Construction
UK Guide 2025 : South West
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]About
Provided by Ashfords LLP
Our team works on significant and complex construction and engineering, infrastructure, and energy and waste projects nationally. Our clients benefit from having robust contracts in place, which helps them avoid costly and time consuming disputes.
Our experience ranges from advising on multi-million pound construction disputes to routine pre-contract risk reviews and, further, providing pre and post-completion support to PPP/PFIs, in particular in the waste and health sectors.
We have advised on a broad spectrum of innovative and complex projects. Our experience covers a range of sectors including energy and waste, residential property, health, education, recreation, defence, IT, roads, airports and other infrastructure. Our clients include a broad cross-section of major international sponsors, project companies, developers, leading contractors and consultants, waste and water companies and public bodies.
Chambers Review
Ashfords has a strong practice representing an extensive list of contractors, utilities providers, housing groups and local authorities in transactional and litigious matters. The firm is active in numerous industries across the country, with particular strength in the energy sector. The practice has additional expertise in developments involving residential, leisure and retail property, as well as urban regeneration and social infrastructure projects. The department also has impressive dispute resolution capabilities including litigation, adjudication and arbitration.
Work Highlights
- Ashfords assisted South West Water with the contracts for its £2.8 billion AMP8 Tier 1 Capital Delivery Framework.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"I could not ask for more from Ashfords. The client service that they provide makes them unique among their peers"
"Ashfords is one of the leaders in the South West."
"I could not ask for more from Ashfords. The client service that they provide makes them unique among their peers"
"Ashfords is one of the leaders in the South West."
Notable Practitioners
Stephen Homer regularly advises local authorities and developers on construction disputes concerning breach of contract and professional negligence allegations. He is head of adjudication and arbitration services at the firm.
"Stephen Homer is a first-rate construction lawyer."
"Modest in the extreme, Stephen is a true giant among construction lawyers. And yet, he always shows a keen interest in our most trivial of matters. We would turn to him in our most dire hour of need."
Mark Manning assists clients with the drafting of construction contracts for commercial development projects, as well as the resolution of disputes. He has experience representing clients in the energy and retail sectors.
"Mark's knowledge and understanding of our business and contractual models is second to none, and that is driven by his desire to protect us at all costs."
"Mark cheerfully breaks the bad news, then drops in a brilliant solution."
Carl Thompson provides deep expertise in the energy space and is regularly called upon by clients for his knowledge of construction matters. He advises on a wide range of projects including those concerning energy from waste, solar and nuclear facilities.
"Carl always takes the time to consider the implications and the potential consequences of the actions we propose, and advises accordingly."
Laura Reeve is a rising force in the South West region and beyond. She specialises in non-contentious advisory work. Notable areas of expertise include contractual matters and procurement. She advises the full range of operatives in the space, including local authorities.
"Laura is scarily efficient. She knows what we're going to ask for before we ask for it!"
"Laura Reeve is very effective. We often need her to act quickly and she's always responsive."
Patrick Blake heads Ashfords' construction department and handles both contentious and non-contentious construction work. He is noted for his proficiency in disputes concerning breach of contract and project delays, and also advises on a range of transactional matters.
"What Patrick doesn't know about construction law probably isn't worth knowing. He effortlessly peels the matter back to its core then in one blow, he nails it."
Lianne Edwards is an up-and-coming partner at the firm. She has a broad contentious construction practice, with experience in damages claims and contractual disputes.
Ranked Lawyers at
Ashfords LLP
South West
Members
Provided by Ashfords LLP