Hugh Saunders

“… an intellectual powerhouse, exceptional advocate and superb draftsperson. He is hard-working, straight-talking and clients love him. He is a star of the Construction Bar.”

Hugh is a leading junior in construction, engineering and technology disputes who is described in the directories as “considerably experienced” yet “down-to-earth and approachable” and someone who “quickly builds a rapport with clients and is a reassuring addition to any team”. He also has significant experience in associated fields including professional liability, property damage, insurance, bonds and guarantees, public procurement, injunctions, and insolvency.

Hugh’s expertise is recognised in Chambers & Partners, where clients say that he is a “junior with a rapidly growing reputation” who “personifies cool, calm and collected”, is “equally good on his feet as he is on paper”, is “very commercial and has excellent analytical skills”, and gives advice that “is first-class, comprehensive and answers the question”. Legal 500 lists Hugh as a leading junior for construction work, where clients say “Hugh is outstanding. As an advocate, he is masterful on his feet. As an expert in the field of construction, his knowledge of the law and ability to master the technical issues in a case is second-to-none. He always goes the extra mile“.

Hugh is also ranked in Who’s Who Legal: Construction 2020 in their “Future Leaders” section as one of the world’s leading construction lawyers aged 45 or under.

Featured Construction & Engineering cases

• National Infrastructure Development Company Limited v Banco Santander SA [2017] EWCA Civ 27, relating to the enforcement of US$38m under letters of credit issued by Santander. The case determined the proper test on a summary judgment application to enforce on-demand securities. Hugh appeared for the Claimant in the Commercial Court ([2016] EWHC 2990 (Comm)) and the Respondent in Court of Appeal, led by Anneliese Day KC.
• National Infrastructure Development Company Limited v BNP Paribas [2016] EWHC 2508 (Comm), also relating to the enforcement of letters of credit. Hugh acted as junior counsel for the Claimant, led by Ben Patten KC.
• BN Rendering Limited v Everwarm Limited [2018] EWHC 2356 (TCC), appearing as sole counsel in respect of the enforcement of a number of adjudicators’ decisions arising out of a series of sub-contracts across Scotland.
• Noble Construction Limited v Wilson [2019] EWHC 1907 (TCC), enforcing an adjudication decision as sole counsel, where the defendant sought to raise a number of jurisdictional and natural justice issues and also sought a stay of execution of the enforcement.
• Acting for the defendant architect in relation to a claim by the owners of the world-famous Selfridges building in Birmingham (led by Fiona Sinclair KC).
• Acting for the Respondent in an LCIA arbitration relating to the termination of a FIDIC contract for the construction of a new, US$750m freeway in Trinidad (led by Anneliese Day KC).
• Acting for the claimant contractor in a highly complex delay and disruption claim arising out of the refurbishment of the Lanesborough Hotel in London (led by Anneliese Day KC and Ben Patten KC).
• Acting for the Main Contractor in a complex adjudication claim against one of its engineers arising out of a PFI roads scheme (led by Garry Borland KC).
• Acting for one of nine defendants in a £15m claim arising out of a fire in a block of flats in south-east England.
• Acting in a £12m adjudication claim relating to an offshore windfarm procured on the LOGIC form.
• As leading counsel, acting in a £2m claim relating to the defective design and construction of a new £4m private residence (leading Ian McDonald).
• Acting for the claimant consultant in a series of adjudications arising out of the construction of a new hotel in London. The claims raised issues of delay and disruption, and allegations of professional negligence.
• Acting for a sub-contractor in an adjudication claim over a £1.2m final account dispute arising out of an NEC sub-contract relating to a highway project (leading Ian McDonald).
• Acting for a housing association in a £7m dispute arising out of the termination of a number of PPC2000 contracts (leading Ian McDonald).
• As leading counsel, acting for an international engineering firm in relation to a series of payment disputes (leading William Harman).
• Acting for the claimant in a US$20m arbitration relating to defects in the design, construction and maintenance of a luxury resort in east Africa.
• Acting for the claimant Main Contractor in a DIAC arbitration arising out of the construction of a new hotel in Abu Dhabi under a FIDIC contract.
• Advising a sub-contractor in Qatar in relation to termination and payment disputes arising under a letter of intent and FIDIC contract.

Commercial matters that Hugh has worked on, negotiating contracts or advising generally, include:

• Advising on, negotiating and drafting EPC contracts and finance agreements for a US$2.2 billion petrochemical project.
• Negotiating and drafting FIDIC contracts for the design and construction of new concrete plants in Africa.
• Negotiating and drafting project agreements and construction contracts for a number of PFI waste-to-energy projects in the UK.
• Advising on and negotiating the finance and construction documents for a £400m regeneration project in central London.