Join Constructing Excellence Essex Club for our launch event at Colchester Rugby Club on Thursday 3rd November. We'll be joined by leading experts, including Karen Kirkham, Chair of the JCT, Richard Patterson of Mott Macdonald, and Anna Laney of Crown Office Chambers for a look at the two main contracts and attempt to identify which (if any) is better...
Karen Kirkham, The JCT
Karen Kirkham is a solicitor and head of construction at BDB Pitmans LLP, Karen has 30 years’ experience working with JCT contracts, advising clients from all sectors of the industry. She has been listed as a leading construction legal practitioner in Chambers since 2008 and regularly publishes articles on topical construction issues. She is a former legal director of the Construction Confederation during a key period for the industry when major legislation, including the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and Arbitration Act 1996, was being passed.
Richard Patterson, Mott MacDonald
Richard is a procurement specialist at Mott MacDonald. A Fellow of the ICE, he has particular experience in the procurement of projects under the NEC form of contract. Richard was part of the drafting team for NEC4 and advised on possibly Mott’s first use of the NEC when he moved to their contracts/procurement team in 1996. He advises Mott's teams and their clients on NEC in all sectors including the Halley VI research station on the Antarctic, Transnet in South Africa and the Jumeriah Golf Estates in Dubai. In Hong Kong, he has supported the Mott MacDonald team on its commissions, advising various departments of the Government of Hong Kong first on their trial projects using NEC.
Chair: Anna Laney, Crown Office Chambers
Anna Laney’s practice focusses on construction related matters. She is an experienced advocate appearing regularly in the High Court, International, and Domestic Arbitrations as well as within the alternative dispute resolution forums of mediation and adjudication. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Anna has conducted a number of trials, hearings, and mediations remotely using a variety of platforms and document management systems. Anna has extensive experience of dealing with delay related claims; and considers it an opportunity to get to grips with the factual matrix of the case in order to unravel cause and effect, which of itself often provides an important insight into the issues that are driving the litigation – which can in turn expose opportunities for early settlement.
