Fenwick Elliott LLP

Senior Partner: Simon Tolson

Number of Partners: 25

Number of other fee earners: 36

Total staff: 90

DUBAI CONTACTS

Patrick Stone, Leonie Sellers

THE FIRM Fenwick Elliott is the largest specialist construction and energy law firm in the UK, serving international clients in the building, engineering and energy sectors. Since their formation in 1986 Fenwick Elliott has always advised solely on construction matters; making them a true construction law specialist firm.

In 2015 Fenwick Elliott opened their first office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates — reflecting the importance of the Middle East market for the firm and the increasing demand for their services in the region. Having gone from strength-to-strength, the Dubai office has since become Fenwick Elliott’s international hub, serving a wide range of clients across the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. Fenwick Elliott has acted on a wide range of major infrastructure construction projects worldwide, including power stations, refineries, pipelines, process plants, dams, bridges, roads, airports, stadia, hospitals, universities and schools.

The firm has extensive experience advising on major construction, infrastructure and energy projects in the Middle East.

Fenwick Elliott combines this expert industry knowledge with its extensive knowledge of local Middle Eastern laws and practices to represent clients at all levels of the construction supply chain, including employers, contractors, architects, institutional investors, governments and consultants. Fenwick Elliott’s specialist focus means it understands all types of construction and energy projects and how they are managed, where and why problems occur and, importantly, clients’ underlying commercial objectives.

Whilst Fenwick Elliott advises on every aspect of the construction process including procurement strategy, contract documentation, negotiation and risk management, the main focus of the Middle East practice lies in contentious construction: specifically complex construction arbitration (both domestic and international).

Fenwick Elliott has a well-earned reputation for advising clients on a broad range of projects including Commercial buildings, infrastructure, renewables and alternatives, water and utilities, nuclear, oil and gas, healthcare, transport, power, leisure, housing, retail, education, health and IT.

PRINCIPAL AREAS OF WORK

Contentious Construction (Inc. ADR & Arbitration): 80%

Non-contentious Construction: 20%

Dispute Avoidance & Dispute Resolution: Fenwick Elliott is highly experienced in this field, from providing assistance with amicable settlement and formalised mediation, through to dispute adjudication boards and both domestic and international arbitration. Fenwick Elliott have a vast amount of experience in the majority of the world-leading arbitral institutions, including: DIAC, ICC, LCIA, SIAC, SCCA, UNCITRAL and ICSID arbitration rules, as well as under ad hoc and bespoke arbitration rules. The firm is used to working closely with in-house counsel and local counsel. The team is also well versed in FIDIC and other dispute resolution boards procedures.

While the firm takes whatever steps are necessary to resolve disputes, including arbitration, their primary focus is to avoid disputes and much of its work is in the form of day-to-day project support, including strategic advice, and review of project correspondence/notices to enable its clients to manage and effectively address problems as they arise, thereby, where possible, avoiding formal procedures.

The majority of the firm’s work in this field concerns disputes up to $2bn arising out of major international construction, infrastructure and energy projects. The geographical spread of the firm’s work is worldwide. Fenwick Elliott have developed a close relationship with a number of major international contractors whom they are advising on a number of disputes and strategic matters throughout the Middle East, Africa and the Southeast Asia. The firm also seeks enforcement around the world in respect of international arbitration awards and assists clients in respect of making calls on bonds or guarantees in many jurisdictions.

Procurement Strategy, Project, Contract & Documentation Advice: Fenwick Elliott advises clients internationally on procurement options; contract preparation and negotiation; document appraisal and risk analysis; partnering and framework agreements; and facilities management. Fenwick Elliott’s expertise covers the full spectrum of construction projects documentation including standard form and bespoke contracts; design and build; engineer, procure and construct/turnkey (EPC); joint venture agreements; partnering; alliancing and framework agreements; and service/supply contracts.