EWJ August 62 2025 web - Journal - Page 44
BDW acted voluntarily (and, presumably, reasonably). It is difficult to square the circle on that analysis. Might it encourage another claimant to take
the point further, given the indications of the
Supreme Court as to the relevance of damage to a
claimant’s reputation? Or, is the answer that whilst
URS is not liable for any loss to BDW’s reputation,
that does not mean that, when assessing whether
BDW acted reasonably when faced with the difficulties created by URS’s scope of duty, a court is not
permitted to consider damage to BDW’s reputation.
Mr Hugh Gray
Consultant Chartered Engineer
specialising in Lifts/Elevators
CEng BEng (Hons) BSc FSOE MCIBSE MIET European Engineer
(Eur Ing) MIoD
Hugh Gray is a Consultant Engineer with over 25 years experience. His
main area of expertise is lifts, escalators and window cleaning equipment
design. Hugh has hands-on lift experience as he started his career with the
installation and maintenance of lifts. Since 1993 his main area of work has
Stepping back, it is also undoubtedly the case that
policy has influenced this case, for understandable
reasons. It can hardly be in the public interest to discourage entities from taking steps that secure the
safety of buildings and the people that occupy them.
Despite the arguments raised by URS, a court considering the wider impact was likely to find in favour
of the party that had acted responsibly and in the
interests of public safety, and suffered a loss because
of it, particularly in the current political and economic climate.
been statutory inspections of lifts and lift consultancy. Sectors covered are
residential, retail, commercial, transport, health care and social housing.
Hugh is based between his London and Manchester offices providing full
UK coverage.
His experience includes: The design and management of several high end
lift refurbishments projects throughout the City, and West End, of London;
conducting feasibility studies to improve the performance of existing lift
systems; investigation inspections on new lifts which are failing; condition
surveys and dilapidation reports; lift traffic analysis and lift energy reports.
Mr Gray has been appointed as a specialist expert witness to write reports
and give oral evidence in relation to lift accident investigations, incorrect lift
designs, rent reviews, claims against main contractors and to provide
general lift condition reports. He has also acted and
represented profes-
sional football players and clubs in contract negotiations, including disputes
and arbitration proceedings.
Article by
Catherine Piercy KC
Emma Hynes
https://gatehouselaw.co.uk
Contact
214-216 Widmore Road, Bromley, BR1 2RH
Area of work: Nationwide
Tel: 0208 850 4778 - Fax: 0208 711 3533
Email: hugh.gray@mandpls.com
Website: www.mandpls.co.uk
Richard Birchall Associates
Chartered Surveyors
Mr John Flowers
Richard Birchall heads a team of surveyors who survey, value and repair buildings,
prinicipally in central and west London although instructions are also serviced from
Chartered Building Surveyor
Cheshire to the South Coast on behalf of major clients. The work undertaken includes
structural surveys and valuations, reports on defects, fire insurance, specification and
FRICS Dip.Proj.Man. MPTS
supervision of repair and redecoration contracts, construction monitoring and cost
control, party wall awards, fire insurance valuation and reinstatement, and expert reports.
I am a Chartered Building Surveyor with over 45 years experience dealing
with all aspects of property defects, diagnosis, specification and contract
administration. Most of my experience has been gained in the residential
sector, primarily dealing with housing associations and local authorities, on
small and large scale refurbishment and regeneration projects and new
build schemes. I also have experience of education and non housing
buildings. Until 2012, I was a partner in a medium sized multi-disciplinary
practice.
Instructions are repeat business, referrals from solicitors, receivers, accountants,
clearing and merchant banks, or professional and corporate clients seeking to
"outsource" work. Staff trained in the legal aspects of report writing and in the
responsibilities of a Single Joint Expert
The firm consists of the principal and four associates, including quantity surveyor,
structural engineer, building surveyor and valuer.
Specialist areas include:
Building maintenance
Building surveying
Condition surveys
Conservation
Damp
Defects
Domestic, commercial, industrial
Dilapidations
& educational property
Expert witness
Fire Insurance
Insurance
Landlord and tenant
Neighbourly disputes
Party walls
Period property
Planning applications
Professional negligence
Property management
Repair & restoration
Residential property
Residential surveys
My experience and specialism allows me to offer expert advice on all
aspects of building defects, disrepair cases, defective workmanship and
First Tier Tribunal Expert Witness. I also regularly provide advice and
prepare reports in connection with disputes between contractors and
clients and have prepared reports for the Crown Courts, particular in
relation to fraudulent or defective works.
My main area of work revolves around housing disrepair matters acting for
landlords, tenants or as Single joint Expert.
Contact Details
Tel: 0208 290 6215
Mobile: 07985 151968
Email: john@flowersconsulting.co.uk
Website: www.flowersconsulting.co.uk
Tectona House, Stone Green, Bethersden, Kent, TN26 3DE
Surveyor negligence, boundary disputes, part walls, structural surveying
Richard Birchall Associates
17 St Albans Grove, Kensington, London, W8 5BP
Contact: Mr Richard H Birchall - Tel: 020 7361 0099
Email: rb@surveyors.co.uk - Website: www.surveyors.co.uk
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
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AUGUST/SEPT 2025
