Construction in Wales

Blake Morgan LLP

Acting on its own as well as often forming part of a multi-office group with lawyers based out of the firm’s offices in South East England, Blake Morgan LLP provides ‘clear legal advice’ to public and private sector clients in contentious and non-contentious matters spanning Wales and the wider UK region. As part of her broad construction practice, which includes a substantial volume of public sector work, Joanna Rees is ‘very knowledgeable about the NHS methodology of procurement and construction contracting’. In more general terms, Rees is also highly adept at advising on large infrastructure and energy projects, where her expertise runs the gamut of the project lifecycle, from tender through to build phase. On the contentious front, the recently promoted and ‘exceptionally capable and experienced’ Kate Howellmanages complex construction disputes with great skill and efficiency’.

Responsables de la pratique:

Joanna Rees


Autres avocats clés:

Kate Howell; Charlotte Neads; Natalie Taylor; Miles Murphy


Les références

‘Blake Morgan has an impressive track record achieving excellent results in complex and heavy construction litigation.’

The team is particularly strong at taking technical and commercial analysis and distilling from this clear legal advice, which enhances communication and engagement with the client.’

Joanna Rees is very knowledgeable about the NHS methodology of procurement and construction contracting and in particular, access to frameworks.’

Principaux clients

Transport for Wales


Various building owners, resident management companies and right to manage companies


KLA Limited


Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust


Ascent Development Limited


Goldbeck Construction Limited


Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council


Cardiff City Council


Cardiff University


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised KLA Ltd, a US manufacturer of compound semi conductors, on its major new build of a manufacturing facility in Newport.
  • Advised Transport for Wales on all construction issues arising from its rail contracts, the development of the new Cardiff Interchange, FM contracts and environmental issues.
  • Advising Cardiff City Council education team on a number of secondary school projects under the SEWSCAP frameworks as part of its 21 Century Schools Programme – Fairwater, Willows and The Court Schools.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP

Drawing upon a ‘great knowledge of the regulated business environment’, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is very skilled at advising stakeholders on energy and infrastructure projects. ‘Highly experienced’ team head Alison Short is key to this work, and provides ‘high-quality advice’ on many of the most strategically important construction and engineering projects in the UK, including work for Welsh Water on its new water treatment works project. Principal associate James Molland regularly handles the construction elements of corporate real estate transactions handled by the firm.

Responsables de la pratique:

Alison Short


Autres avocats clés:

James Molland; Sacha Bacco


Les références

The team has a great knowledge of the regulated business environment.’

‘Alison Short is extremely knowledgeable and responsive.’

Alison Short is a highly experienced, client-focused partner who ensured that high-quality advice was at all times provided within both transaction deadlines and fee arrangements.’

Principaux clients

Welsh Water Limited / Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig


Sizewell C Limited


NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited


Precede Capital Partners


LaSalle Investment Management


Stena Line Limited


Annington Property Limited


Wales & West Utilities Limited


Geldards LLP

Under the leadership of the 'outstanding' Tony Norris, Geldards LLP 'takes on all areas of construction work at the very highest level' for a public sector-focused client base. Recognised as being 'tough and commercial', Norris' market-leading reputation regularly sees him instructed by the Welsh government on many of its key infrastructure projects. In addition, on the contractual front, framework agreements he has drafted have become the industry standard and are used in relation to the majority of local authority and police capital projects in the South West of Wales. Claire Laviers, who was promoted to partner in August 2023, regularly assists Norris on major public sector-led work, as well as handling her own deal flow for local authorities and stakeholders in the private sector (including on complex multi-party projects).

Responsables de la pratique:

Tony Norris


Autres avocats clés:

Claire Laviers; Grace Day


Les références

‘Geldards takes on all areas of construction work at the very highest level and are very well respected across the market.’

‘Tony Norris is an outstanding construction lawyer and is very well regarded. He is brilliant to work with. He is tough and commercial and knows his stuff.’

Principaux clients

Carmarthenshire County Council (Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin)


Storage Giant Limited


Sutco (UK) Limited


Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council


Welsh Government


National Grid Electricity Distribution


Pembrokeshire County Council


London Borough of Merton


Wandsworth Borough Council


Omya UK Limited


Leekes Ltd


Swansea City Council


Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council


Oxford City Council


Cardiff Capital Region Energy Limited


Bowmer & Kirkland Group


CWC Group / Clowes Developments (UK) Limited / Dove Valley Park Limited


Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council


Nottingham City Council


Derby City Council


Chesterfield Borough Council


Warrington Borough Council


Sacyr UK Ltd


CCR Energy Ltd


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Sacyr UK Ltd, the contractor arm of the successful consortium appointed to the Welsh MIM/PPP project for the construction of the new £500m cancer care centre in Cardiff.
  • Advising CCR Energy Ltd on the estimated £30.4m redevelopment of the decommissioned Aberthaw power station (a 489-acre site) into a renewable energy hub with the potential to create thousands of jobs.
  • In the first development of its scope and size in Wales, Pentre Awel (an 83-acre site) at Llanelli, Carmarthenshire County Council procured the works using the firm’s framework documents and subsequently appointed it to negotiate the main contract.

Hugh James

Led by Ioan Prydderch, Hugh James has the strength-in-depth, both in relation to pure construction matters as well as in other associated practice areas including commercial property, banking and litigation, to regularly handle high-value and complex matters for public and private sector entities. On the non-contentious front, Iwan Jenkins regularly advises clients on contractual drafting to facilitate and best serve their interests in relation to projects in the housing, development, roads and energy sectors. In this regard, Jenkins is abreast of modern methods of doing business in the sector, including as these relate to collaborative contracts and offsite manufacturing. The 'exceptional' Matthew Stevens is also recommended and provides 'commercially aware' non-contentious and contentious advice to the firm's impressive roster of housing associations.

