Practice

Rónán has experience in a wide variety of construction and engineering disputes. He has represented employers, contractors, subcontractors, architects and engineers in Court proceedings, domestic and international arbitrations and adjudications.

Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure

Rónán is experienced in dealing with all major standard form building contracts (JCT, ICE, NEC3). He has represented contractors and employers in claims relating to delay and disruption, variations, defects and liquidated damages and regularly advises on issues of contractual interpretation, limitation, exclusion clauses and contract formation.

Recent cases include:-

o Litigation arising out of the construction of Wembley National Stadium, being instructed as a junior counsel for Multiplex in their dispute with their concrete sub-contractor. Amongst other things, Rónán was involved in drafting the High Court pleadings and dealing with voluminous evidence from experts in multiple disciplines.

o An ICC arbitration in relation to a major energy project in the Middle East.

o Represented an employer in a defects claim relating to a major residential development in Spain.

o Represented an M&E subcontractor in a variations claim against its main contractor

o Been instructed by the employer in a substantial final account dispute with its contractor.

o Advised and drafted particulars in a commercial dispute involving misrepresentations.

Professional Negligence

Rónán is regularly involved in negligence claims against engineers, architects, contractors and project managers. This includes appearing in the Court of Appeal in a case concerning a solicitor's negligence. He is experienced in drafting negligence pleadings against construction professionals and is familiar in conferencing with experts on questions of technical evidence and advising on the preparation of expert reports. He is familiar with RIBA standard forms and architectural design responsibilities.

Rónán has recently been involved in:

o An arbitration arising out of the negligent design of a Church.

o A claim against an M&E consultant by its employer, alleging that its design negligence caused delay to the fit out works of a corporate headquarters in London.

o A claim by a school against its design consultants and contractors, relating to the construction of a swimming pool complex.

o A claim against an engineer for negligent design of a domestic property.

o An employer's claim against its structural engineer in respect of a leisure development.

Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996

Rónán is familiar with all aspects of adjudication. He has drafted statements of case for adjudication proceedings and has experience in enforcing (or resisting the enforcement of) an adjudicator's decision. In 2008 he represented a contactor in a multi-million pound adjudication that involved a very large degree of factual and expert evidence and lasted five months.

Bonds and Guarantees

He has experience making claims under performance bonds and restraining a call upon a demand bond. Recently aadvised an employer on how to terminate its contract with an insolvent contractor yet still make a call on a Perar-style performance bond.

Jurisdictional disputes and conflicts of law

Rónán is knowledgeable about jurisdictional and choice of law disputes that may arise out of international transactions.

Qualifications and Awards

2005- 2006 BVC at BPP Law School, Holborn (Very Competent)
2004 - 2005 Bachelor of Civil Law BCL, University of Oxford
2003 - 2004 Tutor in Law University of Cambridge, Institute of Further Education
2000 - 2003 Magdalen College, University of Oxford B.A. in Jurisprudence, Upper Second Class
Former Vice-President, Lord Atkin Society of Magdalen College, Oxford

Professional Associations

Rónán is a member of TECBAR, the Society of Construction Law and the London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association.

Please contact our senior clerks, Simon Slattery and Justin Wilson, for further information.


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