SCL Council 2009-2010

Richard Bailey is an Associate in the specialist construction solicitors Fenwick Elliott LLP. Richard specialises in a mix of contentious and non-contentious work predominantly acting for Contractors but also representing consultants and employers. He is experienced in all forms of dispute resolution including adjudication, arbitration, litigation and is also experienced in alternative forms of dispute resolution. As well as his contentious work Richard is well versed in many different forms of Contract including JCT, NEC, GCWorks, and regularly advises on contract amendments, appointments, warranties and all forms of construction documentation. Richard is also highly involved in the Junior SCL.

James Bowling is a barrister at 4 Pump Court and was called in 1999. His practice involves a large amount of construction work, and he has acted for contractors, sub-contractors, employers and consultants, in disputes ranging from small domestic disputes to major projects. As well as litigation and arbitration, he undertakes a large amount of adjudication work (including enforcement applications) and he is a contributor to LexisNexis's "KnowHow" Adjudication Website. He has lectured and written articles on numerous topics relating to construction and IT law, including the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, set off and exclusion clauses. When not working, he likes to go running on Richmond Park, although he finds (to his dismay) that this now seems to require much more effort than it did even a few years ago.

Ronan is a Chartered Surveyor and Director of Acutus, the niche construction consulting firm. (www.acutus.co.uk) He advises on resolution of complex construction disputes, acting as expert witness on delays, cost and management issues. Before Acutus, Ronan was a Partner at EC Harris LLP in London. He is frequently involved in analysis of delays and cost overruns, engaged by contractors, employers, law firms and institutions. Recent work has included acting for an Italian power utility group in assessing claims in ICC arbitration on a £240m power project, advising on delays to an office complex in Moscow, acting for insurers in £22m claim for reinstatement costs following severe property damage, and acting for a leading professional services firm as expert in relation to negligence claims of £18m arising from cost overruns. He maintains a particular interest in valuation of costs and damages from property damage cases and acceleration issues, the subject of his doctoral thesis at King’s College London. He has presented papers on contract issues and damages in London, Cambridge and Milan and was a prize winner in SCL’s Hudson Prize.

Nicholas Gould is a Partner in the specialist construction solicitors Fenwick Elliott LLP. Nicholas conducts a mix of dispute resolution and non-contentious work. He is a solicitor, chartered surveyor and CEDR Solve lead mediator, predominately advising institutions and companies who own, finance, invest, build and facilitate development opportunities and construction projects. He acts in a wide range of construction sectors including office, retail, leisure, residential, hotel, industrial, process plant and petrochemical. Dispute resolution experience spans litigation, arbitration (domestic and international), adjudication, mediation and expert determination. He is the Senior Research Fellow at the Centre of Construction Law, King’s College, London, an assessor for the commercial MSc at UMIST, and external examiner for the Construction Law MSc at Wolverhampton. He has published widely in the area of construction law and won a Silver Award at the CIOB Literary Awards for his book "Dispute Resolution in the Construction Industry" published by Thomas Telford.

Adrian Hughes QC practises from 39 Essex Street chambers. He specialises in construction, information technology and a wide range of commercial work including insurance, energy, project finance, rail, shipping, international trade and professional negligence. He has a particular interest in environmental law and its overlap with commercial and construction issues. Much of his work is in the context of international arbitration and he also acts as arbitrator, mediator, adjudicator and on dispute boards. This is Adrian’s second spell on the SCL Council and he is keen to extend SCL’s international reach.

Keith is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Fellow of the RICS. He is an Associate Director at the construction consultancy Cyril Sweett leading their Non-Contentious Department. He specialises in procurement, contract review and in particular the drafting of professional appointments and the preparation of JCT and NEC contracts. Previously he worked at JR Knowles and with various client and contractor organisations in Hong Kong, the Middle East and Malaysia. He writes for various quantity surveying journals and has completed both an MA in Arbitration and UK solicitor qualifications.

Keith is a Non Executive Director of Driver Group PLC and an Executive Director of Bennington Green. He is highly skilled in the management and negotiation of disputes within the construction and engineering industries. He is a member of the Society of Construction Law, an accredited adjudicator, and a single joint and Law Society Checked Expert. Keith is a strong proponent for dispute avoidance.

Hamish is a barrister specialising in construction, engineering and project finance law.

Anthony Lavers divides his time between the London office of international law firm White & Case LLP, where he is Professional Support Lawyer to the Construction and Engineering Practice Group,and Keating Chambers,where he is Director of Research and Professional Development. Anthony Lavers was Professor of Law at Oxford Brookes University until 2001 and he has held a Visiting Chair in Law there since then. He has over 80 publications in construction and legal journals and has given seminars and conference papers in 25 countries worldwide.Formerly External Examiner at the University of Reading,University of Portsmouth and the University of Central England on Masters courses,Professor Lavers has examined 9 Ph.Ds,mainly in construction law and has supervised 4 doctoral students to successful completion. Anthony Lavers was Vice-Chairman (2002-2004) and Chairman(2004-2006) of the Society of Construction Law,where he chairs the SCL Hudson Prize judging panel and has recently accepted responsibility for university liaison. He was Co-ordinator of the Commission on Post-Construction Liability of the International Council for Building Research (1994-2002) and edited the Commission’s 19-country comparative study ‘Case Studies on Post-Construction Liability and Insurance’.

