Construction companies in the region – other than the giants such as Kier Group – have had a pretty rough ride in the last couple of years. The industry is riven with threats and disputes and sound legal advice is essential to help contractors and sub-contractors negotiate what is often a litigation minefield.

Eversheds in Ipswich and Mills & Reeve in Cambridge and Norwich are deemed by The Legal 500 to have the two strongest construction advice teams. Birketts, Hewitsons and Taylor Vinters are bracketed together in the second tier while Peterborough duo Buckles and Greenwoods force their way into the top seven in the whole region.

The guide reports: “At Eversheds, Dominic Lacey, an acknowledged expert in local and central government and the transport sector, is ‘personable and very practical’. The firm handles London development work as part of a national practice acting for various London boroughs and Barclays Bank, among others.

“Mills & Reeve delivers a ‘first-class City service at a regional price’. Ron Plascow and contentious specialist Ed Callaghan ‘never fail to impress’; and Stuart Thompson ‘provides sound advice and excellent service’. The team advised the British Library in relation to its £20m newspaper storage building.

“Birketts’ ‘experience is invaluable, especially in the efficient resolution of disputes’. Andrew Rush and Ruth Sunaway ‘provide exceptional service and expertise’. Clients include developer Dencora 2000, and contractors Brooks & Wood Ltd and Jackson Civil Engineering Group.
“Hewitsons’ team is ‘very good indeed; they understand how their advice impinges on a business’. Colin Jones is ‘practical and always ready to help’, and recently advised Huntingdonshire District Council on a £3m car park project.

“Associate Tim Hall at Taylor Vinters advises on contracts, collateral warranties and disputes, often for clients in the education sector.

“Buckles Solicitors’ James Coppinger, now qualified as an adjudicator, ‘gives good, practical advice’, and is noted for his ability to explain complex matters in simple terms.

“At Greenwoods, Julian Kirkpatrick and the vastly experienced Richard Jones have a growing client roster for complex disputes.

“Kester Cunningham John’s team is ‘excellent in all regards, knowledgeable and commercially aware’, and includes James Slinger, Magnus McManus and consultant Bob McGeady. The firm advises Camgrain, the UK’s largest farmer-owned central storage business. Associate Samantha Houlden is ‘a pleasure to deal with, and will feature in the industry for many years to come’.”

The Law Lords: Planning

Mills & Reeve and Taylor Vinters are ranked joint number one for Planning advice in East Anglia.

Mills & Reeve’s David Brock is chair of the Law Society’s Planning and Environment Law Committee. He recently advised on complex s106 negotiations for the CB1 development and also on an application for a 65MW energy-from-waste facility in Bedford.

Taylor Vinters’ Amy Richardson is said to have ‘strong local contacts and depth of knowledge’. Her team obtained planning permission for a stables yard for Godolphin Management Company and acted for Babergh District Council in an appeal over a housing development near Ipswich. New clients include Greene King.

• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: Dominic Lacey, Eversheds