Preston, United Kingdom
I head up Napthens’ construction and engineering team. Based in the Preston office I manage a team of five construction law specialists operating across Napthens’ offices in Lancashire and Cumbria. I work closely with clients to reach a successful outcome to their construction and engineering projects, providing a full service in relation to the delivery of a project from procurement advice, the appointment of consultants and advising on risk allocation to drafting and negotiating the documents for the delivery of the project. In the event that a dispute arises, I advise on the most appropriate way of resolving it, whether by adjudication, alternative dispute resolution, mediation, expert determination or through arbitration or litigation.
Whilst based in the North West, our client base is national and we regularly advise on projects across the country.
My approach is very commercially focussed on the requirements of my clients; I take the time to understand my clients' businesses and their objectives and devise solutions for them that work commercially as well as legally whilst ensuring that my advice is easily understood and devoid of legalese.
Specialisms
As a highly experienced construction lawyer with over 15 years of experience in the industry, I deal with construction and engineering issues across all sectors. I have particular expertise in the sports and leisure, IT, real estate, development regeneration, energy and education sectors. Examples of my projects include advising on the stand extension at Anfield for Liverpool Football Club; advising on a JV project for a £150m funded inner city mixed use regeneration scheme in Liverpool City Centre; advising a middle eastern government on an international standard museum project; advising a bank on construction aspects of a £140m property portfolio refinancing; advising a UK contractor on a dataroom construction project in Amsterdam.
Background
I joined Napthens in 2016 from DLA Piper, Liverpool. Having trained with DLA Liverpool and qualifying as a solicitor into their Manchester construction team in 2003, I moved to Addleshaw Goddard’s Manchester construction team in 2005. I returned to DLA Piper in 2006, and was appointed to manage their north west construction and engineering team in 2013.
Memberships and Recognition
I am a member of the Society of Construction Law and the Forum of the Built Environment
I am praised for my "ability to interpret the law for a lay person" (Legal 500 2011) for his 'accurate, in-depth advice’ (Legal 500 2012) .
"Working with Earle on our current projects has been a rewarding experience. Earle's responsiveness, can-do approach and pragmatism together with his ability to integrate within our team are greatly appreciated" (Client)
"They are good northern lads - friendly and extremely experienced at what they do". (Client)
My advice is "accurate, relevant and easily understood". (Client)
Legal Director and NW Head of Construction and Engineering
Associate in the UK Construction team
Solicitor in the UK Construction and Engineering team
Analyst in the Credit, RIsk and Fraud teams
I specialised in construction and engineering law during my training contract and have continued that focus since I qualified as a solicitor in 2003. I have advised a plethora of clients on projects across many sectors, highlights of which include
Providing training to Magnox and TfGM on contract procurement, negotiation and contract management.
Providing training to Clarke Energy on contract choice, risk management and negotiation.
Advising UPS on the £100m development of a distribution hub in SE England, including both construction and engineering elements
Advising Clarke Energy, Alumasc and Levolux on and drafting their standard terms and conditions of supply.
Advising Merseytravel, at project board and director level, upon their current multi-disciplinary rolling stock project (confidential).
Advising Liverpool and Fulham football clubs on extensions to their existing stadia.
Advising CRLP (Merepark and Ballymore JV) on a £150m funded inner city mixed use regeneration scheme in Liverpool City Centre with Bank and Construction funding elements.
Advising Clarke Energy on multiple energy projects in the UK and abroad.
Advising Scatec on a solar array project in SW England.
Advising a middle eastern government (Kurdistan Regional Government) on an international standard museum project.
Advising Gehrlicher Solar on a solar array project in South Wales.
Advising the UK contractor (E&B Contracting), with Dutch colleagues, on a dataroom construction project in Amsterdam.
Advising Atos (the UK owner/operator) on a dataroom construction project in the UK with a Dutch contractor from procurement through drafting negotiation to contract management and dispute management.
Advising the German contractor, with German colleagues, on the high-end fit out of a conference centre in the Home Counties.
Advising RBS on the construction aspects of a £140m property portfolio refinancing.
Advising Pfizer, Valentino, UPS and Ab Initio Software upon the Anglicisation of their US centric standard terms of supply for use in the UK market.
Advising USS (pension fund) on the construction elements of multiple property acquisitions to a combined value of £1.5bn in recent years.
Advising the developer (University of Liverpool via the Academy Co) on the procurement and construction of a £25m city academy in Merseyside.
Advising Vincent Hotel Limited on the procurement and construction of a new luxury hotel in Southport.
Advising RBS in relation to the funding of the development of a new luxury hotel in Chester.
University
1991 - 1994
BA (Honours) Law and :Politics 2:1
Working with Earle on our current projects has been a rewarding experience. Earle's responsiveness, can-do approach and pragmatism together with his ability to integrate within our team are greatly appreciated.
Earle got to grips with the complex interfaces that are relevant in this Programme and led the discussion in the Procurement and Contract steering group meetings, developing an appropriate suite of legal agreements, and steering the discussion around the risks and responsibilities involved in this Programme in a skilful and diplomatic way. Earle's calm approach, coupled with his clear understanding of what our requirements are make Earle a definite asset to this Programme's team.
Earle has helped us navigate some difficult issues. A key skill of Earle’s is the ability to “translate” complex contractual terms in a way that can be easily understood by those of us that have a only a basic understanding of contract law.
Providing training to Magnox and TfGM on contract procurement, negotiation and contract management.
Advising UPS on the £100m development of a distribution hub in SE England, including both construction and engineering elements
Advising Liverpool and Fulham football clubs on extensions to their existing stadia.
Advising Clarke Energy on multiple energy projects in the UK and abroad.
Advising the UK contractor (E&B Contracting), with Dutch colleagues, on a dataroom construction project in Amsterdam.
Advising RBS on the construction aspects of a £140m property portfolio refinancing.
Advising USS (pension fund) on the construction elements of multiple property acquisitions to a combined value of £1.5bn in recent years.
Advising RBS in relation to the funding of the development of a new luxury hotel in Chester.
