England - London • Real estate

Macfarlanes LLP

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Macfarlanes LLP offers expertise in technically complex design and construction disputes, frequently advising and acting on substantial disputes regarding defects, delay and extensions, and final account claims. The firm represents a range of clients, including developers, institutions, investors, occupiers, and lenders. Team head Doug Wass specialises in dealing with complex disputes in the context of PFI projects and commercial developments, including office, residential, hotel, and power plant projects. Mark Lawrence offers advice on complex PFI projects and specialises in infrastructure, fire safety and cladding disputes. Andy Mather, with his expertise in arbitration, litigation and adjudication, represents a wide spectrum of clients, from state governments and financial institutions to large developers and high-net-worth individuals.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Blue chip, high-quality service for disputes which are business critical.’
  • ‘Doug Wass and Mark Lawrence in particular are standouts. They are balanced, pragmatic, calm and supportive as well as incredibly knowledgeable about the industry.’

  • ‘Very approachable and down to earth.’

  • ‘Very hands-on with their clients. Mark Lawrence and Doug Wass are exceptional with technical and complex matters. They understand the issues very quickly and are able to advise their clients of the correct, appropriate legal strategy early on.’

  • ‘Partners Mark Lawrence, Doug Wass and Andy Mather are exceptional talents within construction and engineering disputes. The team has a good source of senior associates and associates such as Philip Parrot and Philip Kershaw. They are very astute with managing clients' budgets and good in high-pressure situations such as the hearing.’

  • ‘Their knowledge about construction contracts and litigation is second to none.’

  • ‘The team has particular expertise in and a very strong reputation with developer clients and in the PFI and infrastructure sectors. They are known for acting in technically and legally complex construction disputes. The team has a real depth of talent.’

  • ‘Mark Lawrence, Andy Mather, and Philip Kershaw all stand out as strategic thinkers who deliver practical, effective advice and have a real understanding of this area of law and its intricacies.’

Key clients

  • Atlantic Projects Company
  • Auriens
  • Brookfield
  • Canary Wharf
  • European Land
  • Grove Developments Limited
  • Global Switch
  • Lancashire Schools SPC Phase 1 Ltd
  • Legal & General
  • New Atlas Wharf Management Limited
  • OCS
  • Parkdean Resorts
  • Pipetech Services and Maintenance Limited
  • Portsmouth Naval Base
  • Queen Mary’s Hospital Roehampton
  • Realstar
  • St James’s Oncology SPC Ltd
  • Stanhope
  • Tameside Hospital
  • The Business Growth Fund
  • The Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital
  • Weston Homes

Work highlights

  • Acting for St James’s Oncology SPC Ltd, the Project Co, in multi-party High Court proceedings in relation to defects in the design and construction of oncology facilities at St James’s University Hospital, Leeds.
  • Acting for Global Switch in a series of complex adjudications and High Court proceedings against a contractor in relation to the design, construction and fit out of a data centre in London.
  • Acting for Lancashire Schools SPC Phase 1 Ltd, the Project Co, in High Court proceedings in relation to various claims arising out of design and construction work carried out in the provision of additional accommodation at a number of schools under the Building Schools for the Future PFI project.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners

Mark Lawrence

Mark Lawrence

Macfarlanes LLP

Mark acts for a wide range of clients, including commercial developers, PFI project companies, house builders, financial institutions, investors, landlords and tenants. He has extensive experience of advising in relation to construction and engineering, infrastructure, real estate and professional negligence disputes. Mark has acted for clients in claims in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, as well as in domestic and international arbitration and adjudication. He has also acted on a number of cases in the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). He regularly facilitates the resolution of his clients’ disputes through negotiation, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. He has particular expertise in guiding clients through technically, legally and factually complex disputes and works closely with the leading barristers and experts in the field. His recent disputes experience spans infrastructure, power stations, hotels, data centres and large residential and commercial developments. He is a member of the Society of Construction Law, the Adjudication Society, the Property Litigation Association, the Young International Arbitration Group and the International Bar Association.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Doug Wass

Other key lawyers

Mark Lawrence, Andy Mather, Philip Parrot, Philip Kershaw