Demonstrating varied sector expertise, ranging from commercial development to residential and leisure, the Gowling WLG team deploys a ‘practical approach’ whilst acting on behalf of multinational developers and institutional clients. The practice has a strong contentious offering, notably handling claims arising out of the Grenfell Tower tragedy concerning cladding, fire safety and building regulation compliance, alongside advising on inner-city regeneration schemes, and negotiating construction contracts. Based out of Birmingham, Michael O’Shea and Richard Green co-head the department, specialising in complex adjudication disputes and procurement strategy matters. Daniel Wood focuses on renewable generation initiatives, whilst Sarah Dyer is knowledgeable on building defect cases.

Representing clients from across the energy, healthcare, and infrastructure spaces, the Mills & Reeve LLP team is ‘a cut above many’, routinely drafting construction contracts and advising on redevelopment projects. The practice’s contentious offering is broad, covering cases relating to fire safety defects, unlawful contract terminations and disputes arising between clients and contractors. The duo of Stuart Pemble and Martino Giaquinto co-head the division from Birmingham, with the former specialising in project management and transactional construction issues, whilst the ‘very impressive’ latter being an expert in energy-based cases. Caroline Foster focuses on development finance agreements, and both Jastinder Samra and Iain Murdoch are also highlighted as key.

Leveraging its ‘wealth of experience and knowledge’, the Squire Patton Boggs team has extensive expertise in the energy construction sphere, regularly advising on multifuel power generation facilities and wind farm projects. The practice has comprehensive cross-sector knowledge in the infrastructure, commercial real estate and automotive industries, with the trio of Graeme Bradley, Robert Norris, and Ray O’Connor heading up the Birmingham-based outfit. The ‘proactive’ Norris focuses on engineering and construction matters, whilst Bradley and O’Connor are specialists in complex despite proceedings. Both Matt Bromilow and Gerald Buckley are also highlighted as key.

Displaying extensive cross sector experience in the nuclear and renewable energy spheres, the ‘good quality’ practice at Browne Jacobson LLP consistently handles construction disputes and negotiates modular construction contracts. The team has expertise in providing the full range of legal services associated with constructing engineering facilities and medical centres, whilst Zoe Stollard leads the West Midlands offering, specialising in the building of renewable energy premises. Scott Mounfield acts on behalf of education and local authority entities, and Emma Wake is noted for her dispute resolution work. Jonathan Vickers joined the practice in 2024.

Headed by the ‘highly knowledgeable and experienced’ Nigel Blundell, Pinsent Masons LLP routinely acts on residential regeneration schemes, infrastructure projects, and major refurbishments. The expertise extends to drafting and negotiating pre-construction services agreements and building contracts, and the practice demonstrates niche insight into the education, rail, and real estate industries. Blundell specialises in representing central and local governments in complex building schemes. Sam Pitt is also noted as key. The whole team operates out of Birmingham.

Counting real estate investment firms, multinational housebuilders and property investors amongst its key clients, Shoosmiths LLP deploys a ‘very personal approach’ when advising on regeneration projects and energy developments. The Birmingham-based team’s expertise spans across the automotive, infrastructure and coastal defence sectors, with the ‘superb’ co-head Patrick Garner being regarded as a non-contentious development specialist, whilst the other co-lead, Andrew Outram specialises in the strategic aspects of major construction initiatives. Michael Bennett acts for employers and contractors, and Natalie Maye is also highlighted as key.

Displaying vast expertise in advising on construction contracts for decarbonisation projects, cladding remediation schemes and regeneration initiatives, the Birmingham-based Trowers & Hamlins LLP team is characterised by ‘impressive response times’ and ‘attention to detail’. Paul Scott heads the contentious offering, specialising in high profile disputes arising from infrastructure projects, whilst Victoria Bell is an expert in acting for private developers, RPs and local authority clients, having re-joined the practice from DLA Piper in February 2023. Adam Thompson is also highlighted as a key contact.

