Construction: Contentious | UK

Fenwick Elliott has an acclaimed contentious offering, tackling high-profile disputes in the UK, Asia and North Africa. The team's clients include industry-leading contractors as well as significant owners and developers. Its lawyers are adept at assisting with claims arising from defects, delays and terminated contracts. The firm is particularly active on major renewables, power and infrastructure projects. The team possesses strong knowledge of FIDIC contracts and regularly advises on their drafting and on disputes arising out of their construction.

Mayer Brown has a heavyweight practice that wields considerable strength throughout the entirety of the construction market. The firm assists major insurers, employers and contractors with both transactional and contentious issues. The team possesses a wealth of experience in Middle Eastern and African projects and also handles significant domestic mandates. The firm advises on notable work in the energy, transport and retail sectors, as well as significant residential and mixed-use developments. The construction team continues to act on a number of complex international arbitrations.

Pinsent Masons has a formidable construction practice with market-leading capabilities in domestic disputes, complemented by a strong presence in non-contentious matters and international arbitrations. The team is regularly instructed to assist with contract negotiation and dispute avoidance across the UK and in a variety of other jurisdictions. It is particularly active on significant infrastructure projects and on the construction aspects of energy schemes, including oil and gas, renewable and nuclear power developments. This team primarily acts for significant contractor clients, along with project sponsors and lenders.

Addleshaw Goddard has an impressive construction offering that is well equipped to advise on front-end transactional matters and dispute resolution. The firm regularly represents developers in a host of domestic projects including energy, retail and residential developments. Additional work includes matters in the health, education and manufacturing sectors. The team is noted for its significant international reach, including across Europe, Africa and Asia.

Clyde & Co has a respectable practice with demonstrable abilities in contentious and transactional work in both the infrastructure and commercial development sectors. The team offers experience in energy and transport projects, as well as mixed-use and residential development schemes. It acts for a range of clients in the UK and abroad including market-leading contractors, insurers and developers.

DLA Piper has a prominent group noted for its representation of developers, suppliers, contractors and investors in both transactions and contentious matters. The firm frequently assists clients with claims involving delay damages, substantial defects and wrongful terminations. The team is also noted for its representation of clients in contract negotiations, in addition to its capacity to provide procurement and risk management advice. The firm receives significant instructions in relation to construction matters in a broad range of areas including the leisure, energy and residential development sectors.

White & Case is widely admired for its work on large, high-end projects worldwide, including transport infrastructure, downstream oil and gas developments and nuclear power plants. The team regularly assists clients with delay and disruption claims, as well as procurement strategy and contract negotiation. It offers extensive expertise in the handling of international arbitration proceedings. The firm's clients include major international developers, state-owned entities and prominent contractors.

Beale & Co has a respected team of construction specialists with strong experience in both contentious and non-contentious matters. The team regularly acts for a number of prominent industry clients including consultants, contractors, governments and insurers. Its lawyers are noted for possessing expertise in a number of sectors, including commercial and residential development, energy, transport and utilities. The firm possesses a noteworthy domestic offering which is complemented by international work in Africa and the Middle East.

Herbert Smith Freehills boasts a standout practice with an impressive client base of major corporations and developers. The firm is frequently sought out to advise on energy, transport and property development matters, including some of the largest projects in the UK. The team is also equipped to handle major projects around the world, including Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. It offers notable expertise in contentious matters, with key lawyers frequently representing clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings.

HFW offers a diverse supplier-side practice that counts a number of prominent contractors as clients. Its lawyers are equipped to advise across the entirety of a construction project, from procurement and contractual issues to risk management and dispute resolution. The firm possesses noteworthy expertise in relation to work in the renewable energy and oil and gas sectors, as well as transport infrastructure assets. The team principally assists clients with domestic construction projects alongside additional capabilities in relation to Asian and Middle Eastern developments.

Macfarlanes has a strong domestic property development practice which regularly acts on high-value office, residential and mixed-use projects. The team is noted for its handling of both front-end and back-end matters, including procurement and contract advice, as well as significant PFI disputes. Its lawyers are particularly proficient at representing clients in arbitrations, adjudications and hearings before the Technology and Construction Court. The firm is frequently sought after by a host of contractors, banks, occupiers and corporates.

Stephenson Harwood offers a substantial construction practice with significant strength in representing major developers in the leisure, residential and infrastructure sectors. The firm also has experience of significant construction mandates for clients in the energy, education and health sectors, including representing facilities management contractors in disputes. The team frequently assists with claims concerning allegations of design and construction defects, as well as termination, payment and delay issues.

Vinson & Elkins has a well-regarded construction disputes practice with a particularly strong reputation for its work on international arbitration proceedings. The team is especially active on contentious aspects of energy and infrastructure sector projects, acting for both developer and supplier-side clients. It possesses notable expertise in handling claims relating to projects across the entirety of the oil and gas value chain.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner is a strong team with a leading presence in contentious and non-contentious construction work in the domestic market. The firm represents leading contractor and developer clients involved in large-scale energy, infrastructure and leisure development projects. Its lawyers are highly adept at providing multidisciplinary advice in relation to real estate, planning, finance and tax issues arising from construction projects.

Charles Russell Speechlys has a prominent domestic practice with talented practitioners across the full breadth of construction law. The team acts for significant purchasers and suppliers on major transactions and disputes, with particular prowess in commercial and residential development matters. Its domestic offering is complemented by experience handling international infrastructure projects, including renewable energy schemes and transport developments.

