Duncan has been appointed as the named structural engineering expert on a range of disputes, with matters including design defects and deficiencies, structural steelwork defects and workmanship, the partial collapse of a listed period property, and retaining wall failures. He has also supported experts on claims brought against structural engineering consultancies, and has provided pre-litigation structural and technical advisory services.
A particular focus of Duncan’s expertise is the interface between design and construction. Having worked as a resident engineer and a design manager for both consultants and tier-one contractors, he has deep, practical experience of design delivery on major projects: the staging and maturity of design information, coordination between consultants and contractors, buildability, temporary works, and the management of design change. This makes him particularly well placed to opine on disputes concerning the adequacy, completeness and timeliness of design information, including claims brought by contractors against designers regarding the level of information provided at each design stage.
Prior to his dispute resolution career, Duncan worked for leading design consultancies, tier-one contractors and developer-contractors. His roles included structural designer, resident engineer, site engineer, design manager and project manager on landmark UK and international projects, including major commercial headquarters, rail and station schemes, PFI hospitals, large residential developments, and stadia. This background has equipped him with strong, hands-on knowledge of how buildings are designed, procured and delivered: and of how and why they fail.
Duncan’s expertise is applied not only in formal dispute resolution proceedings but also in forensic investigations, technical advisory work, risk assessment and the support of negotiated settlements.
Professional Achievements
- Over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry, spanning structural design, site engineering, design management, project management, and forensic and dispute work, with experience across the UK and the Middle East
- Appointed as named structural engineering expert witness on multiple disputes, covering design defects, structural steelwork defects and workmanship, the partial collapse of a listed building, and retaining wall failures
- Contributed forensic engineering analysis to high-value claims against structural engineering consultancies, including a £25m claim concerning steelwork design on a major campus development
- Extensive experience at the interface of design and construction, including reviewing and responding to contractor claims concerning the adequacy and timeliness of design information
- First-hand experience of how projects are designed, built and delivered, from setting out on site to leading design teams in consultancies
- Key roles on landmark projects, including: a £600m flagship headquarters for a global technology company, one of London’s most high-profile construction projects, major London rail and station redevelopment schemes, large acute hospitals with a combined construction value in excess of £700m, a 60,000-seat international stadium, and a RIBA Stirling Prize-winning building
- Trusted by developers, contractors and consultancies to provide pragmatic technical advice in pre-litigation matters, risk assessment and negotiated settlements