Our Construction Group is a dedicated team of lawyers who focus on serving the construction industry worldwide. We have teams who focus on advising clients on putting together some of the largest construction projects in the world, and teams made up of highly experienced international arbitration lawyers who represent clients in complex, multi-claim disputes.

The strength of all the lawyers in our group lies in our genuine engineering and construction know-how. By partnering with us, you will have access to a multinational team of experienced construction lawyers who will provide comprehensive strategic advice on your projects or your disputes.

Our clients are some of the world’s largest owners and contractors, involved in some of the highest value, complex international projects, including in power (conventional, nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable), oil & gas facilities across the energy value chain, industrial plants, civil infrastructure, metals and mining and real estate development. Many of our projects and arbitrations involve bespoke EPC and other construction contracts, though we also have deep familiarity with all of the key industry standard documentation packages, such as FIDIC.

Our construction arbitration lawyers, drawn from the firm’s market leading International Arbitration practice, work with clients from early dispute management and avoidance, to conducting the advocacy at the arbitration hearings. Members of our team also sit as arbitrators in engineering and construction disputes.
Our transactional lawyers guide sponsors, developers, contractors, consultants and lenders with all aspects of their construction-related legal requirements. We advise on procurement, drafting tender documentation, drafting and negotiating FEED contracts, D&C contracts, FIDIC (all books), EPC, EPCM, PMS and purchase order contracts, bonds, guarantees and lender direct agreements.

Whatever the advice that is needed — whether it is negotiating a ground-breaking new project or a arguing a case in a bet-the-company international arbitration — our focus is always on your ultimate business objective, and we have the track record to show we can help you achieve it.

International Arbitration

We represent owners and contractors in international construction and engineering arbitrations arising from projects throughout the world, under a wide variety of applicable laws. Our principal focus is on high value, complex multi-claim disputes concerning power projects (nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable), oil & gas facilities, industrial plants, and civil infrastructure projects. Representative matters include the representation of:

• MEDICAL FACILITY | Middle East
  Representation of two international construction contractors in an ICC arbitration in London initiated by a Middle Eastern State-owned company. The dispute concerns the development of a world-class medical facility in the Middle East. The law of the Claimant's State applies. Over USD 3.7 billion is at stake.
• CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE | Middle East
  Representation of an international contractor consortium in an ICC arbitration against a Middle Eastern State. The dispute arose from a contract for the construction of a major infrastructure project in the Middle East. The law of the Respondent State applies. Over USD 700 million is at stake.
• FERTILIZER PLANT | Africa
  Representation of an international joint venture as Claimant in an ICC arbitration in Geneva brought against North Asian contractors. The dispute arose  from an agreement for the construction of a fertilizer plant in an African State. The law of the African State applied. Over USD 1.6 billion was at stake.
• GAS LIQUEFACTION PLANT | Africa
  Representation of Sonatrach as Respondent in an ICC arbitration in Geneva brought by Saipem SpA and Saipem Contracting Algérie SpA. The dispute arose from a contract for the construction of gas liquefaction facilities. Algerian law applied. Over EUR 2.6 billion was at stake
• NUCLEAR POWER PLANT | Europe
  Representation of a French-German consortium in an ICC arbitration in Stockholm against a Finnish utility company. The dispute arose from an agreement for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Finland. Finnish law governed. Over EUR 6.1 billion was at stake.
• SOLAR FIELD | Middle East
  Representation of a European energy infrastructure company in an ICC arbitration in London brought against a North American subcontractor. The dispute arose out of a project for the construction of a major solar field in the Middle East. Issues included defective equipment and critical delays in the overall project. English law applied.
• MINING | Africa
  Representation of two African subsidiaries of an international mining and exploration company in an ICC arbitration in London initiated by a South African contractor. The dispute arose from an EPCM contract in relation to a mine expansion project in Sub-Saharan Africa. English law applied.
• REFINERY | Latin America
  Representation of a State-owned Latin American oil and gas company as Respondent in an ICC arbitration against a contractor involving the expansion of a refinery. The seat of arbitration was The Hague.
• URBAN DEVELOPMENT | Europe
  Representation of a Turkish construction company as Claimant in an ICC arbitration in Switzerland against a Russian developer. The dispute arose from a contract for the development of a multifunctional retail and office complex in Moscow, Russia. English law applied.
• ROAD & WATER PROJECT | Africa
  Representation of the Republic of Mozambique as Respondent in a dispute before a Dispute Adjudication Board involving the alleged breach of a FIDIC contract governing the construction of road and water projects. The law of Mozambique applied.

Projects

We guide sponsors, developers, contractors, consultants and lenders with all aspects of their construction-related legal requirements, including in the infrastructure, commercial, residential, energy, refining, petrochemical, water, metals and mining, industrial, renewables and leisure sectors. As we take the time to understand our clients and approach matters from an industry-specific perspective, clients come to us to advise them on procurement, drafting tender documentation, drafting and negotiating FEED contracts, D&C contracts, FIDIC (all books), EPC, EPCM, PMC and purchase order contracts, bonds, guarantees and lender direct agreements. Clients value our ability to analyse overall project risks during construction and ensure that, to the extent required, these risks are passed through to construction contractors to balance market practice with the cost and benefit profile to sponsors. We also help sponsors who are seeking to borrow from ECAs, to develop procurement strategies that maximise eligible content under the relevant ECA policies. To enhance our client offering, we are fully up to date with the market, such as liquidated damages thresholds, overall caps on liability, and similar matters. Representative experience includes advice on:

• $20 BILLION SADARA PETROCHEMICAL PROJECT | Saudi Arabia
  We successfully supported the Dow Chemical Company on their 34 separate procurement packages. This included the development of novel risk sharing arrangements with contractors to facility a limited recourse financing of a “giga project” and guiding them on suitable construction solutions. Because of our deep knowledge of these issues, clients rely on us for insightful guidance so they are at the forefront of the market across all industry sectors.
   

"They're the most responsive firm I've dealt with. They're very keen to make sure that we're happy with what they're doing." - Chambers Global, 2020

"Dedicated team with a substantial construction disputes practice. Regularly represents contractors and owners in arbitration claims and large-scale construction disputes. Further able to assist clients with transactional matters, including financing." - Chambers Global, 2019

"Alex Bevan is a standout practitioner and has a stellar reputation. He's a great team player: really intelligent and client-friendly." "He's a real class operator in his domain." "He's very organised, efficient, very good to work with and really knows his stuff. He ticks all the boxes." - Chambers Global, 2022

"Alex Bevan is "simply one of the best in the industry" with a "huge amount of experience representing clients in the infrastructure, energy, and oil and gas sectors"". - Who's Who Legal Construction - Global Elite Thought Leaders, 2022

"[Emmanuel Jacomy] is exceptional and extremely talented; he is the best foreign lawyer I have met in China and I personally learnt a lot from him as well." - Chambers Global, 2022

"Sources highlight the firm's skill in construction contract disputes, as well as its 'extensive experience in oil contracts matters'." - Chambers Global, 2019

"The firm is well regarded for its 'unique ability to strategise complex cases and to fine-tune such strategies as the case evolves'." - Chambers Global, 2019

"Sources are 'very impressed by their work ethic, attention to detail and support,' adding that the team is tenacious, dedicated and focused on winning.' Clients frequently highlight the team's organisational skills, noting: 'They are diligent, study the files with attention and come up with well thought out proposals'." - Chambers Global, 2017

"The team is repeatedly highlighted for its 'extensive expertise in construction disputes,' with clients stating that 'they know precisely the right questions to ask and are available around the clock'."- Chambers USA, 2017