Laura Hussey

Laura has experience in a range of construction disputes, both domestic and international. Recent work includes:

INTERNATIONAL

• Acting as junior counsel for an employer in an arbitration in Dubai (DIAC rules) in a dispute concerning the construction of a large residential and commercial complex with issues including delay, variations, extensions of time, bonds and guarantees.
• Instructed, as part of a team of counsel, on behalf of an international architectural and project management firm in an arbitration concerning the design and construction of a major airport in the Middle East.
• Instructed in relation to an ICC arbitration, seated in Dubai, concerning the construction of seawater pipelines in the Middle East with issues including unlawful termination, delay and bonds.
• Advising on a claim concerning payment for variations under a contract for the hydraulic modelling for large construction works in Sri Lanka.

DOMESTIC

• Acting as junior counsel in a large multi-party dispute concerning the construction of a UK abattoir.
• Acting as junior counsel for a construction manager in a multi-party claim concerning the construction of a luxury London residential development.
• Advising, as junior counsel, on a complex dispute concerning a large tunneling infrastructure project.
• Acting for a developer in a claim concerning the residential development of 26 plots of land with issues including limitation and the interpretation of the contract.
• Drafting a mediation response in an ongoing dispute concerning a regional city tram system’s extension works where the primary points in dispute concerned the interpretation of the contract.
• Advising and settling a particulars of claim against a contractor in a dispute concerning the extension to a private property where the contractor abandoned the site.
• Advising on the contractual interpretation of clauses within an NEC3 contract.
• Advising on the interpretation of various contractual clauses including a limitation of liability cap and entire agreement clause.
• Acting for a company that installs passenger lifts in a claim concerning scaffolding works and the termination of the contract.
• Drafting particulars of claim in a dispute concerning outstanding payments owed by a contractor to a sub-contractor for three separate projects.
• Acting for an I.T. provider, including on various interim applications, in a claim concerning variations and unpaid invoices.

Laura’s professional negligence experience includes:

• Advising, as junior counsel, an employer on a dispute concerning the development of a London Grade II listed townhouse with issues including the suspension of works, unlawful termination and the contractual interpretation of clauses within a JCT 2016 Standard Building Contract.
• Drafting, on behalf of an architect, a defence in a claim concerning an alleged negligent design allowing fire to spread in a block of flats.
• Advising on and drafting various interim applications along with settling a defence in a multi-party dispute concerning the installation of underground electrical cables including the interpretation of indemnity clauses.
• Acting for an infrastructure services contractor in a claim concerning highway maintenance and improvement works.
• Advising on claims against an architect and contractor in a dispute concerning the extensive refurbishment of a private property with numerous design and workmanship defects including issues of limitation.
• Advising on a multi-party claim regarding the construction of advertising signs including issues regarding defective structural engineering work, limitation and latent defects.
• Advising and settling a defence in a claim against a contractor concerning the refurbishment of a private property under an oral contract and alleged substantial defects. The key issues included establishing the terms of the oral contract, particularly the scope of work and issues of quantum.
• Drafting a defence in a claim against a contractor concerning the installation of pipework including issues relating to the Defective Premises Act 1972 and quantum.
• Drafting a defence in a claim against an architect in a dispute concerning the design and construction of a building for a local council.

• Acting for an electrical and mechanical services provider, including settling a particulars of claim and a reply and refence to counterclaim, in a claim concerning the payment terms under a contract for the construction of high and low voltage substations.
• Advising in relation to a fire at a substation including issues of the parties’ contractual relationships and whether the loss was recoverable.
• Instructed in relation to an ICC arbitration, seated in Dubai, concerning the construction of seawater pipelines in the Middle East with issues including unlawful termination, delay and bonds.
• Advising on whether a contractor validly could commence adjudication proceedings in a claim concerning an offshore wind farm and extensions of time.

2015: Princess Royal Scholarship, Inner Temple.

2015-2016: BPTC, City Law School.

2014-2015: Graduate Diploma in Law, City Law School.

2002-2006:  University of Washington Dean’s List Scholar for high academic merit.

2002-2006: Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science, University of Washington, USA (Double First Class equivalent)

‘In search of the fraud exception’ TECBAR Review, Autumn 2018.

Laura is a member of the SCL, TECBAR and COMBAR.