News

Wedlake Bell Nabs Construction Pro From Taylor Wessing

The appointment of our new Legal Director, Natalie Pilagos, has been highlighted in Law360. To read the article please click here. This article is behind a paywall.

News

Construction Contracts – a weapon in the fight to save the world?

With climate discussions dominating the headlines and COP26 commencing in Glasgow, it is inevitable that such discussions will also be edging their way up corporate agendas. The built environment reportedly… Read more →

News

Silver linings in the material shortages clouds

In Construction Global, Partner Sarah Elliot discusses the positive measures from the current supply chain and material challenges. To read the full article please click here.

News

Professional indemnity insurance for construction professionals- hard boiled?

The hardening of the professional indemnity market will not have escaped the notice of anyone in the construction industry recently renewing their cover or developers relying on it.  Factors including… Read more →

Bulletins

CLAIMING FOR COVID

Covid has become such a major part of our personal and business lives but so far as construction contracts are concerned, where are we a year on? In April 2020… Read more →

News

Employer entitled to challenge the ‘true value’ of interim application

Employer entitled to challenge the ‘true value’ of interim application to overcome “smash and grab” adjudication Grove v S&T. Grove Developments Ltd v S&T (UK) Limited [2018] EWHC 123 (TCC)… Read more →

News

Are you sure you’re insured?

Project insurance may secure a project, but contractors at any level should look to their contracts before relying on such policies. Haberdashers’ Aske Federation Trust v Lakehouse Contracts [2018] EWHC… Read more →

News

Obtaining planning permission and conservation area consent – employer’s implied obligations?

Clin v Walter Lilly & Co Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 490 In a recent case, the Court of Appeal implied a term into a building contract to the effect that… Read more →

Bulletins

Reasonable skill and care or fitness for purpose? The devil is in the detail.

Introduction The extent to which a design and build contractor should be held responsible for a construction project achieving (or failing to achieve) a particular performance output is an issue… Read more →

Bulletins

Smash and Grab Adjudications – Is there hope for Payors?

“Smash and grab” adjudications may get you some short term cash but beware of the payor’s right to seek a proper valuation of the works and recover overpayments in subsequent… Read more →

Bulletins

Assignment by way of security – beware of giving away more than you bargained for

Background Assignment by way of security is a concept that comes up on many construction projects; typically as a condition of providing finance a funder will require an assignment by… Read more →

Bulletins

Is a pay less notice really necessary to contend payment following termination of a contract?

Is a pay less notice really necessary to contend payment following termination of a contract? Yes says the Court of Appeal In Adam Architecture Ltd v Halsbury Homes Ltd [2017]… Read more →

Bulletins

Awash with supply?

What business consumers need to know about changes to the water supply market. What is happening? From 1 April 2017, business consumers have been able to choose their water supplier… Read more →

Brexit

Bitesize Brexit

Brexit impacts – lifecycle of a property development Brexit is going to impact on our laws.  It is too early to know what the impacts will be but it is… Read more →

Campaigns

Tomorrow’s City, Today’s Challenge

What’s it all about? The World Health Organisation predicted that by 2030 over 60% of the world’s population will live in cities. What will that mean for the built environment… Read more →

Bulletins

Consequential loss – a new approach?

The recent Commercial Court case of Star Polaris v HHIC-Phil has emphasised the risks of excluding liability for “consequential loss” under a contract. The case has cast doubt over the… Read more →

Events

Construction Project Insurance – Cover and Current Issues Seminar

For our upcoming construction seminar we are pleased to welcome: Paul Reed QC, Head of Chambers at Hardwicke Chambers and author of Construction All Risks Insurance Patrick Harrington FCII FCILA… Read more →

News

JCT subcontracts: Court of Appeal calls time on extensions of time

A TCC case involving Carillion concerning the issue of delayed work and entitlement to an extension of time has potentially significant implications for contractors. The Court of Appeal in Carillion Construction… Read more →

"knowledgeable, thorough and attentive."

— Chambers UK, 2022

"[provides] practical advice that offers solutions."

— Chambers UK, 2022

Offering diverse expertise, the team at Wedlake Bell LLP acts on behalf of owners, funders and operators both domestically and internationally. Its sector specialities include a strong focus on care sector projects, as well as expertise in housebuilding, medtech and high-end residential work. Sarah Elliott heads up the team, acting on a number of high-value matters. Helen Garthwaite and Suzanne Reeves are also well regarded.

— Legal 500, 2022

Helen Garthwaite is very personable and easy to work with, and she provided excellent advice throughout.

— Legal 500, 2022

An excellent team of lawyers. They work well together, with other teams within the firm and with external consultants.

— Legal 500, 2022

An extremely responsive, practical and helpful team who know our business intimately and can be trusted to get on with the job efficiently and always deliver a quality product. Key differentiation is knowledge of our business, trust and relationships with the right people, developed over years, making it a relatively hands-off work-stream for the in-house lawyer.

— Legal 500, 2022

Suzanne Reeves’ depth of knowledge of the sector and our business and very personable nature are highly valued. She has ensured a consistent calibre of associates who always provide a thorough and reliable service. They make it easy for us and have always kept our trust over many years.

— Legal 500, 2022

Sarah Elliott in the construction team demonstrates dedication to the client’s needs. She understands the way the client operates and tailors her service to suit. Wedlake Bell has introduced an online collaboration portal and loads contracts, appointments and other legal documents in a place where we can easily find and download them for all our different projects.

— Legal 500, 2022

Wedlake Bell has a diverse pool of talent that has been extremely useful to us as a company when looking at the various types of contractual arrangements we use within our business. All of the team are professional, conscientious and commercially minded as well as having the ability to explain complicated matters simply to their clients.

— Legal 500, 2022

The firm has a very good and professional approach and is responsive to all our requirements.

— Chambers UK, 2021

'Clients appreciate the team for its "very detailed understanding of the realities of working in the construction sector for both SMEs and large contractors" as well as its "really practical and helpful advice".

— Chambers UK, 2020

'The team has a commercial and pragmatic approach.'

— Legal 500, 2020

"They are commercial but pragmatic and to the point, but they still comprehensively go through strategy."

— Chambers UK, 2018

"Every lawyer there has a good depth of knowledge. They're very friendly and easy to deal with."

— Chambers UK, 2018