Nick advises owners, contractors, insurers, legal teams and tribunals on technically demanding matters involving ports,
quay walls, reclamation, dredging, cofferdams, marine logistics, site dewatering, temporary works, metocean delay,
productivity loss, construction sequencing, standard of care and causation. He has acted as testifying expert, supporting expert and technical advisor on adjudications and international arbitrations involving major infrastructure, LNG, nuclear, mining, power, marine, coastal and mixed-use development projects across the UK, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and North America.
His project background includes major port and waterfront developments in Gabon, LNG and petrochemical marine
facilities in Australia, Canada and Egypt, nuclear cooling water and marine intake works in the UK and UAE, coastal
defence and shoreline management projects in the UK, and forensic investigations involving cofferdam failure,
dewatering, artificial water bodies, seawater intake infrastructure and dam collapse. This delivery-side experience gives Nick a practical understanding of how complex works are planned, procured, sequenced, resourced and executed, and how apparently technical issues can develop into significant delay, disruption, cost and liability disputes.
Nick is recognised for combining robust engineering judgement with clear, strategic expert analysis. He has led multi-
disciplinary teams covering civil, structural, marine, coastal, geotechnical, hydraulic, environmental, delay, logistics and
quantum workstreams, and has supported claims ranging from substantial infrastructure disputes to matters exceeding AU$1 billion. His approach is independent, practical and evidence-led, with a strong emphasis on explaining complex technical issues in a way that is useful to clients, legal teams and decision-makers.
Alongside his expert witness and advisory work, Nick contributes to industry thought leadership through publications and speaking engagements on construction disputes, marine and coastal construction risk, infrastructure delivery, rail
contracting, international arbitration, climate resilience and emerging project risks. He has spoken at the UK House of
Commons, presented internationally on infrastructure and arbitration topics, and co-authored significant coastal
management and climate-related research.
Professional Achievements
- Trusted by leading law firms, contractors, project owners and insurers to provide independent expert opinion on complex civil, structural, marine, coastal, and construction logistics disputes.
- Appointed on high-value international arbitrations and adjudications involving ports, LNG facilities, nuclear cooling systems, cofferdams, dewatering, dredging, reclamation, logistics and major infrastructure works.
- Recognised for clear, strategic technical analysis that bridges design, construction methodology, site execution, programme impact and commercial dispute issues.
- Experienced in major international disputes with involvement in claims ranging from hundreds of millions to more than AU$1 billion across energy, mining, infrastructure and marine projects.
- Combines expert witness, technical advisory and project delivery experience, enabling practical assessment of causation, methodology, productivity, risk and standard of care issues.
- Led and coordinated multi-disciplinary expert teams across technical, delay, quantum, logistics, coastal, marine, geotechnical, hydraulic and environmental workstreams.
- Contributed to industry thought leadership through publications and presentations on construction disputes, rail contracting, international arbitration, infrastructure finance, marine risk and coastal climate impacts.
- Guest speaker at the UK House of Commons and co-author of the Fife Shoreline Management Plan 2.
Publications / Presentations
2025 — Chair, “Managing Currency Risk in African Construction Projects”, Africa Construction Law Conference.
2024 — Guest speaker at the House of Commons, UK, on “Contracting in the Rail Industry: Challenges, Pitfalls and
Opportunities”, British Irish Trade Alliance.
2024 — Panel speaker, “Infrastructure Development and Financing in Africa’s Construction Sector”, Africa
Construction Law Conference, Nairobi, Kenya, 3 June 2024.
2023 — Journal publication, “Ask the Expert: How to Avoid Construction Disputes”, Built Environment News.
2018 — “Using Experts Effectively for International Arbitration”, co-presented paper at King & Wood Mallesons
law firm event, Hong Kong.
2016 — “An Approach to Risk Management for Marine and Coastal Construction”, paper and presentation to the
Institution of Civil Engineers and Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, UK.
2013 — “Effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation and Climate Change on Beach Management Construction
Activities at Pevensey Bay”, research paper, Mouchel Group plc, UK.