Biography
Sian is a senior associate in the construction team, specialising in advising housebuilders, developers, contractors, subcontractors, local authorities and other construction industry participants on complex construction, engineering and building safety disputes.
Sian's practice encompasses claims arising from defective design and workmanship, fire and structural safety defects, Building Liability Orders, Remediation Contribution Orders, and claims under the Defective Premises Act 1972.
She has particular expertise in advising on building safety liabilities, remediation strategies and the recovery of remediation costs, including claims relating to cladding, fire safety defects and wider structural issues. Sian also has significant experience pursuing and defending professional negligence claims against architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, cost consultants and other construction professionals.
In addition, Sian regularly advises on payment disputes, delay and disruption claims, final account disputes and other high-value construction and engineering disputes. She has extensive experience representing clients in the Technology and Construction Court, the First-tier Tribunal, adjudications, mediations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Sian is a recognised thought leader in the construction sector and regularly speaks at industry events, webinars and conferences, including those hosted by RIBA, RICS, CIOB and ICE, sharing insights on construction disputes, professional negligence and building safety matters.
Sian is a Committee Member of Exeter Construction Group and First Thursday Plymouth.
Relevant experience
Advising a regional housebuilder in relation to a high value claim arising from fire safety and cladding defects at a residential development, which attracted significant media attention.
Advising a regional developer in relation to building safety defects at a residential development, including defending an application for a Remediation Contribution Order, advising on liability and exposure under the Building Safety Act 2022, and pursuing onward claims against consultants for alleged defective design and professional negligence, including consideration of Building Liability Orders and other recovery mechanisms.
Advising a product manufacturer on a multi-million pound historic liability claim arising under the Building Safety Act 2022, including potential group company exposure associated with Building Liability Orders.
Advising an overseas property investor and landlord on a professional negligence claim against an architect arising from a Gateway 2 application and associated building safety issues.
Advising a developer on a professional negligence claim against a surveyor arising from the issue of Professional Consultant Certificates, including consideration of liability for alleged building safety and construction defects and associated recovery strategies.
Advising a developer in relation to a multi-million-pound professional negligence claim against a cost consultant arising from alleged failures in cost planning and project budgeting, including proceedings in the Technology and Construction Court.
Advising a specialist subcontractor in a payment dispute against a main contractor, including advice on pursuing a "smash and grab" adjudication.
Advising a local authority in relation to a high-value payment dispute with a contractor arising from significant works to a public building, including advice on contractual entitlement, payment mechanisms and dispute resolution strategy.
