Although its head office is in Colchester, Archor's group of experienced partners works from remote sites across East Anglia to make it 'simply one of the best firms in the region for construction law'. Practice head and senior partner Andrew Rush frequently advises on development projects and disputes. Head of dispute resolution Ruth Kavanagh has 'an extremely good sense of the merits of a case'. Clients appreciate Rory Abel for his 'excellent, no-nonsense advice'. The 'friendly, smart' Oli Worth is an emerging partner talent who has in-depth knowledge of complex adjudications. Carolyn Porter is highly regarded for contract negotiations.

Birketts LLP has a construction and engineering group that 'has strength and depth in both contentious and non-contentious business, and consistently takes a pragmatic approach'. The 'very commercial and responsive' Stefan Harris-Wright in Cambridge leads the practice, in which Ipswich-based Catherine Andrews is an emerging partner talent. The firm handles all aspects of construction work from development funding and contract documentation through to dispute resolution.  In Cambridge, legal director Patrick Cooney and senior associate Katrina Bretten (who is 'extremely calm under pressure') are key members of the practice. Bretten assisted Grovemere Property Limited with a Pre-Construction Services Agreement for a £15m project.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP has a national construction practice in which the Cambridge office plays a pivotal role. Local partner Dominic Lacey, who is head of the firm’s international infrastructure group, is a key adviser to numerous leading transport and development clients. He recently assisted Signature Senior Living with development documents, facility agreements, land acquisition , disputes and corporate reorganisation for a £50m project. Key partner Tom Douglas also played a part in that deal. Principal associate Joanne Naylor is a key adviser on contentious matters and high-value infrastructure projects. '‘The team is always there when we need them and has the relevant expertise in-house', remarks a client.

Mills & Reeve LLP's Cambridge office is replete with experienced practitioners at both senior and junior levels, fielding strong teams on high-value and complex projects, as well as contentious matters. Head of the regional construction group Stuart Thompson and 'calming, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable' disputes specialist Alexandra Pike are the standout practitioners. Both are key advisers to Urban&Civic plc on numerous development sites across the region.  Principal associates Ed Freeman, who focuses on senior living and large-scale regeneration work, and Emma Nash, who focuses on employer clients, are among the practice's many skilled lawyers.The group has 'extremely good market knowledge and the ability to offer commercial solutions'.

Based in Bury St Edmunds, Greene & Greene is a key adviser to funders, developers, contractors, sub-contractors, and other professionals in the construction sector. The firm handles both advisory work and contentious matters, but it is particularly adept in construction disputes thanks to the experience of litigators Rob Adam and Michael Batty. They lead the practice alongside specialist construction partner Sarah Western and residential and commercial development partner Hugo Greer-Walker. Western, Greer-Walker and associate Anna Britland assisted Avant Techno (UK) Limited with a £1m warehouse project.

The construction group at HCR Hewitsons in Cambridge is part of a firm-wide practice that is frequently called upon to handle large-scale developments, public procurement projects, and disputes. It has notable expertise in the education, charity, real estate, engineering and energy sectors, and the local team counts residential developers, manufacturers, contractors, investors, Oxbridge colleges, government agencies, and numerous leading national charities among its clients. Practice head Colin Jones and associate Sardeep Gill are the names to note.

At JG Poole & Co. LLP in Ely, 'the team takes the time to understand clients' specific business needs'. The firm combines knowledge of public procurement and state aid law with construction and real estate investment expertise to handle major projects in the education sector. Katherine Souter is a qualified NEC3 project manager with ECC Project Manager Accreditation. She leads the practice along with newly promoted partner Robert Weatherley, who has a niche specialism in Chinese law. Clients note that non-contentious specialist Weatherley 'provides an excellent level of support, knowledge and industry experience'.

Howes Percival LLP has a small but highly capable construction practice in Cambridge, where director Simon Franklin is the firm's sole practitioner. He works closely with the real estate group to mainly advise on non-contentious matters across the UK, though he also handles some construction disputes. He counts commercial developers, contractors and consultants among his clients. Recent work includes a £70m leisure development for Turnstone Colchester Limited.

Based in Ipswich, Prettys Solicitors LLP has built up a solid reputation in construction disputes, with vastly experienced litigator Peter Blake leading the group. 'It's a great team, combining intelligence, legal acumen and a high level of client knowledge', remark clients, noting that litigation senior associate Michael Booth is 'very astute'.

The Alconbury office of Roythornes Solicitors continues to play an increasingly important role in the firm's cross-office construction practice, which spans East Anglia and the East Midlands. The standout partners are Martin Jinks and Alex Forster, who both focus on construction disputes. Consultant Derryn Rolfe also plays a key role in advising developers and contractors. The firm's non-contentious work includes advising TGW Ltd on the development of a £7m automated warehousing system.