Construction and development
Helping to build your future
Few would dispute the crucial importance of the construction industry to the UK economy. The construction solicitor team at Prettys provides expert advice to this sector. Our construction lawyers have extensive knowledge of legal issues affecting this type of business.
From our homes and workplaces to the roads and railways that transport us, it is the construction sector that is a key facilitator and illustrator of growth whilst employing approximately 10% of the UK workforce and contributing almost £90 billion yearly to the UK economy.
From multiple reliable sources we now hear tales of the industry’s resurgence, with some even going so far as to warn that construction demand will rocket if the positive mood continues.
As work picks up and the green shoots of recovery establish themselves, give us the opportunity to show you what a trusted and valuable adviser we can be for your business.
For clients with international dealings, we have the experience and overseas connections to help you. Prettys is also a member of Galexy the international association of lawyers.
"The Construction team, headed by Peter Blake, was described as 'always friendly and helpful', delivering a “prompt and informed service."
Legal 500 2017
Please get in touch: call us on 01473 232121, request a call back or email us.
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Peter Blake
Partner, Head of Construction & development
e pblake@prettys.co.uk
t 01473 298206
m 07979 498818
Peter Blake
"Litigator Peter Blake leads the team and focuses on both domestic and international disputes as well as commercial matters such as contract drafting"
Legal 500 2017
Peter joined Prettys in 1987, becoming a partner in 1991. He is an experienced construction lawyer with a bias towards contentious work. Peter has experience of advising on and drafting documentation on major projects and dispute resolution through negotiation, litigation, arbitration, adjudication and several forms of ADR.
Peter is involved in a number of industry groupings including Forum for the Built Environment, Interact (Suffolk branch) and sits on the Contractors’ Legal Group. Peter is a regular speaker on construction related topics to clients, invited and public audiences.
Recent work includes:
- final account disputes – values from £100,000 to upwards of £1 million – litigation, adjudication, ADR;
- several substantial claims by employers and contractors against construction professionals;
- procurement advice to a contracting authority in relation to the establishment of a framework;
- advising a contractor on several high value claims and in the context of a business restructuring;
- instructed on claims for misrepresentation and/or breaches of contract arising from a development; and
- building defects claims arising from defective design, materials and workmanship.
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Rebecca Palmer
"Senior Associate, Rebecca Palmer, was also identified as a “leading individual” in construction, thanks to her non-contentious work for large contractors.’"
Legal 500 2017
A specialist in non-contentious commercial construction law, Rebecca's practice includes advising clients from all sectors of the industry on procurement strategy and implementation, project management, contract administration and the drafting and negotiation of standard form and bespoke construction contracts including building/engineering contracts, professional appointments, collateral warranties, bonds/guarantees, framework agreements, development and funding agreements and all related documentation.
Rebecca studied at Leeds University and BPP Law School (London) before qualifying as a solicitor in 2006. She joined Prettys in 2013 from the market-leading London-based construction practice at BLP (now Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP) where she had trained and qualified. At present Rebecca spends 1 day each week on secondment as the in-house legal counsel for a client that provides turnkey, integrated, market-leading utilities and engineering solutions nationwide.
Rebecca’s recent work includes advising:
- Developers
- an AIM listed PLC concerning terms and conditions and bank security documentation relating to its delivery of high quality mixed tenure developments of new London homes
- drafting and negotiation of the suite of construction documentation used by the developer (its funder and tenants including the NHS, a national retailer and a dental practice) concerning a state of the art mixed use development in Hertfordshire
- negotiating the EPC contract for a £5million solar farm
- Contractors
- a regional housebuilder by drafting its framework agreement for use with subcontractors
- a major contractor concerning its multi-million pound refurbishment/extension projects on the South coast
- negotiating an overhead line maintenance contractor’s framework agreement with a national power distribution network operator
- numerous main contractors regarding its contract terms with its supply chain
- Subcontractors
- including regarding the proposed bespoke contract documentation in respect of a £2.4million subcontract package of mechanical works for a substantial residential development project in central London
- Consultants
- including practices based in central London and East Anglia concerning their terms of engagement with clients and subconsultants.
- Tenants
- including an international retailer regarding the redevelopment and leasing of its retail outlets (including those within major town centre regeneration projects).
- Lenders
- prior to their provision of development finance.
Rebecca speaks regularly at Prettys' "Developers' Club" and "Business Academy" seminars. She writes frequently for "Construct", the monthly newsletter produced by Prettys' real estate team, and she often delivers tailored training on specialist legal topics and their practical application to both client personnel and industry groups (including the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the National Federation Builders).
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