“Steven has a great understanding of risk allocation and a practical, down-to-earth approach.”
Chambers UK, 2025
About
Steven is a partner and head of the firm’s Construction and Engineering team. He has 30 years’ experience of advising on complex construction, infrastructure and engineering projects across a variety of sectors as a chartered surveyor and legal adviser (including a period in-house with global technology manufacturer, Rolls-Royce plc).
His experience of advising funders, investors and developers, as well as contractors and suppliers, and his blend of industry, in-house and private practice experience, enables him to provide balanced advice on the allocation of key risks and facilitate a more collaborative approach to contract negotiation.
He advises on procurement strategy as well as the drafting and negotiation of works, technology supply, professional services, operation and maintenance and facilities management agreements. He has deep experience of all industry standard forms of contract including FIDIC, JCT, IChemE, MF/1 and NEC as well as more innovative alliancing forms of contract including FAC/1. Steven’s NEC experience has led him to support many clients in developing their amendments to the NEC forms of contract and train their delivery and supply chains teams in their use.
Steven is recognised in both Legal 500 and Chambers directories as a leading individual in the field of construction and engineering law.
Experience
- Sizewell C Limited: Advising on the drafting and negotiation of multiple technology supply (FIDIC-based contracts) and civils(NEC4-based contracts) packages for a new 3.2 gigawatt nuclear power station in Suffolk, England.
- UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Limited: Advising on the procurement of three development partners (NEC4 contracts) to deliver the STEP fusion energy plant at West Burton and a multi-party collaborative agreement.
- Nuclear Waste Services (part of the NDA): Advising on the globally significant, strategically vital Geological Disposal Facility project (the last resting place for the UK’s high-level nuclear waste).
- Transport for Wales: Advising on the NEC-based construction terms for the delivery of the £738 million transformation of the Core Valley Lines around Cardiff – a key infrastructure project in Wales.
- Affinity Water: Advising on the development of their NEC4-based capital works and infrastructure maintenance contracting templates in readiness for their programme for AMP8.
- YTL Corporation Berhad: Advising on the acquisition, funding and development of the five-star Gainsborough Bath Spa and the development of Filton Airfield into a major new 3,000-dwelling community.
Credentials
- Admitted as a solicitor: England & Wales (2002)
- MSc in Construction Law & Arbitration, King’s College, London
- Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Society of Construction Law and the International Nuclear Law Association