Construction and Engineering

"highly professional and efficient" - chambers guide 2007

Good buildings need firm foundations, and some of the strongest are laid by lawyers.

The success of construction and engineering projects may depend as much on a lawyer's input as on an architect or engineer, according to construction law experts at Bond Pearce.

But fine legal draughtsmanship is not the sole factor in Bond Pearce's success as construction and engineering lawyers.

"Experience teaches you what the different markets expect and we factor that into the drafting of our documents" partner David Skelton says. "We work as part of the project team, deciding with the client what route for construction should be taken - partnering and framework arrangements, with the innovation and economies that they can bring, are becoming increasingly popular".

"We also know how disputes can develop and we can use that understanding to advise clients how best to anticipate and avoid trouble".

Bond Pearce's approach has attracted a string of high profile clients, including corporate, property developers and local councils who have involved the team on projects as diverse as retail distribution centres, cinemas, onshore and offshore wind farms, an aquarium and a monastery!

One typical client, a Thames Valley Council, used Bond Pearce for more than just a legal safety net.

The team - including partner, Christine Hanley - advised the Council on complying with the statutory rules on public procurement when going through the tender process to appoint its design team and contractors and helped the client put in place the project documents for the construction and operation of an arts centre and cinema.

"We are moving increasingly to be advisers on the entire procurement process" Christine says "and we really focus on what the client's priorities are - for some it may be a guaranteed maximum price or acute time factors, for others it may be the aesthetics of a landmark building"

But if disputes do arise, a specialist group experienced in resolving conflicts between parties in construction work can call on a breadth and depth of experience that few firms can match.