Eugene Lenehan [BSc LLB(Hons) MSc MRICS MCIArb MCICES MCIOB Barrister* (non-practising / unregistered)] set up Coniston Construction Associates Ltd after working for a number of high profile organisations within the construction industry. He started his career working for major UK contractors, becoming a very experienced quantity surveyor, but since 2003 has also specialised in construction contract law and dispute resolution. He is a qualified Barrister, Chartered Quantity Surveyor, Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor and Chartered Builder.
Eugene has worked in the construction industry for over thirty years, with a wide range of organisations involved in numerous sectors of the industry. He has experience on a variety of projects, including commercial offices, hotels, leisure centres, schools, colleges, hospitals, wind farms, nuclear facilities, industrial facilities, rail, motorways, prestige residential developments and social housing developments.
We are experts in understanding and managing the financial aspects of construction projects, providing high-quality pre-and post-Contract services to clients, main contractors and subcontractors.
“Eugene was engaged by BAM to work on a very complicated NEC3 refurbishment project preparing over 400 compensation events, raising early warning notices and quotations and dealing with Contractual correspondence. He also assisted in the negotiation of the time and cost effect of the Compensation Events. Eugene worked well with our Team and was of considerable benefit to the eventual outcome of the Account.”
“I worked with Eugene on the Multi-Utilities Contract at the Olympic Park. His knowledge, experience and expertise of the NEC3 form of Contract (Bespoke) was of extreme benefit to the commercial team based on site when interpreting the conditions of contract to maximise the output and efficiency of our work. Eugene provided genuine and considered advice to all members of the commercial department, whether through contractual communications or support and guidance in client meetings. Eugene is a must have on any project!”
“Eugene was a prolific, thorough worker who I also learnt a lot from. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him.”
We are experts on the complexities of construction contracts, including both standard and bespoke forms of contract. We regularly advise and assist on a wide range of construction contract issues, including in respect of payment, extensions of time and loss and expense.
Our aim is always to help resolve any dispute as swiftly and economically as possible.
“Eugene is an extremely professional and personable person to work with. This comes as an added bonus to his dual skills which cover all aspects of quantity surveying and commercial issues together with his in-depth legal knowledge and in particular his expertise with all aspects of NEC Contracts.”
“Eugene provided an invaluable service as a contract and claims consultant on a previous construction project under the NEC3 contract. During his involvement with the project he provided expert guidance and support on how best to adhere to the stringent NEC contract conditions, and as a direct result of his input the business was able to recover significant cost and time entitlements. I have no doubt that without Eugene’s presence on the project we would not have faired so well on our own, and his performance was a credit to himself and his studious approach to work.”
“Eugene is extremely capable and reliable. Someone you can depend on to represent you to the best of his ability. I would have no hesitation in working with Eugene again.”
We are experts in preparing and defending construction claims under standard or bespoke forms of contract. Our claim services include in relation to extensions of time, prolongation costs, disruption costs, acceleration costs, plus the value of variations and compensation events.
“Led by Eugene, I worked as part of a QS team which were responsible for demonstrating entitlement and quantum in respect of variations, delay, disruption etc on a problematic rail project. I found Eugene to be dynamic, very well organised, approachable and easy to work with. Eugene had and demonstrated excellent contractual expertise and was very commercially astute. I would not hesitate in recommending him, and would enjoy the opportunity to work with Eugene again in the future”
“We employed Eugene to manage our commercial team specifically seeking value recovery. I found him to be both knowledgeable and professional and his input was well received by all parties in what was a very challenging situation. He was quickly up to speed with the legacy of issues involved and his wide range of expertise was of great benefit”
We have represented all types of parties to a construction contract, including developers, main contractors and subcontractors. Whether acting for the Referring or Responding Party, our skill and expertise in rapidly analysing and drafting documents has proved to be invaluable in the typically fast-paced Adjudication process. Refer to our ‘Testimonials’ page.
I worked with Eugene on an adjudication where a developer client failed to properly value the final account and with Eugene’s expert input, we were successful on every aspect of our claim (approx. £0.5 million). Eugene is a pleasure to work with and provides a straightforward and professional approach.
In my 11 years as Commercial Director at Galliford Try, Eugene was frequently used for Adjudication representation. He wasn’t always available, but when he was, he provided an unrivalled service. Eugene works at an extraordinarily rapid pace, challenging the evidence, probing the contractual and legal entitlement, understanding the technical nature of the points in contention, resulting in work/documents of the highest quality. This invariably resulted in very favourable (and on occasion, spectacular) Adjudication decisions. Nobody wants to be a party to adjudication, but if it becomes necessary, I strongly recommend you contact Eugene.
I previously worked with Eugene on 3 separate adjudications, involving NEC3, JCT and bespoke PFI contracts. Eugene led the process through what was a series of complicated disputes whereby he was rapidly able to understand the issues and generate an appropriate and detailed Response. Eugene approached the matter with his usual attention to detail, dynamic approach and enthusiasm. I would have no hesitation in working with and recommending Eugene for any commercial/contractual matters in the future.
