Blake Morgan LLP‘s Cardiff team provides a ‘customer-focused’ service to a variety of stakeholders on advisory and contentious work, both regionally and UK-wide. On the contractual front, team head Joanna Rees is at ‘the top of her game’, providing advice to developers on major Wales-based matters, as well as for public sector clients, including Cardiff Council, which she advises on all its infrastructure and education projects. With ‘hugely impressive attention to detail’, Kate Howell regularly acts in construction disputes, including in an insolvency context, as well as in relation to fire-safety and cladding-related matters.

Led from Cardiff by Alison Short, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP handles a significant range and volume of transactional construction work. Short excels in advising key stakeholders on big-ticket UK-wide energy and infrastructure projects, including for EDF Energy’s associated companies with regard to the £33bn Hinkley Point C new nuclear power station project. James Molland takes the lead on traditional construction work in the private sector real estate space, acting for a diverse array of stakeholders, including developers, funders and corporate occupiers.

Geldards LLP has developed a notable reputation for handling big-ticket public sector-led infrastructure projects, including those operated utilising the Mutual Investment Model (MIM). Experienced team head Tony Norris regularly assists the Welsh government with high-profile transactions, as well as advising local authorities on drafting framework agreements and related disputes. Claire Laviers also regularly assists Norris on big-ticket mandates, as well as handling matters for public and private sector entities.

Led by Ioan Prydderch, the ‘very experienced’ team at Hugh James provides ‘efficient and effective’ advice to contractors, developers and employers across a range of construction, energy and infrastructure projects throughout Wales and the UK. Iwan Jenkins has a notable reputation for handling non-contentious matters, including energy and transport sector work. He is also adept at handling social housing-related construction matters, as is Matthew Stevens, who is active in transactions and a skilled litigator, acting for housing associations with regard to costs recovery stemming from defective cladding.

Acuity Law is a go-to offering for clients seeking risk management and litigation advice in relation to construction matters. Team head Philip Graham excels at advising clients on delay and final account claims, in particular; Graham also receives considerable support from commercial litigator Huw Roffe. On the non-contentious front, real estate practitioner Ben Honour handles construction-related mandates for developer clients in the private sector.

With ‘exceptional commercial awareness’, Berry Smith is a notable choice for employers and contractors bringing or defending claims relating to a variety of construction disputes, including with regard to alleged defects and dilapidation issues. Many of the cases also include overlapping allegations of professional negligence, an area of expertise for ‘outstanding’ team head Iwan Doull.

Under the leadership of Gavin Hoccom, Browne Jacobson has gained traction in the local market as well as handling a notable amount of work outside of Wales, acting for contractors, developers and construction product manufacturers. Hoccom is adept at handling work through all stages of a project’s lifecycle, including in relation to any disputes which may arise. He also has niche expertise providing risk management advice to ensure compliance with the Building Safety Act.

Morgan LaRoche has a strong reputation throughout south west Wales and the west of England among developers, contractors and housing associations, handling a mix of contentious and non-contentious matters. Team head Steve Mundy is ‘very calm under pressure and has a clear understanding of his client’s needs and strategic aims’.

Boutique construction firm OPC Law Limited handles work for a balanced mix of private and public sector clients. Founding partner Sam O’Callaghan assists with contentious and contract drafting matters, as well as advising contracting authorities on public procurement matters pursuant to major construction and infrastructure projects.