Oliver Pearson

Managing Associate, Construction & Engineering
London, UK

Expertise

Oliver specialises in the resolution and avoidance of disputes arising out of major construction and engineering projects.

He regularly acts for developers, contractors, funders, suppliers and construction professionals on technically challenging, high-value projects. He is experienced in advancing and defending claims involving delay and disruption; defects; variations; design liability; termination; bonds and guarantees; interim payments and final accounts. He also frequently advises on live projects, developing strategies that support successful project delivery within demanding programme and budgetary constraints, working with project teams to identify and resolve contentious issues at an early stage, and supporting commercial discussions between project stakeholders during the course of the works.

He has advised on projects in a wide range of sectors across the UK, Middle East, Africa and East Asia, including in particular the energy (oil & gas, coal, renewables), infrastructure, office, residential, hospitality and utilities sectors.

He has experience of successfully resolving disputes through High Court litigation, international arbitration, adjudication, DABs, mediation and expert determination and he is familiar with all of the leading standard form contracts, including FIDIC, JCT, NEC and IChemE.

Prior to joining AG, Oliver worked as in-house legal counsel at a leading property developer. He has also worked in-house for a major UK contractor (on secondment from a previous firm).

Experience

Oliver's prior experience includes advising:

a US EPC contractor in proceedings with a state-owned utility involving delays of 3+ years and claims of over $150 million at a coal-fired power station in southern Africa;
a Greek EPC contractor in dispute with the project owner concerning delays and disruption associated with COVID-19 at an LPG plant in west Africa;
a Korean/Japanese contractor joint venture in an ICC arbitration against a local subcontractor relating to delay and disruption, de-scoping, termination and a performance bond in relation to an oil refinery in the Middle East;
the project owner on claims brought by a contractor joint venture concerning delay and disruption to a major tunnelling project in the UK;
the developer of a central London hotel in High Court proceedings against the fit-out contractor in relation to the final account;
the developer of a mixed-use development (comprising residential, retail, office and hospitality) on a series of adjudications against various contractors concerning extensions of time, design liability, value engineering, and sectional completion.

Education