Beale & Co

The Beale & Company ethos is to deliver commercial and cost-effective legal advice with a commitment to putting the needs of clients first – at every stage.

The firm: Beale & Company has a first-class reputation for advising on complex and technical matters in the fields of construction, engineering and infrastructure, insurance, the professions and technology. It has a firm grounding in London, Bristol, Ireland and Dubai. Its dynamic approach to business, coupled with a sense of togetherness and integrity, is valued by its clients and staff alike.

Types of work undertaken
Professional negligence: a core part of the firm’s insurance practice is its specialist teams acting on claims involving all professions. Experienced in handling complex and high-value claims, as well as more straightforward and cost-sensitive matters, the teams advise a spectrum of national and international insurers and insureds including construction professionals, solicitors, accountants and IFAs.

Insurance: as an integral part of the firm’s work, specialists provide advice on matters arising regarding D&O, financial institutions, property and casualty, product, cyber, education and EL/PL risks, in respect of claims (including claims handling and delegated authority schemes), coverage advice and policy wording.

Construction and projects: having been active in the sector for over 50 years, the firm acts for some of the foremost companies, providing specialist advice in the UK and throughout the world. Its non-contentious work includes advising on projects, from inception to completion, to guarantees and other security documentation. The firm has extensive dispute resolution experience handling large, high-value, technical cases effectively. UK and Irish work includes advising on and conducting arbitration, litigation, adjudication and mediation.

International arbitration/dispute resolution: with expertise in all types of dispute resolution across numerous jurisdictions, the firm advises on every aspect of litigation and alternative dispute resolution, including: international and domestic arbitration and adjudications; expert determination; mediation and negotiation. The firm provides clear, unambiguous strategic advice on both avoiding disputes and, where this is not possible, taking disputes through to a successful resolution. Its lawyers have many years of experience in handling complex disputes under all major arbitration and ad hoc rules, as well as DAB/DRB proceedings.

Corporate and commercial: the firm provides advice and services to a range of clients, including global corporations, SMEs, and professional practices. Corporate services include: business reorganisation and restructuring; company sales and purchases; corporate recovery; incorporation of companies and LLPs; joint ventures and strategic alliances; management buy-outs and buy-ins; M&A; private equity, finance; shareholders/partnership agreements; and succession planning.

Health, safety and environment: the firm has a dedicated team with a record of achieving results for its consultant, contractor, employer and insurer clients. It advises on: coroners’ inquests; corporate and gross negligence manslaughter prosecutions; drafting CDM-C and other appointments; drafting policies and procedures and advising on compliance, HSE, EA and police investigations; improvement and prohibition notices; insurance issues and coverage; offences and sentencing; representation.

Regions: a powerful base in Bristol gives a strong national dynamic to the insurance services provided in respect of all areas of claim, together with a highly regarded claims handling resource.

Ireland: the Dublin office provides specialist insurance and dispute services to the London market and other insurers across the professions, providing experience and expertise in the resolution of disputes across Ireland.

International: the increasingly strong practice in Dubai acts for clients throughout the GCC and operates as a hub for the work undertaken for clients in Africa. The firm has a wealth of experience advising developers, contractors, consultants and their insurance providers in international construction and engineering, infrastructure, and power and energy projects. It has provided legal advice to clients in respect of some of the most iconic construction projects in the GCC. Beale & Company is a founding member of the European network, Lexicom. It has relationships with the African Legal Network, which has over 580 lawyers in 14 major African cities.

Recruitment: the firm recruits, on average, six to seven graduate trainees each year across its offices.

Other offices: Bristol, Dubai, Dublin