For anyone seeking Adjudication representation I strongly recommend Eugene Lenehan, who helped us achieve a spectacular result. We were the Responding Party and were caught off guard with a claim for circa £330k. Following some great advice of who to go to, we appointed Eugene Lenehan to represent us. Eugene arrived like a whirlwind! In no time at all he was familiar with all the issues and within 7 days he produced the most detailed and persuasive Response document. A combination of Eugene’s Response document and his assistance in meetings in front of the Adjudicator resulted in an Adjudicator Decision that meant we had to pay only £7k! This cannot have been enjoyable reading for the contractor, or his expensive well-known representatives! If you need any Adjudication representation, contact Eugene.
A curtain walling subcontractor brought an adjudication against one of my main contractor clients, for circa £725K (in respect of the value of variations). I bet £20 with Andrew (the Project Director from my client) that we wouldn’t have to pay them a penny! … After a very hard-fought Adjudication, the curtain walling subcontractor lost badly, with the Adjudicator deciding that not only did my client owe nothing, but the subcontractor had to pay my client £148k! i.e. the result was £873k worse than the subcontractor hoped for! … plus they had also to pay for their adjudication representation and deal with the Adjudicator’s bill!
Thanks for paying up Andrew, I’m getting this photo framed and putting it on my office wall!
Ensuring the contract is right at the beginning of a project is crucial to minimising risk and maximising profit. We have considerable experience in a wide range of contracts, both standard forms and bespoke. We also have expertise in other forms of construction documents, such as collateral warranties, guarantees and bonds.
“I have known Eugene for over 12 years, working within a leading global construction and engineering consultancy company. He has consistently provided a high standard of quality work. He has helped to maintain those high standards in the Driver Trett Coventry office serving the UK. Whilst I was at Driver Trett Coventry office, Eugene was generally considered to be the NEC expert to go to when any advice was needed.”
“Eugene is a very professional and trustworthy person. I have relied on Eugene in respect of advice on the risks of various collateral warranties and bespoke subcontracts, including drafting of amendments. I have also relied on Eugene in respect of a building dispute regarding delays and extension of time. There is no doubt that Eugene is a very experienced Quantity Surveyor with a vast legal knowledge and I would have no hesitation in recommending him to clients and friends alike.”
We carry out expert witness work, providing reports, including in respect of the value of variations, compensation events, final accounts plus loss and expense.
Eugene is excellent in all aspects as an expert witness. He has the ability to grasp difficult issues, process large volumes of information in a short period of time and he is hard working and committed. I was impressed with the clarity of his reports which he substantiated with good evidence and reasoned arguments. His well rounded technical background together with his legal training definitely gives him an advantage over other expert witnesses. He performed well under cross examination and the Court accepted his evidence provided in the proceedings.
“Having previously worked with Eugene throughout a complex and lengthy dispute resolution process, where Eugene was instructed to produce the expert quantum report, I would be confident in stating that I have never worked with someone so exacting or knowledgeable in his field, whereby every aspect is thoroughly deconstructed in such a depth in order to gain a full understanding of the matter in hand. Conveying a certain level of authority, Eugene positively challenges and explores every angle of a situation, analysing every facet, which in turn imparts certainty to the situation. Couple this with his experience, characteristics and overall demeanour, and you have a solid influence within your team. The output of the process undertaken led to a decidedly successful outcome, of which was largely due to Eugene’s methods, contribution and ongoing guidance. I would have no hesitation in highly recommending Eugene to any Client.”
“I worked with Eugene on an expert quantum report in preparation for an adjudication on a large refurbishment project. I found him to be very thorough and extremely knowledgeable. I would have no hesitation in recommending Eugene to both clients and colleagues in the future”
Getting the construction contract right at the outset of a project will help to reduce risk and maximise profit.
We provide the best interactive seminars, workshops and training, including in respect of construction contracts and commercial awareness.
Our key contact and main training provider is specialist construction lawyer and expert Quantity Surveyor, Eugene Lenehan.
Just a quick note to thank you for the training you delivered yesterday.
It was the best construction law type training session I’ve been on, very relevant, well structured and importantly, well delivered. I’ve spoken to a few of the other attendees, sentiment is similar.
My NEC awareness is certainly robustly refreshed.
Thanks Eugene for an excellent presentation on the NEC contract to the Align HS2 joint venture team. It’s never easy pitching a subject and explaining with such clarity to such an international and diverse audience (some of whom have little/no knowledge of the NEC). Notwithstanding, the feedback from the day was outstanding! Everyone took something away from the session – even those who already “knew it all!“
“Eugene delivered a seminar on the key differences between NEC3 & NEC4 in the spring of 2018. The group had a mix of experience in NEC contracts and Eugene’s delivery of the key topics was clear and easy to understand for all. His engaging manner meant everyone was welcomed to participate in the seminar and we all came out with a sense that we’d learnt something. I’d have no hesitation in calling on Eugene for our future training needs on the NEC contracts”.
