Michael O'Shea
I lead our Engineering and Construction team. I advise parties on major construction and engineering contracts including all aspect of dispute avoidance, management and resolution. Basically I keep them out of trouble!
Tel: +44 (0)121 685 2776
Email: michael_o'shea@wragge.com
Services: Dispute Resolution, Construction
Best brains in .....
Getting to the core of a problem, understanding the technical, commercial and legal issues and how these interact, finding a solution and seeing it through to a conclusion.
Highlight of your career so far?
Successfully acting for Alfred McAlpine in relation to its dispute with Panatown which resulted in the landmark decision of the House of Lords concerning privity of contract and issues of "no loss".
Most challenging job you've ever done?
Acting for a contactor in an action where it sought to pass on claims from an Employer to 36 defendants all of which were trying to strike out the claims against them. There were 18 barristers in attendance at the first Case Management Conference.
What about outside the UK?
Advising a specialist contractor in relation to a major arbitration concerning the construction of a new national sports stadium in Ireland. And further afield I dealt with issues concerning the operation of a wind farm off the Norwegian coast.
What's your definition of going the extra mile?
Getting off a plane with my leg in plaster after a pretty unsuccessful skiing holiday and travelling 350 miles on a train to help a client successfully negotiate a settlement on a long term and difficult dispute.
Best example of a creative legal solution?
Creating an expert determination framework for the resolution of a dispute where costs has become so prohibitive that a negotiated settlement was impossible. This was linked to cost recovery on a sliding scale "pain/gain" share basis.
What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?
"I never want to see a lawyer again but next time we have a problem I will ring you."
