Leading Associates

Firms To Watch: Construction

The arrival in October 2024 of James Williams from Acuity Law was a noted boost for Clarke Willmott LLP‘s non-contentious construction capabilities.

Construction in Wales

Blake Morgan LLP

Blake Morgan LLP‘s Cardiff team provides a ‘customer-focused’ service to a variety of stakeholders on advisory and contentious work, both regionally and UK-wide. On the contractual front, team head Joanna Rees is at ‘the top of her game’, providing advice to developers on major Wales-based matters, as well as for public sector clients, including Cardiff Council, which she advises on all its infrastructure and education projects. With ‘hugely impressive attention to detail’, Kate Howell regularly acts in construction disputes, including in an insolvency context, as well as in relation to fire-safety and cladding-related matters.

Praxisleiter:

Joanna Rees


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Kate Howell; Natalie Taylor; Sophie Latham; Miles Murphy


Referenzen

‚Blake Morgan is one of the leading UK-wide firms specialising in construction and engineering, infrastructure, and energy. They offer excellent commercial understanding of those sectors and of the complex technical disputes that arise in this area.‘

‚They take time to know the person, the culture of the business aligned to providing the best legal advice for all aspects of the construction/built environment industry.‘

‚Joanna Rees is at the top of the game with her knowledge, guidance and advice.‘

Kernmandanten

Cardiff Council


NKLA Limited


Cardiff Council


Gower College Swansea


Transport for Wales


Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council


Cardiff Council


Cardiff University


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised Cardiff Council, on the £108m construction of Fairwater School, advising on a rescue deal after the insolvency of its main contractor ISG which involved novation to a replacement contractor together with all the supply chain intact.
  • Advised KLA Ltd in relation to the delivery of a new build award winning Manufacturing and Research facility for Compound Semi-Conductors in Newport.
  • Advising Cardiff Council working with Transport for Wales on the procurement and construction of a new tram link between Cardiff Central and Cardiff Bay.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP

Led from Cardiff by Alison Short, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP handles a significant range and volume of transactional construction work. Short excels in advising key stakeholders on big-ticket UK-wide energy and infrastructure projects, including for EDF Energy’s associated companies with regard to the £33bn Hinkley Point C new nuclear power station project. James Molland takes the lead on traditional construction work in the private sector real estate space, acting for a diverse array of stakeholders, including developers, funders and corporate occupiers.

Praxisleiter:

Alison Short


Weitere Kernanwälte:

James Molland; Sacha Bacco; Natasha Nicholas; Bethan Davies


Referenzen

‚Eversheds Sutherland has supported us in many ways. Their expertise on commercial property has been particularly helpful.‘

Kernmandanten

Welsh Water Limited/Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig


Sizewell C Limited


NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited


Stena Line Limited


Wales & West Utilities Limited


Annington Property Limited


Precede Capital Partners


Tilia Homes Limited


Latium Enterprises


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising Nuclear New Build Generation Company (HPC) Limited and Sizewell C Limited in respect of contracts relating to the design and construction of new nuclear power stations at Hinkley Point C in Somerset and Sizewell C in Suffolk.
  • Advising Welsh Water on a new water treatment works to be procured through Ofwat’s DPC model for the delivery of large infrastructure projects in the water sector.
  • Advised Tilia Homes on the construction aspects of its £125m sustainability-linked finance deal with HSBC UK and Homes England.

Geldards LLP

Geldards LLP has developed a notable reputation for handling big-ticket public sector-led infrastructure projects, including those operated utilising the Mutual Investment Model (MIM). Experienced team head Tony Norris regularly assists the Welsh government with high-profile transactions, as well as advising local authorities on drafting framework agreements and related disputes. Claire Laviers also regularly assists Norris on big-ticket mandates, as well as handling matters for public and private sector entities.

Praxisleiter:

Tony Norris


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Claire Laviers; Grace Day


Referenzen

‚They have a wealth of practical knowledge that is applied in real world situations.‘

‚Geldards are practical and understand construction, not just the words written in a construction contract.‘

‘Tony Norris is well known and respected in the industry.’

Kernmandanten

Carmarthenshire County Council (Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin)


Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council


National Grid Electricity Distribution PLC (NGED)


Sacyr UK Limited


London Borough of Merton


CWC Group/Clowes Developments (UK) Limited


The Welsh Ministers/Welsh Government


CCR Energy Ltd


Nottingham City Council


Bowmer & Kirkland Group


Wandsworth Borough Council


Pembrokeshire County Council


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising international contractor Sacyr Construction on the £800m new Velindre Cancer Care facility in Cardiff.
  • Advising the Welsh Government and drafting model clauses for consultation and publication to comply with the Welsh Government’s obligations under the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023.
  • Advising Cardiff Capital Region Energy Limited on the redevelopment of a 489-acre site including the decommissioned coal fired Aberthaw power station to create a Green Energy Park.

Hugh James

Led by Ioan Prydderch, the ‘very experienced’ team at Hugh James provides ‘efficient and effective’ advice to contractors, developers and employers across a range of construction, energy and infrastructure projects throughout Wales and the UK. Iwan Jenkins has a notable reputation for handling non-contentious matters, including energy and transport sector work. He is also adept at handling social housing-related construction matters, as is Matthew Stevens, who is active in transactions and a skilled litigator, acting for housing associations with regard to costs recovery stemming from defective cladding.

