Construction & Engineering
William is developing a broad construction practice, spanning both “pure” construction and insurance-related litigation. His practice includes advising clients, drafting pleadings and adjudication documents, and representing litigants at interim and final hearings. He is able to advise on adjudication procedure and enforcement, standard form contracts, the Building Safety Act 2022, latent defects insurance, new home warranties, developer/builder insolvency, party wall disputes, subrogated recovery, and limitation periods. He accepts appropriate instructions on a direct access basis, which can be an efficient way for developers, builders, self-builders and construction professionals to obtain focussed legal advice and representation.
Experience includes:
Adjudication and Enforcement
- Representing a construction company resisting enforcement of a pair of adjudication decisions in the TCC: see Construction Muzzy Limited v Davis Construction (South East) Limited [2025] EWHC 2118 (TCC).
- Acting in an adjudication said to have arisen pursuant to an oral contract between a company and a building contractor, which raised difficult issues of jurisdiction.
- Acting for a homeowner in an adjudication with a building contractor conducted under the RIBA Consumer Contracts Adjudication Scheme.
- Acting for a property developer seeking to enforce an adjudicator’s award against a construction company, by way of summary TCC proceedings.
- Acting for a construction company opposing an attempted “smash and grab” adjudication by one of its sub-contractors, pursuant to a JCT contract.
- Acting for a building contractor seeking to enforce an adjudicator’s award against a residential property developer, by way of summary TCC proceedings.
Building Safety Act 2022
- Representing the respondents to an ongoing First-Tier Property Tribunal claim for a s. 123 Remediation Order alleged to be worth several million pounds.
- Acting for an insurer which is bringing a High Court claim seeking damages pursuant to the Defective Premises Act 1972 and a s. 130 Building Liability Order.
- Advising a major insurer on the prospects of bringing a claim for a s. 130 Building Liability Order against companies said to be “associated” with a building developer which is responsible for defective construction works.
- Advising a construction company facing a potential s. 130 Building Liability Order arising from alleged breaches of the Defective Premises Act 1972.
Construction Disputes
- William is currently led by Anna Laney KC in a seven-figure claim in the TCC arising from a long-running dispute between a farming company and a building contractor.
- Acting for a building contractor facing a substantial claim arising from alleged breaches of a JCT construction contract.
- Acting for a homeowner seeking to recover a six-figure sum arising from a building contractor’s multiple breaches of a bespoke contract which was subsequently novated.
Insolvency
- Representing a property developer in its successful High Court application for an injunction to restrain the presentation of a winding-up petition
Party Wall Act 1996
- Acting for a social housing provider in a six-figure claim brought against it pursuant to the Party Wall Act, in negligence, and in nuisance. The claim was brought by the immediate neighbour of a block which the housing provider had been renovating. It raised some unusual issues around standing, limitation and latent damage. The claim settled before trial for a nominal sum.
- Successfully defending a homeowner at trial, in circumstances where the homeowner was accused of breaching a Party Wall Award in the course of a construction project. The case raised difficult issues of jurisdiction, limitation and declaratory relief.
Contracts for Services
- Acting for a construction company in its contractual dispute with an architect. The dispute involved the issue of whether or not certain RIBA stages had been completed, with the result that certain fees had become due.
- Representing a provider of plumbing and heating services in its successful application to set aside default judgment entered against it by a self-builder.
- Advising a building developer on the status and effect of a series of written and oral agreements made with a firm of architects.
- Acting for a provider of Building Information Modelling who was alleged to have derailed the progress of a major construction project by providing insufficient architectural and technical detail.
Subrogated Recoveries
- Representing a major insurance company in a series of subrogated recoveries against construction companies arising from new home warranties, including advising on options for recovery where the target companies were insolvent.
- Advising a major insurer on subsidence damage alleged to have been caused by the negligent construction of a building’s foundations.
- Advising a major insurer on its options in attempting to recover from an insolvent building developer.
- Advising an insurer seeking to pursue a subrogated claim for a contribution from a sub-contractor who caused an escape of water at a new housing project.
William is a member of the Technology & Construction Bar Association and the Society of Construction Law.
Selected Cases
View full profile »Awards
• Lord Denning Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn, 2021)
• Senior Advocacy Scholarship (The University of Law, 2021)
• Lord Brougham Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn, 2020)
Articles
- 30 Burstock Road: Building Safety Regulator found to have acted ultra vires
- A classic of its kind: Project One London v VMA Services
News
- 30 Burstock Road: Building Safety Regulator found to have acted ultra vires
- A classic of its kind: Project One London v VMA Services
Qualifications
• Bar Practice Course (Outstanding); The University of Law
• GDL (Distinction); The University of Law
• MA Music (First Class); King’s College, Cambridge
Memberships
- British Insurance Law Association (BILA)
- Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
- Professional Negligence Bar Association (PNBA)
- Society of Construction Law (SCL)
- Technology & Construction Bar Association (TECBAR)
