Expertise

Suzanne specialises in providing dispute avoidance/resolution advice on domestic construction, engineering and infrastructure projects, arising out of many forms of standard contract -specifically JCT, NEC and bespoke EPC contracts. 

Suzanne has particular expertise in advising main contractors, professional consultants and specialist sub-contractors in relation to the built environment and has acted for act for a broad range of national and international clients and insurers as well as household name retailers, large commercial developers, registered providers of social housing and landowners.

Suzanne's experience covers all typical foundations of claim from defective design and inadequate installation through to delay/cost overrun and allegations of professional negligence. Suzanne has experience dealing with all forms of ADR ranging from adjudications and disputes at Pre-Action stage to multi-party litigated claims listed in the TCC.

Suzanne also provides operational support and dispute avoidance/resolution advice to clients on distressed construction, engineering and infrastructure projects, working to achieve practical and commercially acceptable solutions to issues such as entitlement to extensions of time/money and the correct requirements of contractual payment procedures.

Recent experience includes:

• Advising a main contractor in relation to a significant claim for delay/additional costs arising out of the extension/refurbishment of a listed city-centre venue due to immature design and changing employer requirements, requiring serial adjudications on matters of contractual interpretation and application to influence behaviours and create a route through the extensive issues in dispute.
• Acting for insurers in a subrogated claim for recovery of remedial costs required to an 11 storey mixed use tower block. The tower block suffered serious deficiencies in relation to the design and installation of fire safety measures. The matter was litigated and listed in the TCC with the claim being advanced against both the original D&B contractor and Architect for breach/failing to comply with the provisions of the Defective Premises Act 1972.
• Acting on the defence of a high value complex claim against the main D&B contractor responsible for installing an allegedly defective GSHP system to a block of eco-friendly apartments.
• Acting on the defence of a multi-million pound claim against a M&E design and build contractor responsible for the design of a malfunctioning automated system for the manufacturing of explosive flares used in fighter jets.
• Acting on the defence of a claim advanced against a demolition company concerning the failed demolition of two tower blocks. Defending claims advanced by the main contractor and tenants alongside HSE investigation.