Michael Blackburne
Consultant Solicitor
Michael Blackburne
Consultant Solicitor
Michael has specialised in domestic and international adjudication, litigation and arbitration in the construction, engineering and infrastructure, energy and natural resources, transport and professional negligence sectors for over 40 years. Throughout his career he has handled many high profile, high value, complex and difficult matters representing a huge variety of suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, employers, their professional advisers and insurers.
He has been recognised for many years by the legal directories including The Legal 500, as a leader in the field of Construction and praised in (Construction) 2015 for his “incisive advice and common- sense attitude”. He is also recognised as “excellent” on construction related professional indemnity matters (2015).
An important part of Michael’s work is advising in relation to practical problems arising out of contracts of all kinds including bespoke contracts and the principal standard form engineering and building contracts including, FIDIC, ICE, I Mech E, I Chem. E, JCT, NEC 3, RIBA and ACE and Government forms of contract.
Client matter highlights
Transport and Energy
- Acting for several contractors and sub-contractors in disputes relating to Crossrail
- Various shipbuilding disputes including acting for Cunard on the re-engineering of the QE2
- Lead Partner on various major road and rail disputes including a motorway in Portugal
- Acting for contractors on major delay and disruption claims relating to delayed LNG tanks
- Acting for contractors in disputes related to terminals including bus stations, railways and airports.
Commercial Buildings
- Developers in connection with a contractor’s claim for loss and/or expense and extensions of time arising out of the contract for £200m residential scheme in London
- Numerous disputes between contractors and sub-contractors including £10m defects and EOT claims
- Various disputes acting for Central and Local Government.
Car Parks
- Acted for all parties in disputes relating to car parks and acted on a £40m claim against the designers of a car park.
Sports Facilities
- A Sub-Contractor in a dispute about the “iconic” steelwork for a Premier League Football Stadium
- Acting as adjudicator in relation to a dispute over reclamation works.
Mining
- A mining contractor in connection with volume, productivity, price disputes arising out of tin mining.
Waste to Energy
- Acting for all sections of the industry relating to several waste to energy projects.
PFI Disputes
- Acting for all sections of the industry in relation to PFI disputes.