on our projects!). We could have not have achieved what we have on the programme thus far without them.‘
Kernmandanten
Urban&Civic plc
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Marshall Group
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Albanwise Group including Wallace Estates Limited and Gray’s Inn Capital Limited
John Innes Centre
Railpen
British Medical Association
University of Cambridge
Anglia Ruskin University
Trinity College, Cambridge
British Library Board
University of East London
University of Northampton
Cell Therapy Catapult Limited
The Delivery Authority for the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster
Autolus Limited
Norfolk County Council
Enterprise Retirement Living Ltd
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised the University of Cambridge on the drafting and negotiation of its new contractor and consultant frameworks.
- Advising Urban&Civic on the development of the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton.
- Acting on the development of the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, a £300m new world-class hospital, for Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Greene & Greene
Greene & Greene in Bury St Edmunds stands out for its ‘exceptional depth of expertise combined with a personalised, client-focused approach’. The firm primarily acts for funders, developers, contractors, sub-contractors, and other professionals in contentious matters, and is broadening its scope of transactional work. The ‘practical, effective, and extremely experienced’ Sarah Western leads the construction practice; she is a key adviser to developers, main contractors, and sub-contractors in adjudications and litigation. ‘Smart, sensible, pragmatic’ litigator Rob Adam is ‘a rock star, who brings impressive expertise and a pragmatic approach’. Head of disputes Michael Batty also brings his extensive experience to bear on complex construction disputes. Commercial property partner Hugo Greer-Walker is frequently involved in major construction projects, notably for local authorities.
Praxisleiter:
Sarah Western
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Rob Adam; Michael Batty; Hugo Greer-Walker
Referenzen
‚Sarah Western is practical, effective, and extremely experienced. Any client is lucky to have her as their lawyer.‘
‚Greene & Greene’s construction practice is distinguished by its exceptional depth of expertise combined with a personalised, client-focused approach. The team’s comprehensive understanding of the construction sector, coupled with their ability to deliver clear, pragmatic, and commercially astute advice, truly sets them apart.‘
‚One of the practice’s notable strengths is the seamless collaboration among its solicitors, which ensures that advice is cohesive, timely, and tailored specifically to client requirements.‘
HCR Hewitsons
The firm-wide construction and engineering practice at HCR Hewitsons is led from the Cambridge office, where practice head Colin Jones is a key adviser to developers, contractors, consultants, manufacturers, funders, research bodies, and educational institutions. Jones, who works closely with colleagues in Worcester, excels in assisting with construction agreements and terms of engagement, public procurement projects, and contentious construction matters. Sardeep Gill in Cambridge is also adept in construction contracts and settlements, as well disputes using litigation, adjudication, and arbitration proceedings.
Praxisleiter:
Colin Jones
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Sardeep Gill
JG Poole & Co. LLP
JG Poole & Co. LLP has built on its position as a specialist higher education boutique focused on student accommodation projects, to handle a varied range of non-contentious construction mandates, including construction contracts and refurbishments. The ‘professional, knowledgeable, efficient, pragmatic, commercial, and responsive’ Robert Weatherley leads the Ely-based practice. Katherine Souter left for an in-house role in late 2024.
Praxisleiter:
Robert Weatherley
Referenzen
‘I appreciate and value Robert Weatherley’s responsiveness and proactive approach.’
‘Robert Weatherley is our contact and I respect his advice very much.’
‚Very professional, knowledgeable, efficient, pragmatic, commercial, responsive, good value, easy to work with, presents well to clients. Provides an excellent service. Compared to other practices, the coordination between the team is excellent, streamlined and seamless.‘
Kernmandanten
Knapp UK Limited
Anglia Ruskin University
3PM Project Management
Floorspan Contracts Limited
Breckland Council
Ridgelift Development Management
Tetra Real Estate
St. John’s College Cambridge
University of East Anglia
Uppingham School
West Plaza Management
University of Hertfordshire
Harper Adams University
University of Essex
Birmingham City University
GPF Lewis PLC
United Living Group Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Birmingham City University on a full range of construction contracts for the redevelopment of the BCU campus.