Dentons has a talented team with considerable strength across a number of practice areas including energy, transport and commercial development. The team is noted for its expertise in disputes concerning delays, disruption and defective design for renewable energy and oil and gas projects, as well as transport infrastructure and mixed-use developments. This practice primarily represents domestic and international developer clients, as well as funders and contractors. It carries out significant international work and has considerable experience of claims involving large projects in CIS countries and the Middle East.

Fieldfisher has an accomplished team noted for its ability on both contentious and non-contentious construction mandates. The firm assists contractors and developers with arbitrations, adjudications and proceedings before the Technology and Construction Court, particularly in relation to delay, defect and final account claims. The team is also adept at assisting with contractual aspects of energy and social infrastructure developments, as well as residential and commercial properties. It is noted for its proficiency in both domestic matters and issues arising out of projects in Africa.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a respected firm with strong capabilities across both contentious and non-contentious construction matters, including international arbitrations. The team provides high-quality representation of clients carrying out infrastructure and development projects worldwide. Its lawyers are highly adept at advising on matters in the nuclear and natural resources sectors, as well as PFI work. Freshfields' construction practice regularly handles work on behalf of government departments, contractors and energy companies. The team is also skilled in advising on construction-related insolvency matters.

Hogan Lovells has a strong practice with acknowledged strength in the full range of construction work. The team commands significant experience acting on contentious and non-contentious matters for both contractors and developers. It acts on big-ticket matters in the UK and around the globe, often advising on energy and property development issues. The firm's London team is complemented by an extensive global network of offices. Hogan Lovells regularly acts for an impressive range of employers, contractors and funders.

K&L Gates houses a multi-talented practice with strength in both contentious and transactional work and acting for clients on both the supplier and purchaser sides of the market. The team is particularly adept at advising on transport infrastructure and upstream oil and gas projects, as well as manufacturing and mixed-use schemes. The firm supplements its domestic offering with considerable international capabilities, particularly when handling construction projects in Africa and the Middle East. It offers extensive experience acting for developers in connection with rail construction and improvement projects.

Norton Rose Fulbright is a full-service firm that provides assistance to clients throughout the life-cycle of projects, from front-end contracts to any resulting disputes. Its lawyers are prominent in oil and gas, transport, utilities and mining matters. The firm's client base includes investors, developers, contractors and project companies. The team is proficient in handling matters in the UK and various other jurisdictions, including across Africa and Europe. It is noted for its expertise in relation to claims arising out of the termination of PPP and PFI construction projects.

Osborne Clarke is proficient at handling contentious construction matters and regularly appears in proceedings before the Technology and Construction Court. The firm possesses strong expertise in PFI disputes, as well as claims concerning defects in energy, residential and mixed-use developments. The team acts for a varied client base including developers, contractors, government entities and notable corporates. Its lawyers are adept at handling proceedings that relate to projects in the UK and the Middle East.

Trowers & Hamlins fields a reputable construction practice that handles both contentious and non-contentious matters. Areas of expertise include energy, housing and transport construction matters. Its lawyers are regularly instructed by developers as well as local authorities, government agencies and housing associations. The team is well placed to advise on modular construction projects in the UK and has additional capabilities in relation to schools projects. It is noted for its capacity to assist with claims for the cost of defects and remedial works in relation to cladding and other fire safety issues.

Watson Farley & Williams has a respected construction practice offering contentious and non-contentious representation to clients in a wide range of sectors including transport and energy. The firm's client base includes noteworthy developers, contractors, consultants and financial entities. The team possesses significant experience in relation to renewable energy developments, including offshore wind, solar and biomass projects.

Ashurst has an established construction practice which is regularly called upon to advise developers on the contractual aspects of domestic infrastructure and energy developments. Its lawyers are highly experienced in major retail and residential schemes. The team also offers significant experience of solar and waste-to-energy projects, as well as social infrastructure developments such as hospitals and roads.

Devonshires has a robust contentious construction practice. The team regularly handles delay and defects cases, as well as cladding-related disputes. The firm undertakes considerable work on behalf of local authorities, developers and contractors. The team often handles significant commercial projects across London.

Fladgate has a recognised construction practice, capable of advising clients on contentious and non-contentious construction matters. The firm's client base ranges from developers and suppliers to investors and cultural entities, such as museums. The practice covers a number of large-scale London projects, as well as energy and infrastructure developments further afield.

Forsters is a well-respected firm with a strong reputation for purchaser-side representation in both a contentious and non-contentious capacity. The team receives regular instructions to advise clients on large-scale domestic residential and commercial developments. Its lawyers can assist with construction-related disputes, with experience in representing clients in the Technology and Construction Court, as well as arbitrations and adjudications.

Gowling maintains a substantial team of construction lawyers who are well placed to advise institutional investors, contractors and developers both within the UK and internationally. Its lawyers are regularly instructed on energy and infrastructure, residential, retail and leisure projects, providing guidance on issues such as cladding and fire safety. The firm commands a noteworthy international presence, with particular strength in Europe and the Middle East.

RPC has a respected construction practice, with its lawyers assisting clients with a range of contentious matters. The team represents clients ranging from consultants such as architects and surveyors to contractors and specialist subcontractors. The firm brings to bear its close ties with the insurance industry to advise leading insurer stakeholders on issues such as defects, payment notices and, notably, claims relating to cladding and fire safety.

Sharpe Pritchard has a strong reputation for representing public sector clients in a wide range of transactional issues and disputes. The firm's clients include local government bodies from around the UK, as well as social housing providers and NHS trusts. Its lawyers are equipped to advise on education, energy and urban redevelopment construction projects, among other matters. The firm offers clients a dedicated construction adjudication team capable of advising on the full range of construction disputes.