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Nick is a Partner specialising in construction and engineering disputes in the infrastructure, oil and gas and power sectors.

Nick is a Partner and Head of the firm’s Middle East contentious construction and engineering practice.

Nick helps owners, employers and contractors of major international projects navigate the various issues that arise in construction and engineering disputes. He has an in-depth understanding of the complex challenges in bringing and defending claims relating to time, cost and quality. Nick works closely with the various technical experts that are often essential to the successful resolution of construction disputes, leveraging their evidence in legal argument to achieve a commercially favourable result for our clients.

Nick’s experience covers matters of a variety of scale and complexity in the energy (including renewables), oil & gas, transport and infrastructure sectors. Nick has acted on ICC, LCIA, DIFC – LCIA, DIAC, ADCCAC, SIAC, and DIS international arbitrations, both for employers and contractors, and involving all major forms of procurement (construction, design and build, EPC). He has also advised and conducted training on the major industry forms, in particular the FIDIC suite, as well as on the ICC Rules. Nick has represented various key clients on high value and significant construction disputes in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Africa and South America.

Nick’s expertise is recognised by the leading legal directories, including both Chambers & Partners, where he is ranked for construction disputes in the Middle East and for his work in Iraq, and the Legal 500, where he is recognised as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ both in construction and oil and gas.

 

Background

Before beginning his career in law, Nick read Classics at Balliol College, Oxford.  Nick trained at the firm’s London office, qualifying as a solicitor of England and Wales in 2011. 

Before joining the Dubai disputes team, he also spent time in the firm’s Paris and Tokyo offices, and has a wealth of experience of working with clients across the globe, in particular in the Middle East and Asia.

He became head of the firm’s highly rated Middle East construction disputes practice in 2019.

Experience & expertise

Selected matters

  • a consortium of international contractors a consortium of international contractors on a dispute relating to a USD 20 billion major infrastructure project in Saudi Arabia
  • an international oil and gas company on various disputes arising out of two separate EPC contracts for the construction of oil and gas facilities in Iraq
  • a Korean contractor in relation to force majeure and change in law claims arising due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the construction of a significant project in Dubai
  • a major real estate development company on DIAC arbitration proceedings regarding a joint venture agreement to develop a major residential and leisure infrastructure project in the UAE 
  • a Saudi Arabian subsidiary of a Chinese oil and gas company on a Singapore-seated ICC arbitration arising from an aromatic project subcontract governed by English Law in relation to a petrochemical project in Saudi Arabia
  • the Operator and Maintenance Contractor of a major Saudi Arabian power and water plant in relation to potential claims against the Plant Owner in respect of contractual payment provisions
  • a Saudi Arabian investment company on claims for additional cost and extensions of time arising from a hotel and shopping mall project in the UAE 
  • an international gas and renewable energy company on issues arising out of the operation and maintenance of an IWPP in Abu Dhabi
  • an international consortium of contractors on ICC arbitration proceedings arising out of the termination of a £250 million EPC contract (FIDIC Silver Book) for a substantial infrastructure project in the Middle East
  • a Japanese heavy industries contractor on claims for delayed payment and extensions of time arising from a refinery project in Saudi Arabia