Expertise

Ella’s experience centres on significantly high value and complex disputes, covering a wide range of claims including loss and expense, delays / extensions of time, variations, termination and professional negligence.

Ella has worked on projects across the Middle East, including Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE and Jordan, largely acting for Government Entities, Employers and Developers.  Her expertise spans the real estate, transport, energy and infrastructure sectors.

Ella’s focus is on giving advice at the inception of a potential dispute, considering the merits of the claim / defence and providing commercially strategic recommendations to meet the client’s objectives as efficiently as possible.  Where disputes are unavoidable, Ella has experience acting in relation to mediations, arbitrations, adjudications, dispute adjudication boards and litigation.

Ella has experience of working closely with client teams, including from their offices; providing on the spot direction and advice to support to the client and manage ongoing disputes.

Experience

Ella's experience includes:

  • Acting for an Employer on significant high-value international arbitrations with a combined value of over US $2bn.  The arbitrations related to the transport and infrastructure sectors and involved a number of technically complex aspects, including structural engineering, MEP and geotechnical engineering.  During this time, Ella was based in the client office for 12 months, where she worked alongside the client GC and legal team.
  • Acting in multiple dispute adjudication boards in relation to one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Middle East, with a combined value of US$ millions.  These disputes relate to claims for extensions of time, variations, prolongation and acceleration, as well as arguments of legal interpretation. 
  • Acting in an ICC arbitration (GCC seat) brought by a Main Contractor in respect of a significant infrastructure project.   This dispute includes claims for extensions of time, prolongation, disruption and acceleration costs, together with substantial counterclaims, with total amounts in dispute in excess of US $1bn.
  • Acting for a Government energy entity in relation to multiple LNG fields, including giving early advice in relation to various extension of time claims, force majeure and counterclaims.  These claims combined run into the US $billions.
  • Acting for Developers in relation to high-profile, mixed-use schemes and hotels, to defend significant extension of time claims and complex costs claims.
  • Acting for a Developer of a data centre to give advice on delay damages and termination.
  • Acting for an Employer in relation to two separate claims brought by a Main Contractor in relation to two different stadium projects.  These disputes included claims for extensions of time, variations and counterclaims.  These claims were successfully mediated, without the need for protracted arbitration proceedings.
Education
  • University of Leeds
  • York College of Law
Professional Memberships
  • SCL Astra
  • Junior Lawyers Division