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Caroline McColgan

Call 2010

“Caroline is extremely bright and is very good at grappling with the issues. Her advice is always pragmatic and commercial. She’s a delight to work with.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2024)

Construction & Engineering

Caroline is regularly instructed in construction and engineering disputes.  She has particular experience of dealing with claims for defective works, including in relation to large projects for the design and construction of energy facilities.  She has acted in various cladding cases.  She accepts instructions for employers, contractors, sub- contractors, insurers and individuals. In addition to her court practice, Caroline has been involved in a number of high value adjudication and arbitration matters. She frequently advises in claims for negligence and/or breach of contract against construction professionals.

Selected Cases

  • Athena Asset 5 Sarl v Berkeley Homes West London & Ors – defending the developer of a block of student accommodation in a cladding claim where damages are claimed in excess of £15m;
  • Prudential Assurance Co Ltd / Pets at Home Ltd v Stoke on Trent Regeneration Ltd & Ors – acting for a design and build contractor in its defence and claims in contribution against the project engineering team in relation to alleged defects in a warehouse. Damages exceeded £40m+ (led by Andrew Rigney KC and Fiona Sinclair KC).
  • National Trust for Places of Historic Interest and Outstanding Natural Beauty v Cuffe PLC & Anor [2020], TCC – acting for the claimant property owner in relation to alleged construction defects in a stately home which caused the spread of a catastrophic fire (led by Andrew Rigney KC).
  • In adjudication, sole counsel for the successful respondents in their defence to a claim for engineers’ negligence claim relating to the design of an ocean terminal;
  • In adjudication, defending the architect which designed a high-rise residential block in a cladding claim brought by the main contractor. Damages were claimed in excess of £7million (led by Ben Quiney KC);
  • Defending the architect which designed a £multi-million residential scheme in central London in a claim in confidential arbitration proceedings arising from alleged breaches of planning laws (led by Ben Quiney KC);
  • Acting for a plumbing contractor in respect of a £5million+ claim for defects in the soil stack system at a block of flats which raised important issues of limitation and complex structure theory (led by Daniel Shapiro KC).
  • Defending a major UK contractor in respect of a £12m claim alleging defects in the construction of a leisure centre (led by Andrew Rigney KC).
  • Acting for the Defendant in a £25m+ arbitration concerning defective micro-tunneling works on a major engineering project in Bahrain.
  • Acting for the developer of a prestigious development in Belgravia in connection with a nuisance and party wall dispute (led by Michael Curtis KC).
  • Acting for the Respondent in confidential adjudication proceedings concerning the electronics system installed at a Wind Farm (led by Daniel Shapiro KC).
  • Acting for the Defendant, a major national piling company, in a £6m claim for defective piling works;
  • Advising a contractor in a claim for unpaid fees where there were no formal contractual arrangements in place;
  • Assisting with investigations into the Lakanal House Fire, which occurred in 2009. Caroline was particularly concerned with the buildings / structural issues which were raised and became very familiar with the provisions of the Building Regulations 2010 (led by James Maxwell-Scott KC).
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Qualifications


  • Major Scholar, Inner Temple (2009 – 2010)
  • BVC, BPP Law School (Very Competent) (2009 – 2010) Exhibitioner, Inner Temple (2008 – 2009)
  • GDL, BPP Law School (Distinction) (2008 – 2009) Demyship, Magdalen College, Oxford (2006 – 2008) BA (Hons) University of Oxford (2005 – 2008)

Memberships


  • LCLCBA
  • PNBA
  • TECBA

Recommendations


“Caroline is extremely bright and is very good at grappling with the issues. Her advice is always pragmatic and commercial. She’s a delight to work with.”

Chambers & Partners, 2024

“Easy to deal with and responsive.”

Legal 500, 2024

“She completely engages with cases and is energetic and proactive.”

Chambers & Partners, 2022

“Caroline is very bright, a superb lawyer, immensely hard-working and dedicated, fantastic with clients, has great judgement and is an absolute pleasure to work with.”

Legal 500, 2022

“She is user-friendly on claims in the High Court.”

Chambers & Partners, 2022

“Caroline is very knowledgeable, industrious, and a real team player.”

Legal 500, 2022

“She is brilliant – extremely bright, immensely hardworking and very pragmatic. Nothing is too much trouble for Caroline and she is perfectly happy to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in.”

Legal 500, 2021

“Quickly assimilated large amounts of information and provided succinct advice. She was prepared, stuck to her guns under pressure, and artfully deflected some of the more difficult issues we faced.”

Legal 500, 2021

“She expertly deals with particularly difficult and robust challenges to her position, whilst maintaining a cool, pragmatic and commercial head.”

Legal 500, 2020


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