Julie Forsyth

Expertise

Julie has specialised in the construction and engineering sector since qualifying as a solicitor in September 1991. She gives contract advice and negotiates contract documentation on a wide range of construction projects, with experience on a variety of standard form contracts including FIDIC, NEC and JCT as well as bespoke contracts and framework, fit out and services agreements. She also acts for banks and for developers on funded development projects. On the contentious side, Julie represents and advises clients on conflict avoidance and dispute resolution on national and international construction projects. She is an avid promoter of conflict avoidance tools in contracts and during projects, and she speaks regularly on their use.

Julie Advises

• Construction and engineering companies
• Specialist contractors, fabricators and suppliers in the construction industry
• Oil and gas companies
• Aerospace engineers
• Funders
• Developers
• Service providers in construction and development sectors

Experience Highlights

UK and Mainland Europe Projects:

Advice and negotiation of contracts for:

• Various large scale developments, high value residential renovations and fit-outs for UK and foreign nationals;
• a specialist £3.5m project across three UK sites for battery replacement and maintenance works for data centres of a major investment bank;
• French in-house counsel on a dispute relating to fit-out of retail premises in the UK, France and
• Brussels for an iconic US owned audio equipment company;
  implementation of biomass project at a major hospital, acting for main contractor;
• a straw biomass supply contract for a renewable energy plant;
• a marine engineering company involved in major offshore projects as well as design and construction for the armed forces and fitting-out of ships and ferries;
• Heathrow Terminal 5 construction
• Various eco-build projects for a rammed earth contractor

Also:

• Commercial advice to chief engineer and counsel on a pioneering carbon capture, transport and storage project costing €60m and partial decommissioning of a major gas plant in South-West France;
• Advising on international disputes, including several helicopter crashes and alleged engineering faults;
• Mentoring and training young recruits in risk and legal awareness prior to their transfer to management roles on oil and gas platforms

International Arbitrations/disputes – Africa and Middle East:

• LCIA arbitration relating to exploration and development of wells in a Nigerian oil field, with claims and counterclaims of around US$750m;
• Representing and acting as counsel for the engineer in a multi-million-pound arbitration relating to a storage and transport depot in Blantyre, Malawi;
• Dispute resolution relating to design on works to the Mohale Dam in Lesotho;
  Fit out dispute at a prestigious museum complex in Qatar;
• Long running dispute on liability for defects and delays on the construction and redevelopment of docks in Abu Dhabi.

Middle East Arbitrations/Disputes:

• Representing the engineer on multi- million pound claims relating to alleged design and construction faults, and delays relating to the construction of a luxury hotel in Dubai;
• Advising the engineer and its insurer in a long running dispute on liability for defects and delays on the construction and redevelopment of docks in Abu Dhabi;

Aerospace Experience:

• Consultant and adviser to the Chief Engineer of a leading aerospace and defence group to analyse the legal aspects and prepare documentation and presentations for a variety of committees and symposiums on airworthiness, environmental concerns and sustainability in aircraft design and production.

Career History

Previous Law Firms

• Stephenson Harwood
• Berrymans Lace Mawer
• Birketts
• Speechly Bircham (now Charles Russell Speechlys)
• Freedmans
• Conseil & Formation

Appointments and voluntary roles

• Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) : UK – Country Representative
• Society of Construction Arbitrators: Honorary Secretary
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators: Fellow
• Arbitration Club – Law Courts branch: Member
• Arbitral Women: Member

Education

• London University – External (LLB)
• College of Law Guildford (Solicitors’ Finals)

Other Qualifications and Languages

• Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration
• Fluent in French

View Julie’s CV here

Presentations and events

Upcoming events:

• Builders’ Breakfast: A roundtable discussion on “The use of technology to improve efficiency and reduce risk in the construction industry…and reduce our carbon footprint while we’re at it!”.
• Tuesday 18th January 2022 at Dorset Chamber of Commerce
• If you’d like to attend, let Julie know: julie.forsyth@gunnercooke.com

Recent talks by Julie:

• NEC Users’ Workshop: Mock Dispute Resolution 4 October 2021
• DRBF Administration & Practice Workshop: 7 – 9 September 2021
• DRBF Central & Eastern Europe Regional Conference: Panel discussion led by Julie on “Dispute Boards: Two Versions, One Truth” 10-12 March 2021
• NEC Users Group Conference : “Use of DABs under NEC” – 23 June 2021