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Construction disputes

Swift and effective resolution of complex construction and engineering disputes through litigation, adjudication, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.

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Overview Services Our team Adjudication Our work What others say Insights

Our specialist contentious construction lawyers deliver tailored solutions to resolve construction disputes across the UK and internationally.

We provide strategic troubleshooting advice at all stages of a construction project, helping you mitigate and avoid risk before issues escalate.

We have the skills and knowledge to navigate all types of complex construction disputes. Our team has extensive experience in formal dispute resolution including litigation, adjudication, arbitration (both domestic and international) and all forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Working closely with you to understand your specific needs, we will provide you with practical and commercially focused advice that will achieve the best possible outcomes for you.

The legal support we provide reflects the unique commercial and project drivers of each case. We have experience of acting for employers, funders and all layers of the supply chain so have the understanding and insights to deliver focused, strategic, and project-specific solutions that address and resolve your challenges head-on.

Services

International and domestic arbitration

Pre-Action Protocol for construction and engineering disputes

Litigation in the Technology and Construction Court

Strategic troubleshooting advice on legal and contractual issues

Industry-specific procedures, such as expert determination and conciliation

Expert determination

Mediation

Our team

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Adjudication

Adjudication is a key dispute resolution forum across the construction industry and is becoming increasingly popular in other sectors.

Our leading UK construction and engineering adjudication team draws upon years of experience from hundreds of adjudications to deliver sector specific adjudication advice.

We have particular experience across energy & utilities, transport, built environment and wider infrastructure projects, working with UK domestic and international clients in bespoke contractual adjudications and those conducted under the Scheme for Construction Contracts.

Whether your adjudication is large, complex, high profile or business as usual, we offer cost effective, strategic and timely support when you need it, to achieve your desired outcomes.

Our adjudication work covers a wide range of issues including adjudications seeking declaratory relief, claims for time and money, professional negligence, contract interpretation, defect claims and final account disputes.

Examples of our experience
  • Acting for an international hotel developer in multiple adjudications with the contractor in relation to various disputes arising out of a multi–million-pound cost overrun on the project.
  • Advising on complex entitlement to several million pounds’ worth of compensation events arising out of a contract with a national utility provider. This necessitated seven adjudications, involving a complex mix of factual, technical and legal issues, and detailed delay and quantum expert evidence.
  • Advising on cross-border disputes arising out of the design and construction of a ground-breaking, multi-million pound nuclear fusion research project, including advocacy at a virtual hearing involving attendees from UK, France and Singapore.
  • Acting for a UK Tier 1 contractor in six adjudications at different levels of the supply chain and with the employer relating to a £300 million highways project.
  • Advising a local authority on two adjudications arising under a complex PFI agreement for the design, construction and operation of seven schools.
  • Successfully defending three concurrent adjudications brought against our client (O&M contractor for various solar plants) relating to guaranteed availability, thereby saving our client £multi-million in performance damages.

Examples of our work

Onshore windfarm

Advising on a claim against an EPC contractor regarding defective wind turbine design and associated losses, in relation to a large onshore windfarm project.

Nuclear fusion research project

Advising on cross-border disputes arising from the design and construction of a £ multi-million nuclear fusion project, including a virtual hearing across multiple jurisdictions.

Steelwork supplier

Acting for specialist steelwork supplier based in Thailand, on a complex multi-jurisdictional construction dispute regarding the supply of £2.9 million of steelwork and fabricated components for use in a green energy project in the United States.

International investor

Providing strategic troubleshooting advice to an international investor on the design and construction of its new £300 million headquarters, including negotiation of settlement terms.

Construction dispute

Advising on construction disputes arising from a £340 million road improvement scheme. Assistance to date has included numerous adjudications, two arbitrations and ad hoc advice and support throughout.

Claim against a sub-contractor

Advising on the resolution of a £15 million+ claim against a sub-contractor for defective piling at a sub-sea cable manufacturing facility, including Technology and Construction Court proceedings.

Energy dispute

Advising a leading energy technology developer in relation to delays caused by its supplier on a ‘first of a kind’ tidal energy project.

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What others say

“With a client offering that spans the renewable energy, infrastructure, and real estate development spaces, Burges Salmon LLP is a recognised authority in contentious construction work among both public and private sector clients.”

Legal 500 2026

“The business is extremely proactive, incredibly knowledgeable, very approachable and a pleasure to work with. They have a very clear logic that they apply to extremely complex problems.”

Legal 500 2025

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Insights

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