While the A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP construction team provides both contentious and non-contentious construction advice, it is particularly well-regarded for its construction disputes offering. The firm’s Ireland-wide presence benefits clients who require advice from both Belfast and Dublin. Brendan Fox leads the team. A ‘highly skilled negotiator’, Fox is a specialist in real estate and construction litigation. James Flanagan, promoted to partner in January 2024, is well versed in various construction and engineering contracts, including the NEC, JCT, and FIDIC. Associate Christopher Wells provides support on construction and construction related professional negligence litigation matters.

Carson McDowell has a strong offering of contract, planning, and procurement advice. Stuart Murphy leads the practice. Murphy is particularly well-known for his disputes practice, often representing contractors in claims concerning collateral warranty, disputed liability, and extensions of time. John Dugdale excels in drafting and negotiating the full suite of construction contracts which developers require, such as building contracts, professional team appointments, and collateral warranties. Senior associate Gavin Kerr regularly supports the practice on matters regarding construction due diligence and negotiating various supply contracts.

Tughans provides a full range of construction law services, including both transactional and dispute resolution matters. The team is jointly led by Michael McCord and Tim Kinney. McCord, ‘one of the leading construction litigators in Northern Ireland’, regularly represents contractors and insurers in litigation and adjudication. Kinney, ‘level-headed and commercially minded’, is an expert in procurement work; he currently advises Deloitte on the procurement of their new office spaces in Belfast city centre.Grainne Kirk, also a construction disputes specialist, primarily supports McCord on adjudications, whilst also advising on non-contentious matters, such as due diligence and procurement.

The Arthur Cox Belfast construction team is regularly engaged by clients for advice and representation concerning infrastructure developments, fire safety and cladding related claims, and construction investment documentation reviews. William Curry and Cahal Carvill lead the practice. Curry specialises in advising on large non-litigious projects, such as negotiating social housing contracts, and preparing procurement documents for council housing. Carvill, ‘commercial, hard-working, diligent, and excellent at what he does’ is well experienced in advising on health and safety dispute resolution. At the associate level, Darren Fitzsimmons is a key name to note.

The ‘well resourced’ construction team at Cleaver Fulton Rankin provides both contentious and non-contentious advice to a wide range of clients, which includes governmental departments, contractors, and education institutions. Patrick Fleming heads the team, often advising on the construction and procurement of social housing schemes. Aaron Moore, ‘a construction litigation expert’, regularly acts in payment adjudications and professional negligence settlements. Anna McClimonds supports the practice on social housing and public sector matters.

Caldwell Solicitors, a boutique practice in construction, engineering, and procurement law, provides clients with advice concerning purchase agreements, procurement contracts, and procurement litigations. Leading the team is managing director Kenny Caldwell, an expert in advising on the construction of commercial and residential developments. Caldwell is supported by associate solicitor Stefan Berry, who is particularly experienced in the electricity supply market of Northern Ireland.

Having entered the Northern Ireland market in 2021, the Eversheds Sutherland Belfast construction team offers clients a wide range of construction advice, including drafting procurement contracts and building contracts, as well as acting in construction disputes. The team is headed by of counsel Nuala Maguire, who joined the team in June 2023. Partner Lisa Boyd joined the team in November 2023 from Gateley Legal NI. Boyd is an expert in acting for funders on the construction aspects of financial transactions.

The ‘multi-faceted’ construction team at Mills Selig is experienced in both contentious and non-contentious construction matters. Adrian Kerr heads the practice, and advises clients in drafting and negotiating construction contracts, while also providing representation in litigation, arbitration, and mediation. Associate Conor Mulligan brings experience in handling contentious matters for clients in the social housing sector.