Construction

Claire Laviers

Claire is a Senior Associate in the Construction team, experienced in transactional construction matters advising on all aspects of construction contract drafting and negotiation, from standard industry forms to bespoke project specific contracts. She has expertise in assessing and advising on responsibility for construction risk, both during and after the construction period and putting in place measures to mitigate such risks. Claire regularly acts for public sector entities such as local authorities, government departments and higher education establishments as well as private sector banks, energy providers, developers and charities. Claire is adept at advising from differing perspectives whether for a landlord or tenant, contractor or developer, funder or borrower. She provides comprehensive commercial advice to assist the parties in reaching agreement, whilst meeting the client’s objectives and risk profile. In addition to advising on building contracts and the usual ancillary documents, much of her private sector work involves advising on and drafting construction elements of property sale agreements or agreements for lease.

Philip Graham

Philip is the leading partner in Acuity’s Construction litigation team. Philip has a wealth of experience in all forms of construction litigation and dispute resolution, with a particular specialism in delay-related claims and final account disputes. Prior to joining Acuity in April 2022, he headed up an established construction practice for 10 years, regularly acting in complex construction matters arising from multimillion-pound disputes. Philip has extensive experience working across JCT, NEC and FIDIC forms of contract, in addition to bespoke conditions while acting for developers, public bodies, main contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, bondsmen and high-net-worth individuals. He has acted on matters across the UK, as well as in Europe and Africa. During his career, Phillip has presented seminars to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors upon NEC and JCT contract terms. He has been noted in The Legal 500 for nearly 10 years as a Leading Individual in his field. Expertise: Dispute resolution Construction and engineering disputes Adjudication and arbitration Professional negligence disputes Breach of contract disputes

Tony Norris

Tony is a Member and heads up the National Infrastructure & Construction Team. He specialises in project work, disputes and has been an accredited Adjudicator for 20 years. His clients include central government bodies, local and other public authorities, regulatory bodies as well as acting for specialist private sector contractors in the infrastructure & construction space. Projects – he regularly advises on frameworks, call offs, joint ventures, public and privately funded projects under JCT and NEC; the Welsh MIM model and has particular experience in the waste sector with MF/1 and IChemE contracts. Disputes – renowned as a specialist, particularly in adjudication having been involved in adjudication under DOM/1 before the 1996 came into being but also with substantial experience in Arbitration, Litigation and Mediation. He is seen as an industry expert and sits on the Board of Constructing Excellence Wales and also has been chair of the South East Wales Club for over 10 years.

Joanna Rees

Jo has worked closely with developers, government and public sector teams and contractors dealing with all aspects of construction projects from project tender through the build phase, managing risk issues and resolving disputes by ADR, adjudication, mediation or litigation when required.

James Williams

James is a partner in Acuity’s Construction team. His advice is regularly sought on complex construction projects by local authorities and major companies, due to his breadth of knowledge. James specialises in non-contentious construction law, regeneration and development and acts for contractors, developers, consultants, and funders on various projects in the UK, the Middle East and Australia. He has extensive experience covering the drafting and negotiating of building contracts, sub-contracts, professional team appointments, consultancy agreements and warranties. He also specialises in the production of ancillary documents such as performance bonds, parent company guarantees, supply contracts and facility management contracts. James has worked extensively in the MENA Region and in Australia, and is experienced in using the FIDIC and AS forms of contracts, as well as those contracts more readily found in the UK, including the JCT, NEC and ICHEME forms. More recently, James has worked on some of the most significant recently developed Welsh construction projects, including over one million square feet of design and build projects in Central Square Cardiff. He and his team have also completed extensive work on modern methods of construction, off-site manufacture and in advising on the consequences of Brexit and COVID-19 on supply chains and performance. James is ranked as a Leading Individual in The Legal 500 and in Band 2 by Chambers and Partners. After beginning his legal career at Wragge & Co, he has also practised at Minter Ellison and Carter Newell in Australia, Trowers & Hamlins in Dubai, and Al Tamimi & Company in Abu Dhabi. Expertise: Acting on all aspects of non-contentious construction work Drafting and negotiating building contracts and amendments to the most commonly used standard form contracts, including the JCT, the NEC and the FIDIC suites of contracts Drafting and agreeing consultancy agreements and associated warranties for all consultants engaged in the construction process Advising on the provision of construction finance and security documents, and acting for banks’ lending funds for construction projects