Legal 500 2012: Which construction lawyers are top of the list?

Berwin Leighton Paisner and Pinsent Maisons topped the construction category in this year’s Legal 500 listings.

Four regular columnists in Building’s legal section were singled out for praise in the category.

Ann Minogue was mentioned in reference to her role advising British Land on it’s redevelopment at 122 Leadenhall Street and on UBS’ headquarters, despite law firm Ashurst moving from the top to the second tier in the construction rankings. Minogue was identified as “an authority in her field”.

Simon Tolson, of Fenwick Elliott, a firm described as “a class act” that understands the business “inside out”, was also singled out, for his work acting for Punj Lloyd in Litigation with SABIC UK Petrochemicals Ltd.

Meanwhile Rupert Choat of CMS Cameron McKenna was praised for providing “sound”, “sagacious” and “good value” advice.

Dominic Helps was also recommended for his work as a consultant with Corbett & Co International Construction Lawyers.

Ashurst’s move to the second tier leaves Berwin Leighton Paisner and Pinsent Maisons as the only two firms in the top tier of the construction category. All three were in the top tier in 2011.

The Legal 500’s listings are based upon qualitative research which involves the publisher Legalease’s researchers speaking to thousands of commercial law firm clients across different industry sectors, as well as consulting other law firms and information from confidential client and transaction lists. It is published annually.