Demonstrating knowledge in complex construction disputes relating to public procurement of works contracts, fire safety defects and defective cladding claims, the Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP practice routinely represents local councils and multinational housing trusts. Based out of Birmingham, the team is led by Paul Slinger and Richard Brooks, with the former being a dedicated construction claims lawyer, and the latter advising clients in the housing and social enterprise sectors. Andrew Lancaster focuses on procurement cases in the Technology and Construction Court.

The Birmingham-based Bevan Brittan LLP practice has in-depth experience in handling major infrastructure initiatives and PFI projects in the health, education and waste sectors, alongside assisting both employers and contractors with adjudications. Louise Robling heads the contentious construction team, specialising in negotiations leading to improvements in PFI contract performance and financial compensation, whilst the head of construction, Andrew Tobin, consistently acts for clients in the health and education industries. Charles Harrison is knowledgeable on development funding agreements, and Emma Beynon focuses on PPP disputes.

Boasting a diverse client-base including FTSE 100 companies and blue chip corporates, the DLA Piper practice has extensive expertise in assisting with the largest UK regeneration projects and mixed-use residential schemes. In Birmingham, Stephen Malley heads the construction offering, advising clients in relation to procurement and development work, with a particular focus on the hotel, leisure and life sciences sectors. Jaskiran Bansal is also noted as a key contact.

Handling the full lifecycle of major construction and engineering projects, ranging from contract drafting to dispute avoidance and resolution, the Freeths LLP practice has in-depth expertise in the clean energy tech and renewables spaces. Operating out of Birmingham, Perveen Akhter heads the team, routinely assisting clients on complex building contracts and infrastructure initiatives, whilst the ‘very knowledgeable’ Alex Johnson is an expert in all forms of dispute resolution. Alison Heathcote acts for local authorities and developers, and Stephen Evans is also highlighted.

Led by the Cambridge-based head Colin Jones, the Harrison Clark Rickerbys practice specialises in complex contentious construction claims, spanning from defective underpinning to applicable contract terms. Jones is knowledgeable on public procurement matters, Worcester-based Andrew James focuses on complex adjudication cases and mediations, and since joining from Wright Hassall LLP in April 2023, Sandra Piaskowska advises on engineering disputes from Birmingham. Paul Johnston left the firm in November 2023.

Acting on behalf of multinational housing associations, universities and building contractors, the Shakespeare Martineau LLP practice regularly advises on construction documents and residential developments. The Birmingham-based team is led by Ruth Phillips, who specialises in drafting and negotiating all forms of building contracts and collateral warranties, whilst Alex Smith assists funders and developers. Laura Taylor is knowledgeable on complex disputes, and Adam Watson has experience in construction litigation.

Wright Hassall LLP has extensive expertise in handling JCT Design and Build contracts, NEC3s and development projects. Michael Hiscock heads the outfit, being an expert in complex engineering contracts, and Philip Harris is a practising adjudicator and arbitrator. Since joining the team from IBB Law in March 2023, the ‘very attentive and personal’ Steven Hayward specialises in technically complex adjudications and Technology and Construction Court litigation proceedings. The whole team is based out of Leamington Spa.

Providing a ‘consistently high level of service’, the Clarke Willmott LLP team, led from Manchester by James Driver, is particularly noted for its expertise in handling disputes originating from building contracts, acting for both employers and contractors. In Birmingham, construction litigator Mark Scotney is also an accredited mediator, and Peter McHugh excels in multi-party disputes; he handles a mixture of construction disputes, mediation and arbitration proceedings.

Primarily acting for privately owned developers, Lodders Solicitors LLP provides expert advice on the procurement and construction of commercial distribution centres, business parks and residential schemes. Described as an ‘excellent construction lawyer’, Heidi Brennan heads the practice from Birmingham, specialising in property developments, alongside drafting and negotiating building contracts. Kate Woodhall focuses on novation agreements and collateral warranties.