Philip read Civil Engineering at Bristol University before taking the professional interview and qualifying as a chartered civil engineer. He read for a law degree with London University and continued his interest in this specialism with an MSc in Construction Law and Project Management from King’s College London. He has specialised in all aspects of construction law from the outset. His dual qualification is particularly helpful in grasping the practical aspects of the project in question.
Philip has extensive experience in dealing with all forms of construction contracts, including JCT, ICE (now Infrastructure Contract), FIDIC, NEC and their derivatives, advising on bespoke amendments and the supporting collateral warranties and novation documents.
Philip has acted for all sides of the industry from developers and contractors to consultants and insurers, and has a wide experience of the interests of all the major stakeholders in any construction project. He has private practice and “in-house” experience, having headed up the litigation team at a major UK contractor.
Philip is a practicing adjudicator and is on the TeCSA and ICE panels.
Specialist expertise
Philip has both contentious and non-contentious experience and brings to the development stage of proceedings the experience of a litigator recognising the need to identify and address potential areas of conflicting responsibility.
On the contentious side he has experience of litigation, arbitration (both UK and overseas), adjudication and ADR, all varying in value up to multimillion-pound claims.
Examples of Philip’s expertise include:
- acting for a major UK contractor in connection with multimillion-pound disputes.
- acting for insurers defending the quantity surveyor in a TCC reported leading case on expert advice and costs recovery;
- drafting a “bespoke” contract for a government department;
- drafting policy terms for a professional indemnity insurance underwriter, advising on standard and modified forms of contract;
- acting in all forms of dispute avoidance, including negotiation, mediation and tactical offers of settlement;
- acting in arbitration for a contractor claiming against a multinational specialist subcontractor to recover reasonable settlement monies paid to the employer for delay caused by the subcontractor.
Philip’s memberships/positions
- member of the Society of Construction Law;
- Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers;
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators;
- member of the Technology and Construction Solicitors’ Association.
