Practice areas:
Sector experience:
Michael advises clients on contentious and non-contentious construction matters concerning all major standard forms of contract, including JCT and NEC, and also advises on PFI contracts. He takes a problem-solving approach with clients; providing straightforward advice that offers practical solutions.
Before training at Sharpe Pritchard, he worked as a parliamentary assistant to a Member of Parliament and in public affairs for a regulator and a local authority.
Michael is able to advise on all manner of construction and PFI disputes, such as payment disputes, defects liability, final accounts and extensions of time. Acting predominantly for employers, he advises on the initial merits of claims (either being defended or brought), engage in commercial negotiations including settlement agreements, advise on alternative dispute resolution and bring and defend formal dispute resolution proceedings, particularly adjudications.
He also regularly drafts and advises construction contracts, professional appointments and ancillary documents using JCT, NEC and bespoke forms. Predominantly acting for public sector clients in central and local government, he also has experience in procurement and internal governance procedures.
Case highlights
Contentious- Acting for a county council in successfully defending a ‘smash and grab’ adjudication relating to defective works at a solar farm.
- Acting for a specialist subcontractor in a successful adjudication against a major retailer concerning extensions of time.
- Acting for a borough council in successfully recovering costs from a contractor following damages caused by defective works at a theatre.
- Drafting, negotiating and completing several design and build contracts (and associated ancillary documents) for a London borough council’s multimillion pound new homes scheme.
- Advising on, and drafting, contract documents for a London borough council’s £100m+ responsive capital works scheme for its housing assets.
- Assisting with a procurement for the construction of extra care accommodation for a county council.