Construction

CMS

CMS offers ‘excellent advice and reassurance’ to clients involved in complex projects and disputes across key sectors such as energy, accommodation, and life sciences, as well as PFI, healthcare, and transport. The practice is co-headed by Shona Frame, who is highly regarded for her expertise in construction dispute resolution. Fenella Mason, who recently joined the team in September 2023 from Burness Paull LLP, also brings a strong background in this area. Christine Worthington, who jointly leads the practice with Frame, provides support to a diverse client base, including real estate investors, property developers, local authorities, and renewable energy developers. Christopher Dickson specialises in procurement and construction contracts, while Laura West is another key member of the contentious team. Mark Kirke left the firm in May 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Fenella Mason is very experienced in all aspects of construction dispute resolution and is supported by a good team including Shona Frame and Christine Worthington.’
‘Very good knowledge, collaboration and practical advice.’
‘I worked with an extremely competent, entirely female team. The team clearly grasped the key concepts of the dispute at an early stage, which led to effective dialogue between all stakeholders.’
‘A highly motivated and responsive team, providing excellent advice and reassurance. Great attention to detail.’
‘The team is available at all levels of seniority, and is willing to be commercial about fee structures.’
‘Strengths include approachability, ability to explain complex legal jargon to the client, and a willingness to include new ideas into contracts.’
‘Christopher Dickson and Laura West have great knowledge and attention to detail.’
‘Rob Wilson has exceptional technical and Scottish legal knowledge, particularly the relevance of live cases yet to be determined.’

Key clients

AIMCO
EDF
Scottish Water
Northern Ireland Water
Land Securities
Tilbury Douglas
Balfour Beatty
Galliford Try
Multiplex
Laing O’Rourke
AEW
Cadent Gas
Nuveen
Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN)
Scottish Government
Tarmac
City of Edinburgh Council
UBS
Renfrewshire Council
abrdn
Curlew Capital
WSP

Work highlights

Advised on Scottish education projects including the University of Glasgow's addition of Clarice Pears to the £1bn campus redevelopment programme; the Heriot Watt Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre; and St Andrews's Eden Campus development.
Advised a European real estate investor on the development and financing of several logistics hub sites across the UK totalling approx. 1.5M sq foot of high quality units meeting ESG standards.
Advised on projects related to energy transition and renewables projects including solar PV projects, hydrogen projects, grid resilience and capacity projects and on-and off-shore windfarms.

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