Construction and engineering

Dedicated to the success of your project. Our team of specialists match extensive industry knowledge with highly regarded technical expertise and a reputation for commercial and practical problem solving. We advise on high profile and high value projects around the world and work hard to achieve our clients' goals.
  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Key contacts

Based in London, Hong Kong and Dubai, our dedicated team provides specialist advice on construction and engineering projects around the world. We act for a diverse client base of contractors, government bodies, public authorities, private developers, funders and other stakeholders involved in high value construction and engineering work.

We have advised on a broad range of projects including commercial, industrial, retail, hotel and leisure, energy, utilities and other major projects such as large engineering schemes and infrastructure projects. We have extensive experience of the principal standard form contracts including FIDIC, JCT, NEC, RIBA, ACE, IChemE and IEE as well as many types of bespoke contract.

This gives us a unique perspective on the factors that promote successful projects.

Our approach is to drive projects forward and ensure that obstacles are resolved quickly and efficiently. Whenever the project requires, our team can draw on other specialists to advise in areas such as real estate, planning, finance, public procurement, insurance, employment and tax. We identify risks early and manage them as far as possible.

As well as advising on procurement routes and contract drafting, our team is also relied upon by clients during the construction phase to manage problems on live projects and to prevent disputes arising where we can. Through a combination of tactical advice and timely letters and notices, we put our clients in the best possible position where disputes cannot be avoided.

Our offshore team have extensive experience in dealing with contract negotiation and dispute resolution relating to offshore design, construction, installation and operation. This includes activities such as seismic survey, drilling and exploration subsea and surface installation.

“There is a real team environment and everyone that I have dealt with has been impressive.”
Chambers UK 2021

Accolade Wines

Acting for a global drinks company in a £160 million claim in connection with the defective design and construction of the largest wine production and distribution facility in the UK involving multi-party proceedings in the English High Court.

Walter Lilly

Acting on this leading construction case on global claims, notices, extensions of time, loss and expense and disclosure arising from the development of a £60 million private home in London.

Contractor for gas processing plant in Abu Dhabi

Acting for the contractor on a series of disputes with the main employer and subcontractor relating to a gas processing plant in Abu Dhabi leading to a mediation and ICC arbitration.

NHS Foundation Trust

Acting in relation to disputes arising out of the development of a new £130 million PFI hospital including contractor claims for delay and disruption and additional works.

South African contractor

Advising the contractor on its dispute with its employer under a bespoke contract for power station works and advising on the inadequate extension of time provisions and application of the prevention principle.

Circuit of Wales

Advising the sponsor on this £300 million development of an international motor racing circuit and industrial and technology park.

4C Hotels Group

Advising 4C Hotels Group on the re-development of four connected City of London office buildings into a riverfront hotel development and luxury apartments.

Cofely Fabricom

Advising on the EPC and O&M contracts and ancillary documents for a series of ground mounted solar PV projects in the UK.

Kajima Construction

Advising on multi-party proceedings in the Technology and Construction Court concerning the defective design and construction of an affordable housing development in Leeds.

Leading global engineering contractor

Acting on a major dispute on the London Underground and advising on two adjudications and the subsequent court case successfully overturning the adjudicator's first incorrect decision.

Lawyer

Ron Nobbs Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2280
M:  +44 7831 245 682 Email Ron | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Paul Thwaite Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2341
M:  +44 7881 913 246 Email Paul | Vcard Office:  London

Latest news & insights

11 Jan 2023

From Insights

Covid as a force majeure event in construction

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the construction industry worldwide with many of its stakeholders having experienced severe challenges

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16 Jun 2022

From Insights

Transforming UK public procurement

Since Brexit, and the subsequent pandemic when the direct award of PPE contracts was in the spotlight, the question of how public procurement will be regulated in the ..

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16 Dec 2021

From Insights

UK Public Procurement Reform – the Government's response to public consultation

Back in October, we provided an update on the Cabinet Office's plans for public procurement reform following publication of its Green Paper "Transforming Public Procur..

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20 Sep 2021

From Insights

"Top tips" for the effective management of construction disputes in the Middle East

The construction industry, within the Middle East, has seen a significant rise in both the value and volume of disputes that have arisen following the events of the pa..

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24 Aug 2021

From Insights

The Building Safety Bill and liability for defects

On 5 July 2021, the Government published the draft Building Safety Bill, following much consultation. The draft bill contains three changes that will have a significan..

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06 Aug 2021

From Insights

Assignment under JCT: a costly lesson for beneficiaries

In a recent judgment the TCC has taught a costly lesson to the beneficiary of a purported assignment who was seeking to pursue a claim against a contractor under a JCT..

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02 Aug 2021

From Insights

Back to the start: Supreme Court restores orthodox approach on liquidated damages

The Supreme Court has handed down its long-awaited judgment in Triple Point Technology, Inc v PTT Public Company Ltd [2021] UKSC 29.

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12 Jul 2021

From Insights

When an independent expert has 'unfettered and unsupervised access' to the client - A cautionary tale

The TCC has found a defendant in breach of a Pre Trial Review Order, CPR Part 35 and the Guidance for the Instruction of Experts in Civil Claims 2014 (the "2014 Guidan..

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26 Mar 2021

From Insights

High Court comprehensively rejects Bechtel’s procurement claims against HS2

In the recent High Court judgment Bechtel Ltd v HS2 Ltd [2021] EWHC 458 (TCC) delivered on 4 March 2021, Mr Justice Fraser ruled that HS2 did not breach the Utilities ..

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04 Jan 2021

From Insights

Faster, better, greener: a post-Brexit horizon for UK public projects through the “Construction Playbook”

At the end of last year, the UK Government set out ambitious plans to ensure the construction sector plays a key role in its twin objective of securing the UK’s recove..

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06 Jul 2020

From Insights

Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act received royal assent on 25 June 2020 and comes into force immediately.

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17 Apr 2020

From Insights

COVID-19: Force majeure in UK construction contracts

This alert provides a quick guide on the operation of force majeure in two widely used standard form UK construction contracts – the JCT 2016 Design and Build and NEC ..

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16 Apr 2020

From Insights

COVID-19: Force majeure, frustration and next steps

The unprecedented impact of COVID-19 is having a wide-reaching effect on supply chains in the construction industry.

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13 Jan 2020

From Insights

Force Majeure and the escalation of US-Iran tensions

The recent high profile attacks in Iraq, and their potential ramifications, will be monitored especially closely by parties currently engaged in construction and infra..

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18 Dec 2019

From News

Stephenson Harwood advises Tailam Tech Construction Holdings Limited on HK$102.7 million

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Tailam Tech Construction Holdings Limited on its HK$102.7 million IPO in conjunction with the primary listing of its shares..

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04 Dec 2019

From Insights

“We have a treaty!”

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, hosted a diplomatic conference in Pretoria, to finalise and adopt the fourth protocol to the Cape..

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.