Ashley Pigott

I concentrate on all aspects of dispute resolution in the construction industry.

Tel: +44 (0)121 214 1092

Email: ashley_pigott@wragge.com

Best brains in ...

Legal knowledge applied to construction disputes, managing and running large, complex cases and seeing the wood for the trees!

Highlight of your career so far?

Winning the case of Harmon CFEM Facades UK v. The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons in 1999/2000. We won the Construction Team of the Year in Legal Business as a result. The case involved the government department wrongfully preferring a British contractor. It cost the taxpayer £10 million. We were given a very tough time in interlocutory hearings but we knew we were right!

Most challenging job you've ever done?

As well as the Harmon litigation, the series of disputes arising out of the M6 Toll Road were particularly challenging. Over 30 adjudications, four High Court trials and two trips to the Court of Appeal. All cases were reported and raised a number of complex legal issues.

What about outside the UK?

Advising a Turkish contractor on a dispute in Kazakhstan and going to Johannesburg to settle claims against our client who built a power station in Mali.

What's your definition of going the extra mile?

Looking after clients so much that I'm even prepared to play golf with them.

Best example of a creative legal solution?

Spotting the no greater liability defence to the claim brought against Interserve by Safeway Stores as now reported in the case of Safeway v. Interserve.

When have you ever given a client a real competitive edge?

By threatening proceedings against the company which is now British Gas for a client who had allegedly been unfairly treated when tendering for a job, we were able to get the contract retendered. Our involvement helped the client to win a multi-million pound contract.

What's your single greatest contribution to Wragge & Co's corporate responsibility?

I'm a West Midlands committee member for the Kids Out charity quiz. Kids Out is a charity that provides holidays and days out for ill children. It's been selected as the firm's Charity of the Year.

What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?

Everything. All publicity is good publicity.