Laura Hussey

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

• 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 and bonds and guarantees.
• Drafting, as part of a team of counsel, a Reply to a Defence and Counterclaim 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.
• Advising, as junior counsel, on a complex dispute concerning a large tunneling infrastructure project.
• Acting for an electrical and mechanical services provider, including settling a Particulars of Claim and a Reply and Defence to Counterclaim, in a claim concerning the payment terms under a contract for the construction of high and low voltage substations. The primary issues in dispute were whether the contract was a fixed price contract and whether unpaid invoices represented variations under the contract.
• Advising on a claim concerning payment for variations under a contract for the hydraulic modelling for large construction works in Sri Lanka.
• Advising on whether a contractor validly could commence adjudication proceedings in a claim concerning an offshore wind farm and extensions of time.
• 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.
• 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 IT provider, including on various interim applications, in a claim concerning variations and unpaid invoices.

Laura’s professional negligence experience includes:

• 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.
• 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.
• Advising in relation to a fire at a substation including issues of the parties’ contractual relationship and whether the loss was recoverable.
• Drafting a Defence in a claim against an architect in a dispute concerning the design and construction of a building for a local council.