Barry Milton is a Chartered Building Surveyor commencing his career in 1975 with the Metropolitan Police and in 1977 joined Watts & Pelling (later to become Watts & Partners). His early career was very much focused on residential work but in the 80’s/90’s a more “commercial building surveying” direction was taken. Also in this period he moved into the area of construction law mainly in the role of expert witness in defects disputes, professional negligence, contractual claims and landlord and tenant issues. He was instrumental in the production of “The Watts Pocket Guide to Building Cases” (alas, no more). He left Watts in 2000, as a partner and now practices as a freelance building surveyor. He joined The Society of Construction Law in 1987 and was on council 1989-1994. He re-joined council in 2001, was Chairman in 2008/2009 and has particular interest in the management of the Society, Social activities and is keen to develop Expert Witness training. Outside SCL he is a keen and good cook, a keen sportsman(mainly watching these days) and a keen devotee of the grape, as well as passionate about music (except punk).

Emily is a senior associate at Mayer Brown International LLP. She is a solicitor advocate and has experience in contentious and non-contentious construction and engineering law. She has advised Insurers and all sides of the construction industry (employers, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers) on a wide range of construction disputes, including professional negligence claims. She has worked on arbitrations (both domestic and international), court proceedings and adjudications. Emily has been named as an "Associate to Watch" in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 editions of Chambers UK, the most recent of which praises her as "a terrific associate leading on her own cases". She "endears herself to the market for 'engine room work' in high-profile matters. 'Hard working, approachable and bright' she pitches her expertise at a level destined to propel her to greater success'" (2007)

Lindy is a Construction and Engineering partner in the law firm Dundas and Wilson CS LLP. She has specialised in Construction and engineering law for many years, acting for clients, contractors and consultants. Specialist areas include adjudication and other forms of fast track dispute resolution, insurance and new forms of construction procurement.

Peter is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with over 19 years of practical experience within the UK and overseas. He has dealt with bespoke construction and engineering contracts, including such issues as loss and/or expense, certification, forensic quantum analysis, assessment and apportionment of damage, contractual interpretation and procedural matters. Peter has been instructed as principal and assistant expert witness in various disputes involving professional negligence, quantity surveying practice, quantum evaluation, the assessment of damage and regularly assists both Counsel and solicitors with complex quantum issues.

David Richards started his career in 1971 as a Quantity Surveyor and has worked for a number of major construction companies on a variety of projects, ranging from a flat refurbishment in Hampstead to the Petronas twin towers in Kula Lumpur. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and during his career has also practised as an independent consultant where he developed a flavour for contract dispute related work. He is now with Laing O’Rourke where he divides his time between dispute resolution matters and in-house training seminars for post graduate surveyors.

Helena has worked in the construction industry, and in particular the dispute resolution field, since 1998. She joined MCMS Limited as Practice Manager in 2003, based in the London office. MCMS specialises in adjudication, arbitration, mediation and expert work, and provides a range of technical and legal services through its offices in Birmingham, Leeds and London. Helena is an SCL Councillor. She also organises two residential conferences per year for the Construction Group of ARBRIX, and has assisted with Adjudication Society events and TeCSA Adjudicator Assessment days. Helena is a past Chairman of the South East Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), and has contributed to the course materials for the CIArb’s Law of Adjudication module. She is current Chairman of CIArb Young Members Group, and sits on CIArb's Board of Management.

Darryl Royce was called to the Bar in 1976 and is a member of Atkin Chambers. He advises upon and acts for parties involved in construction projects, including appearances before the Technology and Construction Court, lay arbitrators and mediators. He also has experience as an arbitrator and as a mediator. As well as being a Founder Member of the Society of Construction Law, he is a member of the Western Circuit and the Technology & Construction Bar Association. He is editor of the Technology and Construction Law Reports.

Founding President of the SCL and Past President of the European Society of Construction Law. Past Chairman of the CIA and first chairman of its Executive Committee. Also a principal architect of the CIA’s international activities and of its Special Fellowship courses. A principal editor of the Handbook of Arbitration & Dispute Resolution Practice. Past or present member of many international arbitration panels. CEDR Mediator. Vice President of the Arbitration Club. Adjudication and D.R.B work undertaken. A former UNCC Commissioner. A Member of the Construction Disputes Division, European Court of Arbitration. A member of ADR Chambers.