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
Services: Construction, Dispute Resolution, Insurance
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.
What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?
Everything. All publicity is good publicity.
Experience
- Acting for Eggborough Power Limited on claims arising from a flue gas desulphurisation plant.
- Advising Pearson Group on a £30 million claim arising from the construction of a distribution centre in Rugby.
- Acting for CAMBBA in disputes arising from the M6 Toll Road construction. Over 30 adjudications, four trips to the TCC and two to the Court of Appeal
- Acting for Portsmouth City Council on issues arising out of the construction of Spinnaker Tower.
- Acting for a Turkish contractor on its £2 million claims in arbitration arising out of construction of a Head Office in Kazakstan.
- Acting for Interserve on claims for £10 million involving Dudley Hospital.
- Acting for Hyder Consulting in its £3 million adjudication and enforcement against Carillion Construction.
- Acting for Hamon CFEM Facades UK Ltd in its landmark public procurement case against the House of Commons.
Professional experience
- Partner, Wragge & Co, 1995-present
- Solicitor, Wragge & Co, 1986-1995
- Articles, Macfarlanes, 1984-1986
- Guildford, College of Law, 1984
- MA in jurisprudence, St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, 1983
Specialisms
Ashley specialises in all aspects of dispute resolution in construction: adjudication, litigation, arbitration, mediation and expert determination. He is a TeCSA Adjudicator.
Business sectors
Construction
Memberships
- Member of The Technology and Construction Solicitors Association
- The Society of Construction Law and a member of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- The Law Society
Publications and presentations
Regular contributor to Building and articles published in Arbitration, Construction News and Property Journal. See "Economic Loss, Transmissible Warranties and Extensions in the Boundaries of Murphy v Brentwood", Construction Law Journal 2005 Issue 2.
Languages
"A" level French
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