- Advised Knapp UK Limited on the full range of installation contracts and services agreements with customers from across the UK.
- Advised St John’s College Cambridge on the full range of construction contracts for the redevelopment of the College campus.
Prettys Solicitors LLP
The construction group at Ipswich-based firm Prettys Solicitors LLP is ‘always readily available and provides detailed legal advice, whilst also considering the commercial attributes of the matter’. The firm predominantly handles disputes, and is increasing its non-contentious workload, notably the negotiation of contracts in the logistics and healthcare sectors. Practice head Peter Blake specialises in contentious matters; he is ably supported by Michael Booth, whose broad litigation practice includes heavyweight construction disputes.
Praxisleiter:
Peter Blake
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Chris Harrall; Michael Booth
Referenzen
‚Prettys has consistently delivered reliable and balanced advice.‘
‚We have always dealt with Peter Blake, who gives us an honest assessment of any particular scenario along with an explanation of the strengths and weaknesses of our position.‘
‘Dealing with the Pretty’s team was seamless and an enjoyable experience under a cloud of a difficult situation that my business was having to deal with. Their depth of contractual understanding and the ability to relay this in layman’s terms so that it is easily understandable and relatable was a massive positive for me.’
Howes Percival LLP
Howes Percival LLP has a firm-wide construction group that continues to be involved in high-value projects. Led from Leicester by Piet van Gelder, the practice calls on vastly experienced real estate partners in Cambridge, notably Elizabeth Thomas and Michaela Henson. Simon Franklin left the firm in late 2024.
Praxisleiter:
Piet van Gelder
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Elizabeth Thomas; Michaela Henson
Kernmandanten
Turnstone Colchester Limited
Norwich University of the Arts
Amos Group Limited
Universal Piling & Construction
Eurolec Services Limited
Sleaford Building Services Limited
Measom Dryline Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Turnstone Colchester Limited on the final account resolution of a £70m Leisure Development project.
- Acting for mechanical and electrical contractor Eurolec Services Limited in a £30m dispute filed at the High Court of Justice in the Technology and Construction Court (KBD).
- Acting for Drylining contractor Measom Dryline Limited in a £10m claim relating to the Battersea Power Station redevelopment.
Roythornes Solicitors
The Alconbury office of Roythornes Solicitors is an increasingly important hub for the firm’s cross-office construction group, which spans East Anglia and the East Midlands. Martin Jinks focuses on construction and engineering contracts, including outsourcing services and the implementation of large-scale automation projects, and the ‘efficient, knowledgeable and hardworking’ Alex Forster handles construction disputes.
Praxisleiter:
Martin Jinks; Alex Forster
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Elizabeth Rice
Referenzen
‘An excellent firm to work with. Very knowledgeable and experienced in contentious construction matters. In-depth skills and experience across all standard forms ranging from small domestic projects to major projects involving many millions in dispute.’
‘Alex Forster is excellent to work with. Very efficient, knowledgeable and hardworking. Very good on tactics and strategy, and adept at securing successful outcomes for his clients, whether that be through negotiated settlement or adjudication or litigation.’
‚The team at Roythornes has the ability to cut through the jargon and understand the essential and salient points of a deal.‘
Kernmandanten
Automated Materials Handling Life Services Limited
Dyson Farming Ltd
Invar Integration Europe BV
Invar Systems Ltd
LAC Conveyors Systems Ltd
Naylor Nutrition Group Ltd
Staples Brothers Ltd
TGW Limited
TGW Systems BV
TJ Morris Ltd
CS2 Limited
Black Cat Building Consultancy Limited
Drake & Partners
Black Willow Construction Limited
Black Cedar Developments Limited
DLA Architects Practice Limited
Holliday Wharf Management Company Limited
Edmond de Rothschild (UK) Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised TGW Ltd in relation to the £75m warehouse automation fit-out contract for Nike Retail UK at its new Corby facility to be opened in 2027.
- Advised a Registered Provider on development of a new site in Lincolnshire, contract sum c.£4m.