Praxisleiter:

Ioan Prydderch


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Iwan Jenkins; Matthew Stevens; Alun Tobias; Rebecca Scrafton


Referenzen

‚They have a very experienced team, which also assists when dealing with complex issues where specific expertise is required.‘

‚They provide pragmatic and cost-effective solutions.‘

‚Matthew Stevens and Iwan Jenkins provide sound and pragmatic advice.‘

Kernmandanten

Pobl


Welsh Government


Platform Housing Association


WRU


Brackley Investments Limited


Welsh Power


Cardiff City Council


Great Point Studios


ROCKWOOL


Celsa


Highlight-Mandate


  • Provided construction advice to the Welsh Rugby Union in relation to the design and construction of a new sky walk and zipline tourist attraction at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
  • Advising Welsh Power on a number of multi-million pound energy projects in relation to the delivery of the Pathfinder 2 and Pathfinder 3 programme by Welsh Power for the National Grid.
  • Advising the Celsa Group on its negotiations with the main contractor joint ventures in connection with the HS2 and Hinkley Power Station projects.

Acuity Law

Acuity Law is a go-to offering for clients seeking risk management and litigation advice in relation to construction matters. Team head Philip Graham excels at advising clients on delay and final account claims, in particular; Graham also receives considerable support from commercial litigator Huw Roffe. On the non-contentious front, real estate practitioner Ben Honour handles construction-related mandates for developer clients in the private sector.

Praxisleiter:

Philip Graham


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Harriet Butterfield; Ben Honour; Huw Roffe; Emma Hutchings; Carys Griffith


Referenzen

‚I have dealt with a number of members of the team and they are always willing to help, friendly and attentive.‘

‚They understand commercial realities and are prepared to look for the best solution, not just a legal mantra.‘

Kernmandanten

Century Wharf RTM (Three) Limited


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised Century Wharf RTM (Three) Limited on a variety of construction contracts, professional appointments and the completion of associated warranty documentation in respect of a large-scale remediation scheme in excess of 750 apartments spread over more than 15 separate blocks.

Berry Smith

With ‘exceptional commercial awareness’, Berry Smith is a notable choice for employers and contractors bringing or defending claims relating to a variety of construction disputes, including with regard to alleged defects and dilapidation issues. Many of the cases also include overlapping allegations of professional negligence, an area of expertise for ‘outstanding’ team head Iwan Doull.

Praxisleiter:

Iwan Doull


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Lauren Parsons; Antony Gibbons


Referenzen

‚The team displays exceptional commercial awareness.‘

‚The lawyers at the firm are able to concisely explain complex legal arguments to the lay person.‘

‚Iwan Doull is outstanding.‘

Kernmandanten

Arag Plc


Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council


TP 360 Ltd


Storage Giant Ltd


Stone Supplies (Bristol) Ltd


Welsh Government


Wordsworth Construction Management Ltd


Chalmers & Co (Sussex) Limited


DJ Civils


SD Shopfitters


Highlight-Mandate


  • Acted for Stone Supplies (Bristol) Ltd in defending a £5.4m claim brought against it in the High Court by a national housebuilder.
  • Representing Blaenau Gwent County Council in a claim in the High Court for over £1.3m against a national provider of asbestos surveying services in relation to the demolition of a regional hub leisure centre.
  • Successfully represented Wordsworth Construction Management in a complex cross adjudication enforcement claim in the TCC.

Browne Jacobson

Under the leadership of Gavin Hoccom, Browne Jacobson has gained traction in the local market as well as handling a notable amount of work outside of Wales, acting for contractors, developers and construction product manufacturers. Hoccom is adept at handling work through all stages of a project’s lifecycle, including in relation to any disputes which may arise. He also has niche expertise providing risk management advice to ensure compliance with the Building Safety Act.

Praxisleiter:

Gavin Hoccom


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Cullan Wing; Cai O’Kane


Kernmandanten

CBRE GWS Limited


Centregreat Limited


Development Bank of Wales


Federation of Master Builders


GPF Lewis Plc.


Harmony Fire Limited


Mace Construct Limited


Siderise Insulation Limited


Sir Robert McAlpine Limited


Willmott Dixon Construction Limited


Morgan LaRoche

Morgan LaRoche has a strong reputation throughout south west Wales and the west of England among developers, contractors and housing associations, handling a mix of contentious and non-contentious matters. Team head Steve Mundy is ‘very calm under pressure and has a clear understanding of his client’s needs and strategic aims’.

Praxisleiter:

Steve Mundy


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Eleanor Laxton; Gabrielle Goodhead.


Referenzen

‚Steve Mundy is very calm under pressure and has a clear understanding of his client’s needs and strategic aims.‘

Kernmandanten

Bristol Airport


SUL D&B Limited


Castell Group Ltd


2nd Generation Facades Limited


Mercian Developments Limited


Atkin Trade Specialists Limited


J.G Hale Construction Limited


Liberty Properties Developments Limited


Skyline Swansea Limited


Hallmark Care Homes Group Holdings


Short Bros Homes Limited


OPC Law Limited

Boutique construction firm OPC Law Limited handles work for a balanced mix of private and public sector clients. Founding partner Sam O’Callaghan assists with contentious and contract drafting matters, as well as advising contracting authorities on public procurement matters pursuant to major construction and infrastructure projects.

Praxisleiter:

Sam O’Callaghan


Kernmandanten

Urban Centric


Wakefield Developments Pembrokeshire


Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council


Newport City Council


Monmouthshire Housing Association


Amgen Cymru


Cardiff Council


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised Urban Centric on the construction documentation for a high-profile, £30m+ development in Cardiff.
  • Advised Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC on the construction and procurement of a c.£80m school project.
  • Advised Monmouthshire Housing Association on the construction documentation for its largest ever development (120 homes).