Your construction & Engineering legal team

Construction contracts are at the heart of every successful project. Clear, well-structured agreements help allocate risk appropriately, manage expectations and provide certainty for all parties involved.

Our construction lawyers advise developers, contractors, subcontractors, consultants and funders on the negotiation, drafting and interpretation of JCT contracts and bespoke construction agreements. We help clients understand their obligations, manage risk and ensure contractual arrangements reflect the commercial realities of the project.

Whether you are procuring works, tendering for a project or seeking advice on contract administration, we can help you put the right contractual framework in place from the outset.

NEC4 contracts are widely used across construction, engineering and infrastructure projects because of their focus on collaboration, proactive project management and clear allocation of responsibilities. When properly drafted and administered, NEC4 agreements can help reduce disputes, improve communication and support successful project delivery.

Our construction lawyers advise employers, contractors, subcontractors, consultants and public sector bodies on the negotiation, drafting and interpretation of NEC4 contracts and bespoke amendments. We help clients understand the practical and legal implications of NEC4 provisions, manage contractual risk and ensure agreements reflect the commercial objectives of the project.

Whether you are procuring works, tendering for a project, operating under an NEC4 framework or seeking advice on contract administration, compensation events or risk management, we can help you establish the right contractual arrangements from the outset.

Development projects often involve complex legal and commercial relationships between landowners, developers, investors and funders.

We advise on a wide range of development agreements, helping clients structure arrangements that support successful project delivery while protecting their long-term commercial interests.

Our team works closely with developers, landowners and investors on residential, commercial, mixed-use and strategic development schemes throughout the North East and across the UK, providing practical advice that helps projects progress efficiently.

Where a building is to be constructed, refurbished or altered before occupation, an agreement for lease can provide important protection for both landlords and future tenants.

We advise developers, landlords and occupiers on construction-related agreements for lease, ensuring the parties are clear on development obligations, completion requirements, timescales and occupation arrangements.

Our construction and commercial property teams work together to provide joined-up advice that supports successful developments and long-term leasing arrangements.

Architects, engineers, surveyors, project managers and other consultants play a crucial role in construction projects. Properly drafted professional appointments help define responsibilities, clarify service requirements and manage liability.

We prepare, negotiate and review professional appointments on behalf of developers, contractors, funders and consultants, ensuring contracts provide appropriate protection should issues arise later in the project.

Our advice helps establish clear working relationships and reduce the risk of disputes during project delivery.

Collateral warranties are frequently required on modern construction projects to provide third-party rights and additional security for key stakeholders.

We advise on the drafting, negotiation and delivery of collateral warranties for purchasers, tenants, funders and investors, ensuring documentation is both commercially practical and legally robust.

Whether acting for those providing warranties or those relying upon them, our team helps ensure the appropriate protections are in place.

Construction projects often involve significant financial investment and lenders need confidence that risks have been properly assessed and managed.

We support banks, alternative lenders, investors and development funders by carrying out construction due diligence reviews, identifying potential legal, contractual and project risks before funding is committed.

Our team provides clear reporting on contractual arrangements, consultant appointments, collateral warranties and project documentation, helping funders make informed lending decisions.

Construction projects generate large volumes of legal and contractual documentation. Ensuring consistency and compliance across those documents is essential in managing risk and avoiding disputes.

We undertake detailed reviews of project documentation, identifying gaps, inconsistencies or areas of concern which could expose clients to unnecessary liability.

Our reviews help clients strengthen project governance, demonstrate compliance and ensure contractual arrangements work together effectively.

Construction considerations often form a critical part of property acquisitions, disposals and leasing arrangements, particularly where development land or incomplete projects are involved.

Working alongside our highly regarded Commercial Property team, we advise on development-related risks, contractual obligations and project documentation associated with property transactions.

By providing early construction law input, we help clients identify issues, manage liabilities and maximise the value of their investments.

Whether carrying out office fit-outs, retail refurbishments or significant alterations to commercial premises, obtaining the correct consents is essential.

We advise landlords, tenants and occupiers on licences for alterations, ensuring proposed works comply with lease obligations and minimise future disputes.

Our team helps clients navigate the legal and practical considerations involved in construction works within occupied buildings, providing clear and commercially focused advice throughout the process.

Even the most carefully managed construction projects can encounter difficulties. Delays, payment disputes, defective works, professional negligence claims, variations and contractual disagreements can all have significant financial consequences.

Our specialist construction dispute lawyers advise developers, contractors, subcontractors, consultants and funders on all forms of construction disputes. We regularly assist clients with adjudication, mediation, arbitration and litigation, tailoring our approach to the needs of each dispute.

We recognise that formal proceedings are not always the best solution. Wherever possible, we work with clients to resolve issues efficiently, protect commercial relationships and minimise disruption to ongoing projects.