PFI/PPP Construction Disputes Associate/Senior Associate (5+ PQE)

Join a team of experts and progressive thinkers

We are proud to have a nationally recognised PFI/ PPP disputes team, led by expert Partners. Our team acts on PFI/ PPP disputes across multiple sectors, including health, education, highways and energy from waste, with our experience including contract management support, expiry advice, and all stages of the Dispute Resolution Procedure, including negotiation, adjudication/ expert determination, high Court and Court of Appeal successes.

The team is led by two partners:

• Louise Robling, who heads the team and is based in Bristol. Louise is recognised as a "Leading Individual" in Legal 500, Louise acted on the widely reported Court of Appeal case of Kajima Construction Europe (UK) Limited v Children's Ark Partnership Limited [2023], which dealt with the enforceability of a Dispute Resolution Procedure in a PFI contract.

• Judith Hopper, who is based in our Leeds office and specialises in PFI/ PPP and projects disputes. Judith is also a recommended lawyer in Legal 500, . Judith acted on the widely reported Court of Appeal case of Amey (Birmingham Highways Limited) v Birmingham City Council [2018], a leading case on the duty of good faith in PFI contracts.

Both Louise and Judith are members of NISTA's Dispute Resolution Forum and have spoken at industry events on PFI and PPP.

Louise and Judith work closely alongside our market leading and award winning PFI practice to provide support both on operational PFI and PPPs but also with construction issues arising on new model PPPs. The firm's wealth of experience includes advising Welsh Government on MIM.

"Bevan Britain are a fantastic law firm, they act for the public sector and are real specialists in PFI related disputes. Great leadership from Louise Robling in particular." Legal 500, 2025

"Louise and her team are my favourite solicitors to work with on disputes, because they do it the old-fashioned way. They aren't a postbox. They are engaged and involved in all the aspects." Chambers, 2025

"Judith Hopper is an exceptional partner. Very down to earth and able to vary communication delivery to interact with any party at the appropriate level. Judith is excellent at finding a solution to complex issues, even when stakeholders on the same side have differing views and agendas." Legal 500, 2024

The role

The role will be within our construction litigation team, with a focus on contentious and advisory PFI/ PPP work. As our construction team continues to grow, we are looking for an experienced Senior Associate or Director to work from either our Birmingham, Bristol or Leeds office.

Our national construction team currently has 5 partners and ambitious plans for future growth at all levels. You will be involved in advising on a wide range of PFI/projects disputes across all sectors.

Our panel appointments mean that you will have the opportunity to work on high value, complex instructions including local authorities and NHS Trusts, with growing opportunities with private sector Project Companies and contractors/ FM contractors. Some recent examples include:

• A significant Court of Appeal win in relation PFI dispute resolution procedures
• Acting for a central government body in successful adjudication win arising from insurance gain sharing provisions in health PFI.
• Advising a contractor to a DBFO contract on claims for delay/ damages arising from delay to commencement of project.
• Advising sub-contractor on waste PFI on deductions made due to special arrangements during COVID.
• Acting for a local authority in successful adjudication win against service provider on an issue of contractual interpretation worth approximately £5 million on a highways PFI worth approximately £730 million.
• Acting for a local authority in an expert determination arising from a claim by the service provider for additional payments under an incentive scheme of approximately £ 1 million under a waste PFI.
• Acting for an authority in examining the impact of the change in environmental legislation on the construction of an energy from waste PFI project, and the contractual responsibility for the capital costs to be incurred as a consequences, which are estimated at £30m.
• Advising a local authority on the expiry of an education PFI for 6 schools.
• Acting for a contractor in a dispute with a joint venture company affecting their entire property portfolio of 13 properties, each subject to a separate LIFT contractual arrangement, requiring the drafting, co-ordination and management of 2 phases of 26 concurrent adjudications, and then 13 adjudications (65 adjudications in total), and resulting in the successful defence of termination notices and the recovery of a 7 figures sum for our client.
• Advising an Acute NHS Trust in respect of a substantial number of defects found in the passive fire protection of the PFI hospital against which an Enforcement Order had been issued by the Fire Service. Acting for the Trust in an adjudication in respect of the Trust's entitlement to deductions. Guiding the Trust through an assisted negotiation process with a mediator resulting in the settlement allowing for remedial works of the original fire defects and other construction defects and amendments to the Project Agreement to ensure proper incentivisation of performance of obligations in the future.

What we are looking for from you

The successful candidate will have experience of working on PFI/ PPP disputes, alongside wider experience in advising on complex contractual or construction disputes.

We expect the ability to manage their own time efficiently, excellent drafting and legal analysis skills and an ability to liaise effectively with clients.

Most importantly, we are looking for ambitious lawyers who want to work as part of a high quality team, taking on challenging work in the development of their careers. As a more experienced member of the team, we are keen that our new recruit actively engages in business development in order to support the Partners with their ambitious plans for growth.

We are happy to consider candidates who are looking to work flexibly and welcome applications from those who are seeking a part-time rather than full-time position. There are no requirements in relation to a particular number of days in the office. We prefer our teams to have a high degree of flexibility to determine where they will work from based on client and team needs.

Make a Real Impact

Bevan Brittan is a leading commercial law firm. Alongside our recognised expertise in housing, local government, and health and social care, we are specialists in the construction, energy and resource management, higher education and financial services sectors.

Supported by valued business services professionals, our award-winning and growing legal teams work together to support almost 2,000 organisations with commercial, corporate, property, finance, regulatory, employment and litigation (commercial and clinical negligence) legal and advisory services.

As a responsible business, we embrace four values: Relationships, Reputation, Responsible and Results. These give us a sense of purpose. They influence the decisions we make and how we work with each other. Importantly, they motivate us to deliver meaningful outcomes for our clients and the communities that we’re part of.

Consistently recognised as one of The Times Best Law Firms and highly ranked across the legal directories, we are proud of our hard-earned reputation. Our 2023/24 financial results confirmed both revenue and profit growth for an eleventh consecutive year, ensuring our ability to continue investing in our people.

As a firm we embrace our differences, we act responsibly, now and for the future and we support you to be your best through our hybrid working model and professional development opportunities.

Looking to the future, we’re targeting ambitious growth and success. And we’re looking for the best people to be part of it.