Construction, Relevant Expertise, Key People and ECC
Construction
The department provides legal services (contentious and non-contentious) to Plcs, small to medium sized companies, local authorities and social housing providers, funders, consultants and individuals in the construction industry and related fields.
The department deals with contentious and non-contentious matters. Contentious services include; debt recovery, adjudication, litigation (TCC and other courts), arbitration, mediation, enforcement of adjudicators decisions and arbitrators awards
Non-contentious services include; project support (Commercial Property), advice on standard forms of building and engineering contracts, drafting amendments to standard contracts, advice on and drafting warranties, bonds, surety documentation, appointments of consultants, appointments of sub-contractors, party walls, contractual advice/contract procedures, advice to receivers, liquidators and administrators
Training has been provided on a broad range of issues affecting the construction sector of which partnering and framework contracting using the ECC and PPC2000 has been a major feature.
KEY PEOPLE
Tim Willis MA FCIArb (Construction Partner)
Tim formerly practised as a barrister and is now a solicitor advocate. Tim joined Wilkes in December 2001 from Merricks Solicitors where he was a partner in the construction department. Before that Tim spent 5 years in Hong Kong and the Far East. Tim deals with contentious and non-contentious business. He has negotiated and drafted building contracts and services contracts for PFI, framework and partnering style agreements as well as traditional building contracts and sub-contracts. He has extensive experience of advising the industry and resolving disputes. Dispute resolution experience includes adjudication, arbitration, mediation and litigation.
Tim is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Vice Chairman of the CIarb West Midlands Branch, a member of TECSA, a member of the Association of Midland Mediators, a former member of the HKIAC mediation panel and Joint Convenor for the Adjudication Society Midlands Region and Regional Liaison for the Executive Committee of the Adjudication Society.
Training for the ECC
Tim Willis has been the presenter for the Construction Study Centre one day course on the Engineering and Construction Contract 2nd Edition for a number of years and has spoken on this subject in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, and Harrogate.
Recently Tim spoke on the proposed amendments for the 3rd Edition due in May 2005. His co-speaker was Peter Higgins Chairman of the NEC Drafting Committee. A seminar is due to be held by Aston University on this subject.
Delegates have been from National Contractors, Government Agencies, Local Authorities and Housing Associations and major engineering and other consultants. Copies of their feedback forms include the speaker performance which has been consistently rated as excellent or good.
In-house training on the NEC has been provided to Water Companies, Local authorities including Nottingham, Hull, and Sandwell, contractors including Shaylor Construction, Willmott Dixon Construction, Purac Ltd.
In addition to training Tim has practical experience of the use of the NEC contract for both private sector and public sector client's and contractors and has been involved in negotiating and drafting amendments for the NEC 2nd Edition Target C contract for use in a large Pharmaceuticals project. Tim has recently been engaged to draft and advise on the use of the short form and target c contract in framework contexts for a local authority. He has also advised on disputes under the NEC sub-contract.
Training for NEC related matters would be provided by Tim Willis
Training in context
Where client's have specific contractual or other legal frameworks within which their staff must operate we will provide training tailored to the clients requirements working with the client documentation and devising and presenting training in the appropriate manner. Power point presentations can be devised by us. Training can be in the form of workshops, discussion groups or seminars as appropriate.
