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Tom Langsford

Managing Associate, Construction, Engineering & Environmental
UAE

EXPERTISE

Tom Langsford is a Managing Associate in our construction and projects team, based in Dubai since 2019. His experience covers contentious and non-contentious matters. He specialises in arbitration and dispute avoidance on both a domestic and international level.

He has previously advised on a number of high profile projects for contractors and employers both at the project development stage (including risk analysis, contract drafting (both FIDIC and bespoke) and commercial management) and issues with project delivery.

Tom advises regional and international clients in the social infrastructure, transport and energy sectors across the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa regions.

Tom has been recognised as a “Key Lawyer” in Addleshaw Goddard’s UAE construction and projects team in the 2025 Legal500 rankings.

Prior to joining Addleshaw Goddard, Tom practiced in the Sydney office of one of the world's largest international law firms.

Experience

Providing ongoing project support to a UAE holding company in respect of an iconic hotel and residential project in Dubai (including assessing and advice regarding contractor extension of time and variation claims).
Advising a UAE investment authority in relation to extension of time and variation claims raised by a contractor in relation to separate hotel and staffing accommodation projects.
Defending a UAE free-zone against a final account arbitration claim brought by a regional contractor in respect of an AED 350 million headquarters construction project.
Defending (as co-counsel) a UAE free-zone authority against a final account arbitration claim brought by an international contractor in respect of an AED 1,200,000,000 mixed-use development.
Advising a Middle Eastern regional contractor in respect of commencing a DAB against a government backed business in Saudi Arabia in relation to a significant leisure development.
Drafting suite of construction contracts (FIDIC based) for a UAE educational provider.
Acting for a government backed business in relation to two separate multi-million dollar claims (unlawful termination and a final account). The project concerned a large transport infrastructure project in Qatar
Acting for the claimant contractor in an over QAR 200 million final account arbitration involving a major leisure and residential project in Doha, Qatar
Acting for the defendant contractor in a AED 77 million subcontract termination and final account arbitration for a Dubai commercial building
Providing claims assistance (including defending structural defect allegations and drafting extension of time claims) for a major UAE contractor in relation to a significant corporate campus development
Undertaking a site-based secondment for a multi-national joint venture involving an ongoing AED 650 million hotel and residential development in Dubai – including preparation of project correspondence, drafting extension of time and cost claims and providing dispute resolution advice
Advising an Asia Pacific Government in relation to disputes arising out of the construction of its Expo 2020 Pavilion including drafting overall settlement agreement.
Advising a UAE holding company as to strategy in light of ongoing significant delays and variation claims suffered by a significant mixed use development.
Acting for the defendant contractor in an AED 30 million subcontract cost and extension of time claim resulting in the arbitration being dismissed and our client being awarded 100% recover of their arbitration and legal costs.
Conducting due diligence on bespoke EPC contract for various Saudi Arabian shipping and land projects.
Drafting bespoke dispute resolution provisions (operating both domestically and internationally) for a UAE trading exchange.
Providing full contract services for a major Australian contractor (projects up to AUD 300 million (AED 750 million)) including review and risk analysis of tendered contracts, drafting of subcontracts, drafting of contractual notices (extension of time, variation and dispute) and preparing company briefing documents to assist with internal contract management
Acting for plaintiff contractor in an AUD 30 million (AED 75 million) expert determination for a major Australian rail transportation project
Acting for the defendant contractor in an AUD 15 million (AED 36.5 million) Australian mining process plant dispute
Acting for the plaintiff contractor joint venture in an AUD 20 million (AED 50 million) claim involving the Lane Cover Road Tunnel Collapse, Australia
Drafting design and construct, construct only and consultancy head and subcontractors on both a bespoke and standard basis for residential, commercial and government sponsored projects, acting for both employers and contractors
Providing input in preparation of EPC / O&M Contracts for a South-East Asian earthworks, quarry and transportation project
Providing input in preparation of EPC / O&M Contracts for a variety of Australian solar and wind energy projects (up to 200MW generating capacity).