Rebecca qualified as a solicitor in 2009 and as a solicitor-advocate in 2023. Between 2018 and 2024 she was a partner in an international law firm in London and Paris. She was a member of the Paris bar from 2021 to 2024.
Her practice is focussed on the resolution of disputes arising out of complex construction, engineering, energy and infrastructure projects in the UK and internationally. Rebecca is experienced in arbitration, litigation and alternative methods of dispute resolution such as dispute boards, adjudication and mediation.
Rebecca is the current Chair of the UK Society of Construction Law. She is recognised as a Global Elite Thought Leader and recommended as an expert in Construction by Lexology Index and is ranked as a leading practitioner in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 in which she is described as “an exceptional lawyer who is highly intelligent, personable and commercially astute” and as being “a pleasure and inspiration to work with”.
Construction & Engineering
Selected UK cases
- Acting for the management contractor in adjudication proceedings against a local authority employer in relation to a major heritage refurbishment project. JCT Management Contract.
- Acting for the employer in adjudication proceedings against a design and build contractor in relation to a major reuse and recycling centre. NEC 4 Contract.
- Sky & Mace v Riverstone (Comm Ct) [2025] EWHC 1720 (Comm) – acting for the policyholder in a complex and high value (£150m+) claim under a CAR policy for the cost of remedial works to Europe’s largest flat timber roof at Sky’s global headquarters in West London.
- Acting for the employer in adjudication proceedings against a contractor arising from the design and construction of a data centre. Bespoke contract.
- Acting for a specialist sub-contractor in a final account dispute in a CIMAR arbitration for refurbishment works to a landmark London hotel. JCT Intermediate Contract.
- Representing a UK government tenant in multi-party proceedings in the TCC against the developer and owner; acting in subsequent tripartite mediation. Bespoke contract.
- Representing a contractor in multi-party proceedings in the TCC under the Defective Premises Act. JCT Design & Build contract.
- Representing a specialist M&E sub-contractor in the TCC and Court of Appeal relating to the development and fit out of a court building. DOM/2 form of contract.
- Representing a specialist sub-contractor in a complex delay and disruption dispute in the TCC relating to the development of the Athletes’ Village for the London 2012 Olympics. JCT Intermediate Building Contract.
Selected International Cases
- Representing a contractor in multiple references before a Dispute Board on a water infrastructure project in Kosovo. FIDIC 2017 Red Book contract, Kosovan governing law.
- Representing an employer in multiple Dispute Board and ICC arbitration proceedings arising out of a number of road infrastructure projects. FIDIC 2010 Pink Book contract, Georgian governing law, Paris seat.
- Acting for a contractor in Dispute Board proceedings arising out of the construction of a 1.35 million m2 residential and commercial development in the Middle East including major infrastructure works. FIDIC 1999 Red Book contract, Middle Eastern governing law.
Energy & Natural Resources
Selected Cases
- Representing a contractor in an appeal to the UK Supreme Court in connection with the design and construction of a hydro-electric project in the UK. Dispute valued at c. £100M, NEC2 form of contract, Scots law.
- Representing a multinational energy company in consolidated ICC arbitration proceedings concerning a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Australia. US$ multi-billion dispute, bespoke contract, WA governing law.
- Acting for an international contractor in arbitration proceedings against insurers arising out of a claim under a CAR policy for a hydro-electric project. English law, London seat.
International Arbitration
- Representing a contractor in relation to claims against the employer arising out of the termination of a concession agreement for the design, construction and operation of a waste water facility in Eastern Europe. Bespoke contract, Croatian governing law, UNCITRAL rules.
- Acting for a Middle Eastern government employer in ICC arbitration proceedings relating to the construction of a new international airport passenger terminal building. FIDIC 1999 Red Book contract, Middle Eastern governing law and seat.
- Acting for a global cabling supplier and contractor in an ICC arbitration against an electricity transmission operator concerning a sub-sea electrical interconnector between two European countries. Dispute c.£100M, FIDIC 1987 Yellow Book contract, Northern Irish law.
- Advising a Joint Venture employer in ICC arbitration proceedings arising out of a CAR Policy for the construction of an acid production facility in the Middle East. English governing law.
- Acting for a Middle Eastern government employer in ICC arbitration proceedings relating to the construction of infrastructure and facilities supporting a new international airport. FIDIC 1999 Yellow Book, Middle Eastern governing law and seat.
- Acting for a specialist tunnelling sub-contractor in LCIA arbitration with a main contractor relating to the construction of a new city drainage system in the Middle East. Bespoke contract, London Seat, Middle Eastern governing law and seat.
- Acting for a southern African government employer in ICC arbitration proceedings relating to the construction of a new passenger terminal building in the country’s international airport. FIDIC 1999 Red Book contract, Southern African seat and governing law.
News
- Rebecca Shorter to deliver the keynote speech at the SCL Dublin Conference on 27 November
- Rebecca Shorter to speak at events in Poland and Georgia this week
Events
- Rebecca Shorter to deliver the keynote speech at the SCL Dublin Conference on 27 November
- Rebecca Shorter to speak at the SCL France Conference on 14 November
Qualifications
Bars and Courts
- Barrister, Gray’s Inn, 2024
- Solicitor Advocate, England and Wales, 2023
- Paris Bar, 2021
- Solicitor, England and Wales, 2009
Education
- LPC, Bloomsbury College of Law, 2007
- LLB Law with French Law, University of Reading, 2004
- Diploma in French Legal Studies, Université X de Paris Nanterre, 2003
Memberships
Society of Construction Law (UK)
Publications
- “A Contractor’s Duty to Warn of Defects in Design: Common and Civil Law Approaches Compared”; joint paper with Professor Anthony Lavers, International Construction Law Review [2024] I.C.L.R. 195
- “Using dispute boards in international projects,” Building, 4 January 2021
- “Standard forms of contract: FIDIC vs NEC” Construction Law, 4 May 2020
- “Dispute boards’ use likely to grow” Construction Law, 1 November 2019
- “Getting your digital documents in order: The challenges for dispute resolution”, Construction News, 16 July 2019
- “Trends in international arbitration”, Construction Law, 2 August 2018
- “Computers take over the Courtroom”, Building, 11 July 2018
- “Dispute boards – modern approaches to dispute resolution in international projects,” Global Arbitration Review, 16 July 2013
- “Insolvency: When Is It Official?,” Building, 26 August 2011
- “Case Clarifies Contract Liabilities,” Construction News, 14 April 2011
- “Pure Economic Loss Re-Examined,” Property Law Journal 267, 2011
- “Amendments Assessed,” Property Law Journal 245, 2010
Recommendations
Global Elite Thought Leader (Lexology Index 2024)
“Rebecca Shorter is renowned for her “comprehensive approach to all parts of a dispute” and “deep understanding of critical path and delay analysis, as well as construction law”.
Who's Who Legal: Construction, 2022
“Rebecca is an exceptional lawyer who is highly intelligent, personable and commercially astute – she is a pleasure and inspiration to work with.”
Chambers & Partners – Construction: International Arbitration, 2022
Rebecca “has strong in-depth knowledge of construction.”
Legal 500 – Construction: Contentious, 2022
