Overview

Claire is a director in the firm’s construction and engineering team specialising in the resolution of disputes in the construction and engineering sector.

As a dual qualified solicitor (England & Wales and Scotland), she has considerable experience representing clients in a variety of complex, high-value disputes in the English and Scottish courts, arbitration (both domestic and international), mediation, expert determination and adjudication.  

Claire believes in the benefits of alternative dispute resolution and regularly advises on risk management and dispute avoidance.  

Claire has a degree in architecture and experience working as an architectural assistant in practice.  This means she is well placed to advise those involved in all aspects of the construction industry. 

Claire also holds an Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales Certificate in Insolvency.

 
Experience
  • Advising a government body on various matters arising from a multi-million pound road infrastructure project with all claims and counterclaims resolved by negotiated commercial settlement.
  • Providing advice to a fit-out contractor on the resolution of issues on a number of hotel refurbishment contracts which included pursing claims at adjudication and defending a threatened insolvency petition.
  • Advising a UK contractor on the implication of various claims that it was operating the construction site in breach of various CDM Regulations
  • Providing strategic advice to a commercial tenant on long-running issues arising from a defective external cladding system with matters eventually resolved by multi-party settlement and remediation of the cladding system by the contractor.
  • Advising a housing association on its rights and obligations in respect of the termination of its contract with an international contractor for failure to proceed regularly and diligently with the construction of a residential development.
  • Acting for an employer in a multi-party commercial action in the Court of Session concerning the defective design and construction of a medical laboratory complex which was successfully settled at mediation.
  • Acting for a UK contractor in a matter in the Technology & Construction Court in seeking payment for the construction of an athletics facility carried out without a contract but under various letters of intent.
  • Advising a commercial landlord on its rights and obligations in circumstances of contractor insolvency including issues of retention of title, control of the site, disgruntled subcontractors and the engagement of a replacement contractor.
  • Providing strategic and technical advice on critical issues of time-bar and prescription to a local authority in respect of a high-profile schools development.
  • Advising an international supplier on the validity of a payment regime and the incorporation of terms into its contract which was resolved at arbitration (LCIA Rules).