Construction & Engineering
Our team covers both the “front end” of projects, drafting and negotiating the documents, and dealing with the disputes which sometimes arise on construction projects.
Specialist Construction and Engineering lawyers
Freeths has a team of around 30 construction and engineering law specialists. Our team covers both the “front end” of projects, drafting and negotiating the documents, and dealing with the disputes which sometimes arise on construction projects, whether via negotiation and settlement or some more formal dispute resolution procedure.
The many issues the construction and engineering sector has had to deal with since Brexit and COVID and the invasion of Ukraine (cost inflation, labour shortages, particularly skilled labour, recession, political uncertainties, to name but a few) have created stresses within the sector. The rising number of contractor insolvencies being one obvious symptom of this.
Construction and engineering projects are still going ahead and are benefitting both the UK as a whole and the companies involved in the projects. Both customers for new projects and those delivering new projects have opportunities to seize, but the levels of risk are higher than in more normal times. To avoid the worst of the risks and maximise the opportunities, you need to focus on:
- careful set-up of projects, including well thought out advice on the procurement structure, well drafted and negotiated contracts, and clear focus on payment profile, payment security (bonds, guarantees, retentions, etc); and
- prompt responses to any signs of stress – using the contractual machinery properly, early engagement with a client or supplier who seems to be struggling, and adopting creative solutions to deal with problems before they become critical.
Our Construction & Engineering team cover all aspects of the built environment and process plant, from infrastructure to commercial and residential buildings, via offices, retail, logistics and production facilities. Every building, engineering and process plant project has its unique challenges and risks, and you will benefit from a large and specialised legal team that knows exactly what it’s doing.
Key contact
Chris Holwell
Partner & National Head of Construction & Engineering
Contact our construction team:
Why choose our construction expertise?
- A proactive and commercially-focussed team, with a pragmatic approach to problem solving
- Our nationally-acclaimed specialist team of construction lawyers work exclusively in this field
- We pride ourselves on being honest and building a long-term business relationship with you
- You can rely on our in-depth and wide-ranging knowledge to add value to your projects and to resolve your disputes cost-effectively
- We understand the sector, with clients on the employer, funder and supply sides of the industry
- We can advise you on how to avoid risks, in a way which the other parties to the project will be able to accept. We can then produce a clear cost/benefit analysis of any dispute and the potential resolution of it.
Our accreditations
We are celebrating another year of accreditations and rankings.
Our team of construction & engineering lawyers are renowned for their no-nonsense approach; quickly tackling difficulties head on and using their experience of the market to anticipate issues – not “processing” things.
Who we work with
Our clients are some of the best-known names in the construction & engineering industry and have an excellent reputation across the UK.
We have clients, experience and expertise on all sides of the construction & engineering industry, acting for public and private sector employers, contractors, funds, consultants and sub-contractors, therefore we can produce solutions which all parties can live with. We don’t take unsustainable entrenched positions which slow or kill a project, or delay cost-effective resolution of a dispute. Call us to see how we can help.
"The construction practice at Freeths has a depth of talent we haven’t found at any other firm. They are responsive and dynamic in dealing with any matter for which we have sought help, and have always achieved good results. You know you are in safe hands with Freeths."
The Legal 500, 2024
Notable work
- Advising an Indian iron ore mining company in a US$45 million ICC arbitration with a Dubai trading company, including defending a challenge to jurisdiction in the High Court (Emirates Trading Agency LLC. V. Prime Mineral Exports Private Limited [2014] EWHC 2014 (comm)).
- Drafting a bespoke funding agreement between the Department for Transport and the County Council, in connection with the delivery by the County Council of the multi million pound project for the A50 growth corridor at Uttoxeter, on behalf of Highways England.
- Acting for London Luton Airport in relation to construction and engineering contracts for their expansion project (published value £150 million). The project included a major expansion to the terminal building; including a significant extension with fit-out and refurbishment of the existing building with work both airside and landside, building a new aircraft access pier to accommodate additional aircraft arrival and departure gates, and new roads, car parks (including multi-storey) and accessways to increase the airport’s capacity from 12 million passengers a year to 18 million.
- Representing a claimant in a £6 million basement defects dispute. This included multi-party action, including claims of negligence against two of the professional team and claims in respect of workmanship and materials against the contractor. The claim was settled in mediation on acceptable terms to client.
- Acting for a city council in a dispute on payment notice under the Construction Act. Worked with the client to present a merits-based defence and successfully defended the claimant’s application for summary judgment, recovered costs and claim discontinued by the claimant. Volkerlaser Ltd v Nottingham City Council [2016] EWHC 1501.
- Acting for the Employer on a £2.5 million claim arising from a failure to serve Construction Act Payment Notices. The Technology and Construction Court judgment in this case was widely reported as of relevance to many construction industry professionals. The claim was resolved in favour of the Employer and within the agreed legal cost budget.
- Acting for an engineering company in relation to claims brought by a sub-contractor for works carried out on a submarine rescue vehicle which required analysis of complex design issues. The claim was settled at mediation within the parameters identified in our risk report to the client.
- Acting for a Developer threatened with suspension and termination by Design & Build Contractor in works relating to the refurbishment of office premises to residential use. Contractor in delay, fire safety issues to be resolved. Contractor claimed £2 million+. Developer client could not afford to terminate Contractor, however strong the case, because of the longstop date exposure to funders. Dispute resolved by contract variation on “nuisance” terms within 26 days of instruction.
What our clients say
"I find working with Freeths a real pleasure because of the mutual respect given to what our respective firms can contribute to the solutions/succe...
The Legal 500, 2025
"Our company appointed Freeths for a construction dispute in early 2023. Freeths were outstanding, they quickly understood the complex issues facin...
The Legal 500, 2025
"Team players. Exceptional at controlling and managing the resolution of a construction dispute by working as a team with the construction professi...
The Legal 500, 2025
"We have used Freeths for many years and they know our business inside out. They understand our attitude toward risk and always present their advic...
The Legal 500, 2025
"The team can explore matters across a range of legal disciplines, the firm has the breadth to assist wherever the matter leads them. The teams are...
The Legal 500, 2025
"Freeths provide sound, practical advice on a range of complex matters, taking into consideration commercial aspects and tailoring the advice to ou...
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"They are very knowledgeable and helpful. It is always a pleasure to work with Freeths. They are excellent all round."
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"They understand the client very well and adapt their commercial advice and feedback accordingly."
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"The lawyers understand how things work in practice and think commercially to get the right outcome for our business."
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"The construction practice at Freeths has a depth of talent we haven’t found at any other firm. They are responsive and dynamic in dealing with any...
The Legal 500, 2024
"Very experienced construction lawyers working in small teams who have a pragmatic approach to achieving resolution of disputes in the most effecti...
The Legal 500, 2024
"The Construction team at Freeths have assisted us in compiling our standard forms of amendments to construction contracts plus template consultant...
The Legal 500, 2024
"We have used Freeths for over 20 years and have always received an excellent service. They have taken the time to understand our business and how...
The Legal 500, 2024
Meet the team
John May
Leeds, Manchester & Sheffield Office Managing Partner
Matt Collingwood-Cooper
Partner
Chris Holwell
Partner & National Head of Construction & Engineering
Alison Heathcote
Managing Associate
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