Investment In Construction And Engineering Continues
The Leeds office of Irwin Mitchell has boosted its business legal services team within Yorkshire and across the North with the appointment of construction and engineering Partner, Steven Bate.
Steven joins from DWF in Leeds where he was a Partner heading up its Yorkshire construction team. He helps and deals with a broad range of businesses and organisations in the construction and engineering supply chain.
Whilst he also helps his clients with pre-contract, non-dispute work, Steven is an expert in dispute resolution and avoidance. As such he has extensive experience of resolving disputes using negotiation, mediation, adjudication, litigation and arbitration.
The latest move by Irwin Mitchell, which is part of an ongoing strategic drive by the firm to establish a leading construction team across the north of England, follows the announcement in March that Julie Morrissy would be joining Irwin Mitchell in Sheffield at the beginning of June 2012. Julie joins from DLA where she was a Partner and Head of Construction across Yorkshire.
Steven Bate said: “Irwin Mitchell is recognised as an innovative firm and one that has embraced change in what is and will continue to be a fast-moving legal sector.
“Joining the business at this time is very exciting, particularly as it continues to invest in building a strong business legal services team across the UK. The Leeds office has a big role to play in supporting the firm’s objective in becoming a leading player in the commercial arena and I certainly look forward to helping the firm recognise its ambitions.”
Steven has particular expertise in helping specialist sub-contractors, specialist contractors and main contractors. In addition to continuing to help these clients Steven is also intending to further develop his and the team’s expertise in other areas including resolving disputes relating to civil engineering, infrastructure, utilities and construction-related professional negligence.
Commenting on claims involving construction professionals and disputes in the civil engineering sector, Steven added: “I’m excited about the prospects for growth in a number of areas. We have seen an increase in the amount of professional negligence work involving architects, civil engineers and quantity surveyors. We have also experienced an increase in the amount of work relating to disputes in the civil engineering and infrastructure sector. It could be that the current challenging economic environment has a part to play in this and given what we are continuing to hear about economic conditions I expect this trend to continue.”
Nick Bates, Head of Litigation and Regional Managing Partner at Irwin Mitchell in Leeds, added: “This is another significant appointment for Irwin Mitchell and part of the firm’s continued investment in enhancing our business legal services team across Yorkshire. The litigation team in Leeds already has a strong reputation for this type of work and I am excited at the prospect of working with Steven to drive this forward.”
“Steven is well-recognised in his field, an innovative thinker who throughout his career has demonstrated a commercial, practical and proactive approach to client work. We are delighted that he has chosen to join Irwin Mitchell and I have no doubt that he will be a big asset to the firm and the Leeds office.”