Leading law firm strengthens construction team foundations

L-R Phil Morrison and Jayne Smiles

UK top 200 corporate law firm, Shulmans LLP, is strengthening its construction team with internal promotions and the creation of two new roles.

Phil Morrison, who joined the firm in 2013, has been promoted to Partner after being Head of Construction at the firm for four years. Morrison boasts over 25 years of experience in the sector, advising both large private and public sector bodies on the delivery of infrastructure projects. Working on contentious and non-contentious matters, his specific expertise spans adjudications, High Court and County Court proceedings, alternative dispute resolution, arbitration and residential building disputes.

Joining Shulmans in 2015 and with over ten years’ experience in the construction sector, Jayne Smiles has been promoted to the position of Associate. Smiles’ work incorporates varied and complex issues for leading clients in the developer, contractor, investment fund, banking, retail, engineering, commercial and housebuilder sectors. Her expertise lies in bespoke forms of construction procurement documents, in particular negotiating and advising on contracts for complex projects, security packages, and documenting project bank and escrow accounts.

In addition to the internal promotions, two new job roles are to be created to expand the already successful team, to include a new solicitor and a specialist construction law trainee solicitor. The new positions will enable the firm to continue its work for companies such as Ground Works, Hollygate Fabrications and Cummins Turbo Technologies, while expanding its portfolio of services to include both NEC (New Engineering Contract) and JCT (Joint Contracts Tribunal) contracts in the development of its engineering client base.

Tim Halstead, Managing Partner at Shulmans LLP, said: “We are delighted to have promoted two excellent members of the Shulmans’ team and lay out our plans for expansion in the sector. We continue to do ground-breaking work in construction and are expanding to meet the needs of our clients at an exciting time in Shulmans’ development as a whole.”