Overview

The UK's current National Infrastructure Delivery Plan includes a project pipeline valued at over £480 billion. Projects include energy, transport, waste, water, housing, regeneration and social infrastructure (such as schools and hospitals). It is expected that around half of the pipeline will be financed by the private sector. The UK is also planning major defence projects. This investment presents significant opportunities and challenges to everyone involved in infrastructure procurement, delivery and financing, including those investing from overseas.

Our award-winning infrastructure lawyers combine market-leading experience and legal expertise to help you overcome the challenges of infrastructure project delivery. We are renowned for our cutting edge work, delivering groundbreaking infrastructure projects across all sectors and are at the forefront of the debate on UK infrastructure project delivery.

Our latest research Perspectives on infrastructure, which has been carried out through a number of interviews with leading infrastructure funders and developers, uncovers the priorities and challenges for investment in UK infrastructure and its role in economic recovery.

With a reputation for technical excellence and commercially astute advice, our infrastructure lawyers provide expert guidance on whole life infrastructure delivery. Our public and private sector clients include procurers, developers, funders, landowners and the supply chain across all sectors.

Areas of focus

Our market-leading infrastructure projects expertise includes the following:

  • Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) – under the Planning Act 2008.
  • Government projects – we are one of only 12 law firms on the government's tier 1 legal panel.
  • Transport infrastructure – with particular expertise in rail, highways, airports and public transport.
  • Energy infrastructure – including the procurement of energy storage projects.
  • Nuclear energy – including new build infrastructure and decommissioning in the UK and overseas.
  • Renewable energy infrastructure – including onshore and offshore wind, solar, wave, tidal and biomass.
  • Waste management, energy from waste and water utility infrastructure.
  • Major defence infrastructure projects – advising governments and the supply chain in the UK and overseas.
  • Education, outsourcing and other social infrastructure projects.
  • Advice on some of the UK's largest regeneration projects – including inward investment from the Asia Pacific region.
Experience

Advising nuclear new build developers in the UK, the supply chain, and regulators on aspects of the UK new nuclear programme.

Advising Highways England on heavyweight construction and procurement projects. We are also on the panel for consenting work and advise on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP).

Advising a consortium contractor on the construction of the £4.2 billion Thames Tideway Tunnel project.

Advising a Malaysian developer on its acquisition of a large UK brownfield site – with nearly 2700 new homes and 24 hectares of employment land.

Advising a joint venture between Babcock and Lockheed Martin on a 25 year contract with Ministry of Defence to provide a cohesive military flight training system. The project is ground breaking and signifies a step change in the evolution of the PFI/PPP model.

Advising Seagreen on its 3,500 MW Firth of Forth Round 3 Zone offshore wind farm in Scotland – Scotland’s largest ever energy project.

Advising Isle of Wight Council on all aspects of a 25 year integrated waste management PFI project using an innovative funding model.

Advising Snowdonia Pumped Hydro on its pumped energy storage scheme – the first in England and Wales for decades. The scheme will constitute a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).

Advising the Greater London Authority on the procurement of, and delivery by, a development partner of the 35 acre Royal Albert Docks site. With a project value of over £1 billion, the regeneration will create "London's third business district" after The City and Canary Wharf, adding over £6 billion to London's economy.

Advising London Underground/Transport for London on all aspects of the procurement and delivery of an extension to the Metropolitan Line. The project involves the construction of new stations and major civil engineering works.

Advising a major public transport provider on its bids to run public transport services in several countries across the Middle East. The competitions are for the delivery of operation, maintenance, infrastructure and construction works.

Advising Isle of Anglesey Council in respect of the development of a new build nuclear power station at Wylfa. The project, which also includes a 400kV grid connection and new highways, is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).

Advising MeyGen on the delivery of all aspects of the first phase of the world's largest tidal energy project.

Advising Babcock on its contract to provide learning and achievement services to children and young people in Worcestershire. The partnership aims to raise education standards, drive significant savings and long-term investment.

Advising the Ministry of Defence on a number of high profile defence infrastructure procurement projects including search and rescue helicopter replacement.

Meet the team
Stuart McMillan

Stuart McMillan Partner

  • Head of Infrastructure
  • Banking and Finance
  • Energy finance
Chris Jackson

Chris Jackson Partner

  • Infrastructure
  • Procurement and State Aid
  • Transport
Mark Paterson

Mark Paterson Partner

  • Defence
  • Business Transformation
  • Central Government
Ian Salter

Ian Salter Partner

  • Head of Nuclear
  • Head of Projects
  • Environment
Ross Fairley

Ross Fairley Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Head of Renewable Energy
  • Environment
Simon Coppen

Simon Coppen Partner

  • Rail
  • Transport
  • Projects
John Houlden

John Houlden Partner

  • Head of Public Sector
  • Head of Procurement and State Aid
  • Projects
Keith Beattie

Keith Beattie Partner

  • Projects
  • Aviation
  • Defence
Matthew Ramus

Matthew Ramus Partner

  • Head of Education
  • Defence
  • Transport
Michael Barlow

Michael Barlow Partner

  • Head of Environment
  • Head of Water
  • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
Brioney Thomas

Brioney Thomas Partner

  • Head of Transport
  • Asset Finance and Asset Backed Lending
  • Commercial
Nick Churchward

Nick Churchward Partner

  • Head of Resource and Waste Management
  • Projects
  • Energy and Utilities
James Phillips

James Phillips Partner

  • Head of Energy & Utilities
  • Head of Energy Transition
  • Energy Regulation
Marcus Harling

Marcus Harling Partner

  • Construction and Engineering 
  • Transport and Regeneration
  • Modern Methods of Construction
Steven James

Steven James Partner

  • Construction and Engineering 
  • Energy and Utilities
  • Construction Disputes
Lloyd James

Lloyd James Partner

  • Construction and Engineering
  • Energy and Utilities 
  • Infrastructure
Julian Boswall

Julian Boswall Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Infrastructure
  • Planning and Compulsory Purchase
Elizabeth Dunn

Elizabeth Dunn Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Infrastructure
  • Real Estate
Euan Bremner

Euan Bremner Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Head of Scottish Real Estate
  • Head of Northern Irish Real Estate
Philip Beer

Philip Beer Partner

  • Real Estate
  • Transport
  • Energy and Utilities
Will Woodall

Will Woodall Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Infrastructure
  • Healthcare
Andrew Dunlop

Andrew Dunlop Partner

  • Head of Outsourcing
  • Head of Technology
  • Head of Data Protection
Graham Soar

Graham Soar Partner

  • Banking and Finance
  • Derivatives, Debt Capital Markets and Securitisations
  • Project Finance
Racheal Ruane

Rachael Ruane Partner

  • Corporate Banking
  • Real Estate Finance
  • Asset Finance and Asset Backed Lending
Nick Graves

Nick Graves Partner

  • Head of Corporate
  • Corporate Advice
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
Craig Whelton

Craig Whelton Partner

  • Scottish Planning 
  • Energy and Utilities 
  • Compulsory Purchase and Compensation

What others say...

Committed to getting the right result. Get to know our team and how we work.
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Key contact

Stuart McMillan

Stuart McMillan Partner

  • Head of Infrastructure
  • Banking and Finance
  • Energy finance

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Perspectives on Infrastructure: Investment opportunities in the UK

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How can we improve the delivery of UK infrastructure?

Views from industry leaders and key decision makers, along with survey results from 1,651 members of the general public.
Read report