Responsables de la pratique:

Ioan Prydderch


Autres avocats clés:

Iwan Jenkins; Matthew Stevens; Alun Tobias; Rebecca Scrafton


Les références

‘They provide a personalised service and have a great understanding of current issues in the sector. Their fees are competitive, and the team has strength in depth.’

‘The exceptional Matthew Stevens is commercially aware and provides a high-quality service.’

‘Matthew Stevens goes over and above to deliver the service within timescales to allow us to progress with projects.’

Principaux clients

Pobl


Welsh Government


Platform Housing Association


WRU


Brackley Investments Limited


Welsh Power


Cardiff City Council


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising on four multimillion-pound energy projects in Scotland at Thurso, Rothienorman and Gretna in relation to the delivery of Pathfinder 2 projects by Welsh Power for the National Grid.
  • Advising Cardiff City Council in relation to its multimillion-pound regeneration project at Channel View, Grangetown, Cardiff.
  • Advising Great Point Studios on its multimillion-pound freehold acquisition and development of the former Pinewood Studios in Wentloog, South Wales.

Acuity Law

Acuity Law‘s ‘strong and proactive’ team is well-versed at handling construction matters throughout a project’s life-cycle. In addition, it has been handling more work for funders, where it works alongside the real estate finance offering to ensure the lender’s interests are protected from a construction standpoint. Swansea-based Philip Graham heads up the contentious arm of the practice and has a particular specialism in delay and final account related claims. Former practice head James Williams departed to Clarke Willmott LLP in October 2024.

Responsables de la pratique:

Philip Graham


Autres avocats clés:

Ben Honour; Huw Roffe; Harriet Butterfield; Emma Hutchings


Les références

‘It is a strong and proactive team with very knowledgeable individuals across many fields within the construction/property sector.’

Principaux clients

Rightacres Property Co. Limited


Investec Bank


Bluestone Resorts Wales Limited


Julian Hodge Bank Limited


Principality Building Society


Development Bank of Wales


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising on the completion procedures and processes for the remaining sections of Rightacres’ £100m Cardiff Interchange construction project and achieving overall completion of the build.
  • Continuing to advise Rightacres on the development of its Central Quay site in Cardiff City Centre to create approximately 700 new residential units.
  • Advising Investec on the funding of the design and construction works at 5-8 London Road, Brighton, comprising a new-build 156-bedroom student accommodation development with commercial retail space and communal amenities led by the borrower, real estate developer McLaren (London Road) Ltd.

Berry Smith

The 'friendly and approachable' team at Berry Smith provides a 'very commercially minded and efficient' service to claimants and respondents across a range of construction litigation, in a High Court setting as well as in adjudication and arbitration. Team head Iwan Doull is 'a tough but perceptive construction litigator' whose workload includes high-value construction and related dilapidation claims, as well as matters with a degree of cross-over to professional negligence. 'Fantastic and proactive' senior associate Harry Moyle is recognised as 'one of the best consumer construction lawyers in Wales'.

Responsables de la pratique:

Iwan Doull


Autres avocats clés:

Harry Moyle; Lauren Parsons


Les références

‘The team is friendly and approachable but very commercially minded and efficient.’

‘The practice is extremely proactive and used to working with consumers in the field of construction law. They equally provide a great service to SMEs and have access to some great talent as a result of their relationship with insurers.’

The personable and responsive team is capable of dealing with good-quality (often insurance-funded) construction disputes.’

Principaux clients

Arag Plc


Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council


Infuse Construction Limited


Storage Giant Ltd


Stone Supplies (Bristol) Ltd


Welsh Government


Wordsworth Construction Management Ltd


Chalmers & Co (Sussex) Limited


Gateway Development Ltd


Covair Structures Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Defending specialist stone supplier Stone Supplies (Bristol) Ltd against multimillion-pound claims brought by two national housebuilders.
  • Representing Blaenau Gwent County Council against a national provider of asbestos surveying services.
  • Advising Wordsworth Construction Management in a complex cross-adjudication enforcement claim in the TCC.

Morgan LaRoche

The 'highly experienced and extremely professional' team at Morgan LaRoche advises regional and national developers, employers and contractors on contractual matters and litigation, and is appreciated for its 'phenomenal command of the law'. Team head Steve Mundy is pivotal to the firm's success, translating 'decades of sector knowledge and a deep understanding of the law and judicial trends into incisive advice to clients'.

Responsables de la pratique:

Stephen Mundy


Autres avocats clés:

Eleanor Laxton


Les références

‘Morgan LaRoche’s construction team is full of home-grown and carefully cultivated talent.’

The construction department is highly experienced and extremely professional.’

‘The lawyers in the team all have a phenomenal command of the law and recent judicial trends which they are able to wear lightly, never losing sight of the commercial impetus in a case and managing to retain a collegiate and positive attitude.’

Principaux clients

Bristol Airport


SUL D&B Limited


Castell Group Ltd


2nd Generation Facades Limited


Mercian Developments Limited


Atkin Trade Specialists Limited


J.G Hale Construction Limited


Liberty Properties Developments Limited


Skyline Swansea Limited


Hallmark Care Homes Group Holdings


Short Bros Homes Limited