Hawkswell Kilvington Limited

Claire Saunders

Claire is a Legal Director specialising in contentious construction law. Claire advises on a wide range of construction and engineering disputes, including high value disputes relating to non-payment, loss and expense, variations, extensions of time and contract formation. Claire has considerable experience acting for both claimants and defendants in all forms of dispute resolution including adjudication, mediation, arbitration and litigation in the Technology and Construction Court. Further, Claire has successfully enforced a number of adjudicator’s decisions in the Technology and Construction Court.

Daniel Silberstein

Daniel joined Hawkswell Kilvington in 2005 and became a partner in 2011. Daniel has extensive experience of dealing with complex and high value construction disputes, representing clients in all forums of dispute resolution. He regularly advises in relation to disputes involving issues such as valuations, extensions of time and liquidated damages, loss and expense, defective works and construction related professional negligence claims. He has successfully led large teams of solicitors, experts and counsel in adjudication proceedings, arbitration proceedings and litigation in the Technology and Construction Court. Daniel is also highly experienced in all forms of alternative dispute resolution, and has successfully resolved many claims by way of mediation, early neutral evaluation and expert determination.

David Spires

David joined the firm as Partner in 2019, having previously been head of construction at Watson Burton LLP. David’s twenty years of experience as a specialist lawyer extend to all aspects of construction and engineering law, however his primary focus concerns the resolution of complex disputes through litigation, arbitration, mediation and in particular adjudication, where his career has run in parallel with the growth of this forum into the UK industry’s principal means of dispute resolution. An assured negotiator, David’s pragmatic approach to the resolution of complex issues has seen him described by clients as “very personable” and “a pleasure to work with”, and as managing cases “effectively and proactively”.

Gary Ashton

Gary joined the firm as Partner in April 2020. Gary specialises in all aspects of construction and engineering law, with particular focus upon dispute resolution. With over 15 years’ experience, he has a wealth of knowledge gained from representing a wide range of clients, from individuals to large public and private companies. Gary is recognised for his expertise in relation to all forms of dispute resolution, including High Court proceedings, adjudication, arbitration and mediation. He has dealt with many complex, multi-party, high value disputes. Gary has particular expertise in construction adjudication, with a proven track record of success, having personally acted in over 100 adjudications. Gary has particular experience in the enforcement of adjudicator’s decisions with several, high-profile reported cases including Caledonian Modular Ltd -v- Mar City Developments Ltd [2015] EWHC 1855 (TCC) and Enviroflow Management Ltd -v- Redhill Works (Nottingham) Ltd [2017

Jonathan Robson

Jonathan is a Legal Director specialising in contentious construction law. Jonathan has considerable experience of assisting parties in various forums of dispute resolution including litigation, adjudication and mediation.

Matthew Leonard

Matt qualified as a solicitor in 2013 and his experience encompasses a broad portfolio of commercial dispute work across a range of sectors including construction, engineering and manufacturing. As an associate specialising in construction and engineering disputes, Matt has considerable experience of acting in a wide variety of construction related issues and advises on a broad range of disputes including defective works, delays, valuation and payment disputes, termination and professional negligence. Matt is familiar with industry standard forms of contract and has experience of resolving disputes within a variety of forums, including litigation, adjudication, arbitration and all forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Matthew Shotton

Matthew is a Legal Director with well-rounded experience of construction and engineering disputes. This experience includes providing advice on the delivery of large infrastructure and built environment projects, as well as the resolution of complex and high value disputes, typically in adjudication and TCC litigation. Matthew’s extensive work on rail and water infrastructure projects has developed a proficiency with complex target cost and framework agreements. He has a good track record of success in the TCC on such matters which, combined with secondments to engineering and insurance clients, provides a strong platform for providing pragmatic legal advice.

Rachel Heald

Rachel is a Partner and leads the firm’s non-contentious team. Her work includes drafting, negotiating and advising a range of clients (including developers, contractors, sub-contractors and funders) on construction documents including building contracts, consultant appointments, collateral warranties, letters of intent and performance bonds in respect of a wide variety of projects, including retail and office fit-outs, care homes, hotels, factories, residential developments, utilities and infrastructure.

Rebecca Jackson

Rebecca is a Legal Director with over a decade of litigation experience. Rebecca specialises in resolving complex construction disputes via all forms of dispute resolution including High Court construction litigation (including high value multi-party litigation), adjudication, mediation, arbitration and expert determination.

Thomas Salter

Having joined the firm as a trainee in 2008, Thomas became a partner in 2017. Thomas focuses on contentious matters and advises on complex construction and engineering disputes throughout the contractual supply chain. Disputes frequently concern extensions of time, variations, non-payment and contract formation. Thomas has extensive experience of all standard forms of contract including JCT, NEC and FIDIC and is frequently asked to provide contractual and commercial advice to clients during on going projects. Thomas is regularly instructed to represent clients in adjudication, litigation (usually in the Technology and Construction Court), arbitration and mediation.

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