“… 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 barrister for 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 also lists Hugh as a leading junior for construction work saying ‘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 has additionally been listed in Who’s Who Legal in their “Future Leaders” section as one of the world’s leading construction lawyers aged 45 or under.
A confident and persuasive advocate on paper and in court – described in Legal 500 as “a class act, great on his feet” – Hugh regularly appears before the High Court (particularly in the TCC) and the County Court. He also has extensive experience in adjudications (including enforcements in the High Court) and in domestic and international arbitration. Hugh has acted for clients around the world, including in the Caribbean, China, Europe, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Turkey and throughout the Arabian Peninsula, both on matters within the UK and within their own jurisdictions.
Although he is usually instructed as sole counsel, Hugh is often led (by silks both inside and outside chambers) and he is increasingly instructed to lead more junior counsel on significant matters. Hugh has also been appointed to act as adjudicator in statutory and contractual adjudications.
Clients describe Hugh as being “very strategic and user-friendly” and say that he is “easy to work with, his drafting style is clear and precise and he just works well as an extension of the team”.
Before returning to the Bar in 2014, Hugh practised for over seven years in the specialist construction groups at some of the world’s leading law firms, including White & Case and Nabarro (now CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang), acting on a wide range of commercial matters and disputes. This background gives him a genuine understanding of the needs of his instructing solicitors and his clients’ commercial interests, and of the importance of finding practical, cost-effective solutions where possible, including alternatives to pursuing litigation, adjudication or arbitration. Hugh’s commercial experience means that he is still instructed to advise on non-contentious matters including contract drafting and procurement and he is familiar with all the major standard-form construction contracts including the JCT, NEC, FIDIC and LOGIC forms and SOPC-based PFI contracts.
Hugh is the co-author (with Ben Patten KC) of Professional Negligence in Construction (2nd edition, Informa). He is a member of TECBAR (having served on the committee between 2014 and 2018), the SCL, the Adjudication Society (and a former editor of the Society’s newsletter), the PNBA and the BILA. Hugh is also a former editor of the RICS iSurv materials on Contract Administration.
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“… 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
Commercial matters that Hugh has worked on, negotiating contracts or advising generally, include:
Hugh frequently acts for claimants and defendants in claims involving construction professionals including architects, engineers, and surveyors. He is the co-author (with Ben Patten KC) of Professional Negligence in Construction (2ndedition, Informa), and a member of the Professional Negligence Bar Association (PNBA). Hugh is also a former editor of the RICS iSurv materials on Contract Administration.
Featured Professional Liability cases
Hugh has a well established practice in property damage cases, particularly where the damage is alleged to have occurred as a result of fire, water, or construction operations. Typically, Hugh is instructed as sole counsel in complex, multi-party disputes in the High Court where the other parties are represented by Silks or very senior juniors. Most of Hugh’s cases in this field relate to residential developments and infrastructure works, and he has been instructed in relation to numerous cladding and related claims following the Grenfell disaster.
“Hugh Saunders is well regarded.” – Chambers & Partners
“Hugh Saunders is a former solicitor who is very, very good with clients. He has a nice manner in court.” – Chambers & Partners
Featured Property Damage cases
Hugh is experienced in advising on issues arising out of all kinds of public procurement, having acted for local authorities, developers and contractors on PFIs (in the UK and internationally) and other projects involving the Public Contracts Regulations and Utilities Contracts Regulations. He has negotiated numerous project agreements and associated construction contracts under SOPC3 and SOPC4.
As a former software engineer, Hugh is able quickly to understand complicated technology issues and advise accordingly.
Featured Information Technology cases
In addition to his court practice, Hugh also regularly acts in domestic and international arbitrations.
Featured International Arbitration cases
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Hugh is a member of:
Hugh served as a committee member of TECBAR between 2014 and 2018. He is a former editor of the Adjudication Society Newsletter.
Hugh is accredited by Gray’s Inn as an advocacy instructor.
Education
4 New Square
Lincoln's Inn
London, WC2A 3RJ
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