Howard Crossman is a user-friendly lawyer, commercial and truly international in focus
Howard Crossman
Partner
Howard Crossman is completely attentive to clients’ requirements. He believes that the client is an integral part of the legal team, working together on strategy and commercial goals.
He applies the same responsiveness and attention to detail from the smallest piece of ad hoc telephone advice through to drafting a suite of contracts on an international mega-project.
Having over 30 years’ experience as a pure construction lawyer acting for Governments, Contractors, Employers and Consultants he speaks the language; well versed in technical construction issues, programming and financial contract procedures and claims.
With a substantial international practice, Howard will fly off to see clients around the world at a moment’s notice. He believes there is no substitute for face-to-face meetings.
Case studies
Howard Crossman is a highly regarded international construction lawyer. He travels widely to meet with clients in for example Jordan, Dubai, Lebanon, Egypt, Australia, United States, India and Malaysia.
He drafts suites of contracts and associated procurement documentation on mega projects in various countries.
He is regularly involved in international arbitrations and litigation in various jurisdictions up to Supreme Court level.
Perhaps of most importance to Howard is face to face meetings with the client at their offices wherever that may be in the world, giving personal trusted advisor views on everything from ESG to amending internal corporate processes and procedures to ensure the company is cutting edge and marketable worldwide.
Howard Crossman has over 30 years’ experience as a leading construction lawyer acting for Main Contractors, Sub-Contractors, Funders, Employers and Consultants in the UK.
He works with clients on dispute avoidance, mediation and negotiated settlements and has considerable experience of claims work, adjudication, arbitration and litigation at all levels. He is familiar the major Contract Forms, JCT, ICC, NEC and FIDIC.
Howard is knowledgeable of key drafting points in such contracts, by way of example, relating to specifications/performance and design, time, limitation of liability and pricing. He also has extensive experience working with the full suite of project documents, sub-contracts, appointments, bonds/guarantees and collateral warranties He is currently dealing with a topical cladding dispute and also has a particular interest in the highways maintenance and street lighting sector. He advises on compliance issues and drafting codes of conduct and procedures for the Construction Industry to comply with the Bribery Act 2010.
Howard has worked with the County Surveyors Society, Institute of Lighting and ASLEC. He has been legal reporter for Construction News and writes regularly for the Institute of Lighting Engineers Journal.
Howard has recently advised on EU public procurement in relation to a new hub airport mega project.
Howard is now advising on new cutting edge ESG and related issues internationally.
He advises on all main Standard Form Contracts and Sub-Contracts – the JCT suite, ICE, NEC and FIDIC. Wide experience of most project procurement routes. Advising developers, funders and contractors and drafting bespoke Building Contracts and Schedules of Amendments to Standard Form Contracts. Drafting collateral warranties, bonds, works contracts, other types of sub-contract, novation agreements, consultants’ appointments and sub-consultants’ appointments.
Acting for a US Power Company in relation to a multi-million-pound professional negligence claim concerning the drafting of EPC Contracts for the construction of Power Plants in China. This entailed forensic analysis of drafting of the EPC contract. The claim was mediated, followed by a short period of litigation. The issues also concerned “no loss” as well as analysis of complex delay and disruption.
Drafting substantive suite of NEC based Alliance Contracts and Specifications for the Water Industry utilising cutting edge risk/reward funds.
Acting for a substantial international aggregate and contracting company in respect of a multi-million-pound dispute on a wind farm project built using NEC Option A. There were highly technically complex geotechnical, structural engineering and ground modelling issues to consider.
Drafting detailed and complex compliance procedures for a global construction consultancy in relation to the Bribery Act 2010 involving cross-jurisdictional issues.
Acting for a civil engineering contractor in relation to one of the largest construction cases listed in the Technology and Construction Court in recent years. The dispute concerned refurbishment of a tunnel. The litigation involved a preliminary issue hearing on the terms of the contract where the client was successful. The case also involved complex technical, delay and quantum issues.
Acting for a Cladding Sub-Contractor on a substantial post Grenfell dispute.
Acting for a major UK contractor in a case that reached the Court of Appeal on the construction of a clause within the FCEC Form of Subcontract for civil engineering works covering a subcontractor’s rights to recovery of benefits under a main contract
Acting for a process engineering contractor in connection with approximately £60m of disputes arising under an EPCM Contract for delay, disruption and extra costs for onshore and offshore construction of an oil rig facility.
Advising a main contractor client in relation to its risk analysis for the purposes of tendering in respect of a proposed nuclear power plant to be let under a NEC form of contract.