Hanna McNab

I am a solicitor specialising in all construction and engineering matters, with my main focus being dispute resolution. Although my intention when training was to become a corporate solicitor (surprising really, given I come from a family of electrical contractors), having spent a year pre-qualification in the busy construction department of a large, regional firm I realised my calling was to work in this area. That was some years ago now(!) and I haven’t looked back since.

I am experienced in bringing and defending claims for a wide range of clients including employers, main contractors, sub-contractors and consultants.  I am frequently instructed to advise on disputes affecting businesses operating in the construction industry including extensions of time, loss and expense, variations, defects, interim payments, final payments and the recovery of retention monies.  As is commonplace in the construction industry, the majority of my work is conducted in the tight timeframes of adjudication however I have experience of court work and other forms of dispute resolution too.

As well as contentious issues, I also advise on and negotiate various construction documents, such as building contracts, appointments, terms and conditions and escrow arrangements. I also provide training sessions on various topics such as payment mechanisms, typical amendments to standard form contracts and case law updates.  This training extends to advising clients throughout the course of construction projects, whereby advice is sought to ensure compliance with the relevant contractual framework that is in place, before disputes actually arise.

Alongside my role at Archor I also work closely with RICS as part of various working groups regarding, amongst other matters, the ongoing training of RICS panel adjudicators.   I previously sat on the RICS Dispute Resolution Appointments Board, which oversees RICS’s Dispute Resolution Service (DRS).  In addition I am a member of the Society of Construction Law as well as a co-ordinator for their events in the Eastern Region.  I am also a member of the Adjudication Society and TeCSA.

As well as a founding partner of Archor, I am also the firm’s social secretary: a role which I take very seriously. Legal 500 has said I am “on course for a very successful career”. Hopefully that career is in law.