Construction & Engineering

We provide first class legal advice and robust representation to companies and organisations in the construction industry from inception to completion on major construction projects in the UK and globally. Legal services provided includes:

Contentious Services

• Adjudication – preparation and defence

• Arbitration – preparation and defence

• Mediation – preparation and defence

• Representation in all Courts in England and Wales, including the Technology and Construction Court (TCC)

• Enforcement of adjudicator’s decisions in the High Court (TCC)

• Valuation/Payments/Non-Payment disputes

• Compensation events/variation disputes

• Extensions of time disputes

• Liquidated and ascertained damages

• Defective work disputes

• Design disputes

• Practical completion disputes

• Retention disputes

• Appeals in the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court (if necessary)

Non-Contentious Services

• Contract review and advice (including NEC3, JCT, GC Works, FIDIC and bespoke contracts)

• Preparation and drafting of contract documentation, letters of intent, collateral warranties, bonds and framework agreements.

• Legal advice from inception to completion on all construction and engineering projects.

Sectors

Buildings, Infrastructure, Civil Engineering, Housing, Mechanical and Electrical Works, Nuclear, Power, Infrastructure, Residential, Education, Commercial Offices, Sports, Industrial and Rail.

Head of Construction & Engineering Law

Head of the Construction and Engineering Law department at New Temple Chambers, is Charles Edwards BSc(Hons) MSt(Cantab) MSc(Lond) MRICS FCInstCES Barrister, is a highly accomplished and experienced dual-qualified Construction Barrister and Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years of legal experience in construction and engineering law.

Charles’s knowledge and insight as a Construction Barrister has been described as “unparalleled’. Charles’s “grasp and in-depth knowledge of construction, construction law and dispute resolution…is second to none.” Charles is “extremely dedicated, precise and utterly relentless”. He has been described as “an advocate you most certainly want on your side”. Clients consistently praise Charles’ depth of knowledge and strategic insight in construction and engineering law.

Clients

Chambers accepts instructions on a direct access basis from irepresents contractors, subcontractors, employers, claims consultants, contract administrators, employer’s agents, quantity surveyors, architects, consulting engineers, project managers, investors, government clients and international clients.

Chambers accepts instructions from a wide range of clients on a direct access basis, from construction and engineering organisations, contractors, subcontractors, employers, claims consultants, project managers, architects, quantity surveyors, international organisations as well as instructing solicitors.

Instructions include:

TCC (High Court) enforcement proceedings regarding the enforcement of an adjudicator’s decision in relation to complex construction and engineering works.
TCC (High Court) proceedings regarding defective work on a major construction project following proceedings between the Employer, Contractor and Sub-Contractor.
Advising and drafting a defence for proceedings in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC).
Successful adjudication pursuant to section 108 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (as amended) concerning payment, loss and/or expense and interim payments.
High Court (Chancery Division) – Advised on a winding petition (insolvency), payment and valuation dispute, the interpretation of contract terms and conditions, a proposed winding-up petition in the High Court and the best strategy to be adopted in order to achieve the client’s objectives and recover the outstanding payment.
Successful adjudication pursuant to section 108 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (as amended) concerning major change in scope of works.
Advice in relation to a major construction dispute arising from a change to the scope of works pursuant to a heavily amended JCT2011 Design and Build Contract.
Advising and drafting bespoke construction contract and associated contractual documentation for a multi-million pound construction project.
Successfully advising and acting in insolvency proceedings in the High Court (Companies Court) in relation to a JCT contract construction and insolvency of one of the parties, proceedings by the insolvency practitioner.
Advising on an interim payment dispute following deduction of substantial amounts of monies for late completion and non-payment of loss and/or expense pursuant to a JCT Contract.
Advising on a dispute involving non-payment and compensation events pursuant to an NEC3 Contract on a major construction project.
Successful adjudication pursuant to section 108 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (as amended) concerning recovery of Overheads Contribution as part of loss and/or expense claim pursuant to a heavily amended JCT Contract.
Advising on arbitration provisions pursuant to a construction contract.
Drafting a bespoke construction contract for use by a Contractor for use on all its projects.
Advised on a payment and valuation dispute, the interpretation of contract terms and conditions, a proposed winding-up petition in the High Court and the best strategy to be adopted in order to achieve the client’s objectives and recover the outstanding payment.

Years of Experience

We have a wealth of knowledge and experience in providing high quality legal advice, drafting and robust presentation in the civil courts and tribunals in England and Wales.

EXCELLENCE

EXPERIENCED

TRUSTED

TESTIMONIALS

What Clients Say

"We were able to meticulously comb through the data we had with your legal and commercial brain…in order to write a robust rebuttal to their claim…Thank you for your diligence… more than once you went beyond the call of duty to support us…"

“Charles…he has unbelievable depth of knowledge…and we would have no hesitation in recommending him…”

“…in a recent adjudication conducted against a large multi- national corporation…Charles was instrumental in putting together the adjudication documents and dealing with all correspondence from the opposing side’s solicitors …in an adjudication that proved to be very successful in its conclusion…I have no hesitation in recommending Charles to others and…look forward to working with him in future…”

“…I…engaged Charles as part of a very delicate dispute and subsequent Adjudication process which was awarded in our favour despite an extensive legal team in opposition. Charles proved to be incredibly dedicated and passionate in his support and I found his knowledge and insight to be unparalleled. I cannot recommend him highly enough…”.

“…I worked with Charles on a number of complex construction disputes and found his grasp and in-depth knowledge of construction, construction law and dispute resolution to be second to none…”

“…We have known and worked with Charles on a regular basis over several years. We have found Charles to not only be friendly, approachable and professional, but his advice is considered, diligent and thorough. Our relationship with Charles has evolved to a point where he is our first port of call in litigious matters, with our supply chain also specifically requesting his services…”

“Having had the privilege of working with Charles I can say he is extremely dedicated, precise and utterly relentless. A leading thinker in the construction law field, and an advocate you most certainly want on your side.”

Construction & Engineering