Richard Adams Partner

Richard has experience in both legal and commercial roles within the construction industry and is a specialist in contract delivery, strategic troubleshooting and dispute resolution of complex construction and engineering disputes.

Richard works across the key sectors of energy and utilities, transport, real estate and other infrastructure projects. He has a breadth of knowledge of working with different client and project types, and regularly acts for local authorities, funders, consultants, developers and contractors. Richard has particular experience of conducting proceedings in specialist tribunals, primarily in adjudication and arbitration, and manages high court litigation in the Technology and Construction Court. 

Richard is a member of the Society of Construction Law, Adjudication Society, The Technology and Construction Solicitors Association and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

• Advising an international hotel developer on disputes arising from the design and construction of a luxury five star hotel complex comprising the refurbishment and restoration of Grade 2 listed buildings and interface with new build construction. Richard advised on various complex issues of interpretation of contract, programming and quantum issues, and defects arising in the works during the course of three adjudications which culminated in a successful settlement of the matter at mediation.
• Providing day to day strategic and troubleshooting advice over 7 years to a major engineering solutions provider in connection with construction and commissioning issues on a £3.8bn waste to energy project, involving 6 adjudications, litigation in the Technology and Construction Court and the negotiation of an early exit from the project and compromise of all obligations and liabilities. 
• Advising a local authority on a multi-million pound highways infrastructure project, including advice to senior account holders to determine the strategic approach to meet client objectives.
• Advising an engineering solutions contractor with issues arising with its design team and the authority on a £160 million highways project procured under on an NEC3 form of contract.
• Advising for the administrator of a hotel developer in relation to defects in the glass facade of a 19-floor hotel in Birmingham, resulting in a settlement providing for the multi-million pound remediation of the glazing by the contractor.
• Advising a civil engineering contractor on a dispute relating to the resurfacing of a major UK airport runway.
• Providing troubleshooting advice to a major utility company on issues arising with an advanced digestion and CHP facility, including a detailed review of the payment mechanism and compensation event regime under an amended NEC3 form of contract.
• Assisting a water utility company resolve disputes during the contract period with its network maintenance contractor under an NEC3 Term Service Contract, including the negotiation of an early exit agreement terminating the contract.
• Advising an investment fund on commissioning and operating issues arising across a portfolio of biomass plants, resulting in the termination of the contractor's engagement on the wider project.
• Advising a large food supplier on claims against a German contractor relating to the defective design and workmanship of integrated poultry management systems, which was settled at mediation.