Most Highly Regarded Firms: Construction 2010

• May 2010

• Construction

Our research has revealed 417 construction law experts in 37 jurisdictions who can truly be considered leaders in the field.

North America

The United States is home to many of the outstanding construction lawyers listed in the following pages. A number of firms provide our list with several names, one of these is Peckar & Abramson, with eight lawyers included. Adrian Bastianelli in Washington, DC was called “a dean of government contract lawyers”. Robert Peckar in New Jersey is “well known and widely used” according to an interviewee and he is also the winner of our award for the best individual construction lawyer for the fifth time. Steven Charney is noted for his construction-related disputes work and is the managing partner of the New York office and co-manager of the firm.

Construction boutique firm Smith Currie & Hancock LLP fields six lawyers, all of whom are based in Atlanta. It has “an extremely well-regarded construction team” according to our sources. Thomas Abernathy is “an outstanding construction law practitioner” and James Butler was called a “go-to guy for contract and hazardous waste issues”.

Howrey LLP also has six listings in the following pages. John Heisse is “one of the best construction litigators in the industry. He understands construction and knows how to litigate cases”, in the words of one corporate counsel. Two other practitioners from the San Francisco office are listed, including Stephen O’Neal, who is co-chair of the firm’s litigation practice. Andrew Ness, in Washington, DC, is “very respected”, while Barbara Werther brings 30 years of experience to the table when handling construction disputes.

A number of individual US lawyers received extremely high numbers of nominations. Joseph Canterbury in Dallas was called “very experienced” and “a luminary” of the Texan construction bar. His firm, Canterbury Elder Gooch Surratt Shapiro & Stein PC, achieves one further listing with name partner Kyle Gooch. Philip Bruner of JAMS in Chicago is “the tops” and “an outstanding arbitrator”. Steven Stein of Stein Ray & Harris LLP, also in Chicago, is included along with fellow name partners Stephen Ray and Robert Harris. John Hinchey is included from King & Spalding LLP and is “top notch”. He has extensive experience in all construction, procurement and contracting issues. Howard Ashcraft of Hanson Bridgett LLP in San Francisco was extremely highly nominated.

Robert Beaumont is the most highly nominated Canadian lawyer in our research and is closely followed by Harvey Kirsh – they are co-chairs of Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP’s construction group and are listed in Toronto.

Canadian firm Borden Ladner Gervais LLP achieves four listings. Bruce Reynolds, from Toronto, is “a leading light” in our research and is chair of the firm’s international construction projects group. He is also a member of the American College of Construction Lawyers. Daniel Ayotte heads the Montreal construction, engineering, surety and fidelity group.

Europe

Julian Critchlow is “a true specialist” in this practice area and is one of six lawyers listed from construction boutique Fenwick Elliott LLP in the UK. Nicholas Gould is also listed and specialises in energy, petrochemical, industrial and process plant-related projects and senior partner Simon Tolson is “exceptionally experienced when it comes to solving construction disputes”.

White & Case LLP performed well in our research, with six lawyers earning a listing in these pages. Phillip Capper in London is considered an “exceptional construction and arbitration practitioner” by peers. Christopher Seppälä is “knowledgeable and reliable” and serves as legal adviser to FIDIC.

Barristers in the United Kingdom are gaining prominence in our research and a number stood out as trusted counsel where construction disputes are concerned. David Streatfeild-James QC was highly nominated and has acted for employers, contractors, sub-contractors and consultants, domestically and internationally. Also at Atkin Chambers, Humphrey Lloyd QC is “extremely well respected”. John Marrin QC is the head of Keating Chambers and has particular experience of energy-related construction disputes while Stephen Furst QC, also of Keating Chambers, is “incisive” and has significant international experience with recent arbitrations relating to projects in Hong Kong, Korea, the Republic of Ireland, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Marcus Taverner QC has acted for almost every type of construction professional and is considered to be “one of the most prominent silks” where construction law is concerned.

Marc Frilet at Frilet - Société d’Avocats featured prominently in our research in France and is “well resepected”. Arent van Wassenaer at Allen & Overy LLP was called “renowned and incredibly intelligent” and received the highest number of nominations in the Netherlands.

Australasia and Asia

Douglas Jones leads in terms of the number of nominations in Australia. He is one of four Clayton Utz lawyers to appear here and he is, according to one interviewee, “globally respected - the rock star of construction law”. Andrew Stephenson is “very good and experienced” and heads the construction and major projects group as well as the international arbitration group in Melbourne.

Four lawyers from Mallesons Stephen Jaques are listed, including the “subtle and commercially minded” Peter Megens, who has over 30 years of experience and is based in Melbourne. Peter Pether in Sydney leads the property, construction and environment team and is “a doyen of construction disputes”.

Singapore firm WongPartnership LLP has four lawyers included; Christopher Chuah is “a leading name”. He heads the construction practice and specialises in disputes, while Wong Meng Meng, the founding partner of the firm who currently acts as a consultant, was called “distinguished”. Christopher Lau SC is another local name who stood out in our Singapore research and interviewees called him “remarkable”.

In India, Sumeet Kachwaha of Kachwaha & Partners is “very personable” and “gives very clear advice”. He specialises in issues related to infrastructure projects, often advising from the procurement side.

International Presence

Specialist construction firm Pinsent Masons LLP is the firm with the highest number of inclusions in the following pages. Its strength in numbers is echoed by its geographical spread with 15 of its lawyers appearing from offices in London, Hong Kong, Glasgow, Dubai, Shanghai and Beijing. Its consistently outstanding performance in our research is reflected in the fact that it has won our award for construction law firm of the year for the third time. Mark Lane in London is the most highly nominated lawyer from this firm and is well known for his infrastructure expertise. Mark Roe is international head of the projects and international construction group and “highly respected” for his work in construction-related mediations and Martin Harman was particularly noted for his expertise with infrastructure projects. The firm’s presence in Asia is well reflected in our publication: Vincent Connor and Dean Lewis were both pointed out as “prominent local players” while John Bishop, head of the Beijing office, is also included.

Lovells has five inclusions in England, Germany and Hong Kong. Nicholas Gould, who serves as a senior consultant to Lovells’ construction group is “a reliable adviser” and Timothy Hill is “a star in Asian construction work” and heads this practice group in the region. Wendelin Acker in Germany specialises in disputes, particularly in relation to corruption and fraud scandals.

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