Pinsent Masons LLP - The Who's Who Legal 100 2013

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

Pinsent Masons’ construction practice is “second to none” and covers the full range of advisory and disputes work. Its recent work includes advising Forth Ports on a joint venture agreement with Roxhill Developments to develop up to 940,000 sq ft of industrial space at the Port of Tilbury in Essex. The firm’s London office is best represented with four practitioners singled out for their expertise in this area. Mark Lane leads the firm’s water sector group and is the “go-to guy” for infrastructure law in the UK. He boasts over 25 years’ experience in the water, energy and roads sectors. Martin Harman is “renowned” for his “first rate advice” to contractors, owners and consultants on major infrastructure projects, both domestically and internationally. The “brilliant” Richard Foley heads the firm’s construction advisory and disputes group and is “very active” in both litigation and arbitration in this area. He also advises owners and constructors of major infrastructure projects on risk management and dispute avoidance and resolution. Head of international arbitration Mark Roe is a “world-class” specialist in construction and engineering matters. In Glasgow, Alastair Morrison is a “frequent face on major projects” while the “superb” Brandon Nolan is the “lawyer of choice in Scotland” for clients in need of contract drafting, consultancy and disputes advice. In Dubai, “dispute resolution expert” Bill Smith is one of three lawyers singled out in the office. The “competent and smart” Michelle Nelson and the “talented and thorough” Sachin Kerur also feature.

The firm boasts an exceptionally strong presence in the Asian market with seven construction lawyers from the region recognised in our research. Head of the Beijing office John Bishop is a “legendary figure” in the market and is noted for his “deep understanding” of construction law. He receives additional listings in the arbitration, commercial mediation and public procurement chapters, demonstrating his breadth of expertise. Kian Heong Hew heads the Shanghai office and recently advised the Chinese State Development and Reform Commission on the drafting of the PRC Bidding Law. He is joined by Ellen Zhang, a “star” in the field. Mohan Pillay and Jon Howes jointly lead the Singapore office and both are considered “big names” in the construction legal market. Vincent Connor is head of the Hong Kong office and head of the sectors: Asia team. Clients praise his “thoughtful” and “spot on” advice. Colleague Dean Lewis is frequently seen on “high-profile” contentious and non-contentious matters and is legal advisor to the Hong Kong Construction Association.

A trio of individuals are fielded to our real estate chapter. Glasgow-based Tom Anderson is “top tier” and advises on complex property driven structures, strategic planning for land related development, regeneration and investment projects and property joint ventures. Ewan Alexander heads the firm’s Edinburgh office and is widely acclaimed for his skills in the areas of house building, development, investment and leisure. Based in London, consultant Graham Lust specialises in real estate investment and development transactions, funding joint ventures and large-scale projects. He is “lauded” for his advisory role on some of the largest mixed use regeneration projects in the UK, notably the acquisition of the millennium dome (O2 Arena) and a mixed-use regeneration scheme of six million sq ft surrounding the national stadium at Wembley. Currently he is advising on aspects of the Earls Court regeneration project.

Pinsent Masons achieves further recognition in six chapters, including environment, oil and gas and life sciences, attesting to the firm’s wide-ranging skill and expertise.