Real Estate, Dispute Resolution
Chidi is a non-contentious construction law specialist, although he is also very experienced in disputes work. He has over 15 years' experience of providing primarily non-contentious advice on major construction projects across several sectors, including infrastructure, high speed rail, energy (including conventional, nuclear and renewables), oil and gas, and commercial and residential developments (both domestically and internationally). He gained this experience mainly at a leading international law firm and a magic circle law firm. He has acted for sponsors, developers, other types of employer, funders, consultants, contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers across a range of projects.
Chidi has extensive experience and knowledge of construction procurement and contracts, including NEC, JCT, FIDIC, LOGIC, IChemE and MF/1 standard forms of contract. He has also drafted and negotiated numerous bespoke construction contracts for high speed rail, energy (including conventional, nuclear and renewables), infrastructure and oil and gas projects, and has drafted template high speed rail, energy and oil and gas contracts.
Chidi has also acted on several office, mixed use and high-end residential developments, including advising on the development agreements, construction contracts, consultants’ appointments, agreements for lease, landlord’s licence agreements, parent company guarantees, bonds, collateral warranties, third party rights, funders' direct agreements and novation agreements. Whilst he is a non-contentious construction law specialist, Chidi has also acted on numerous disputes, including many adjudications, mediations, settlement agreements, claims under the Pre-Action Protocol for Construction and Engineering Claims, Court proceedings and arbitrations, including professional negligence claims.
Clients and project teams appreciate the 360 degrees understanding Chidi brings to construction contracts. Not only has he acted extensively for employers and funders, he has also advised numerous contractors and subcontractors. He was seconded to Laing O'Rourke for 1 year and to Galliford Try for 1 day a week for 9 months.
Recent Experience
- Chidi acted for High Speed Two (HS2) Limited, advising on their pre-qualification, tendering and procurement arrangements, drafting their early works contracts, main works civils contracts and South stations construction partner contract and advising on their station design services contracts.
- He also advised TfL on the Northern Line Extension (NLE) project (including drafting and negotiating the land and works agreement and other associated agreements), and on a development agreement and construction contracts in relation to a proposed over station development at Knightsbridge Station.
- His further rail related experience includes advising a large UK developer in relation to a contract to construct decking over the main line into Liverpool Street Station (including advising on asset protection agreements with Network Rail) and advising on a settlement agreement in relation to the same contract.
- His extensive international experience includes advising a large international developer on the remediation and reclamation contracts to prepare a site for a major international marina and multi-use residential and commercial centre in Gibraltar.
- Chidi acted in the seminal case of Mears Ltd v Costplan Services (South East) Ltd & Ors [2019] EWCA Civ 502, which concerned the interpretation of an agreement for lease, where “Practical Completion” was considered by the Court of Appeal for the first time in 50 years.
- He has also advised the London Legacy Development Corporation on various contractual issues arising out of a series of contracts relating to the transformation of the Olympic Stadium and on a settlement agreement in relation to the same.
Outside Work
In his spare time, Chidi is a keen cyclist and also enjoys building road bikes and watching sports generally. He also supports several charitable organisations, including participating in sponsored events on a regular basis.