Owen Watkins Senior Associate

Owen specialises in non-contentious construction and engineering, with particular focus on defence, infrastructure and development. Clients include governmental departments, public sector bodies, developers, major banks, funders, investors, and tier 1 and 2 contractors.

He is experienced in drafting, negotiating, and carrying out due diligence on standard form contracts, including the NEC, MF/1, FIDIC, JCT, IChemE suites and bespoke documentation, and has significant experience in the public sector.

• Developed the call off terms for various government departments for the procurement of FM services.
• Advising various government departments in developing, negotiating, and troubleshooting contracts across various key defence infrastructure projects as well as various NEC-based construction contracts for refurbishment and new build projects.
• Providing strategic advice to a major developer JV relating to the construction aspects of a new regional train station, as well as contract suite drafting and negotiation, and interfacing with relevant interested third parties (including Network Rail, funders, and public bodies - government and local authorities).
• Developed framework contracts for various utilities and train operators based on NEC3 and NEC4 PSSC, PSC (multi-option), ECSC, and ECC Option A, B, and C for network-wide asset maintenance contracts.
• Advising on and negotiating a significant HS2 earthworks contract for a tier 2 contractor.
• Drafting and negotiating contract suites in relation to new build developments, engineering solutions and energy projects at food manufacturing warehouses, luxury goods manufacturing facilities, airport supply headquarters, commercial premises, and chemical/fuel plants.
• Drafting and negotiating ICP, UIP and private wire connections based on the NEC3 and NEC4 ECSC, IChemE Yellow Book, and FIDIC Yellow for various energy utilities and developers.
• Various due diligence exercises for institutional lenders in relation to funding solar and wind projects across the UK.