Armitage Sykes puts together specialist construction group

Huddersfield-based Armitage Sykes has launched a specialist construction law team.

The team, which is being officially launched this week, will provide services for developers, contractors and sub-contractors, professional consultants, funders and property agents.

The £3m turnover firm has decided to launch the team in response to the Localism Bill, which aims to ensure that more decisions about housing are taken locally.

Supporters of the Localism Bill, which was published in December 2010, believe it will make the planning system more democratic and effective.

For example, the Government wants to make it easier for pubs, shops and libraries to be bought by community groups.

The Bill also included measures which will allow a number of English cities to decide whether they have elected mayors.

Armitage Sykes also expects to win more work on the back of changes to the Construction Act.

These changes, which form part of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act, have been devised to create new rights for contractors who want to suspend work if they have not been paid.

The changes are likely to lead to an increase in the number of adjudication hearings to settle disputes.

The amendments, which relate to contracts signed since October last year, have been drafted to create a “fairer payment” regime.

Lawyers at Armitage Sykes have extensive experience of mediation, conciliation and arbitration work.

The firm has recruited Adele Dethick, a construction law litigation specialist who has acted for the Royal Institution of British Architects.

Martin Thompson, a partner at Armitage Sykes, who specialises in commercial property law, said: “The firm can now compete with Leeds and Manchester-based firms in construction law.

“We also offer a more locally-based solicitors’ service which clients like.

“The addition of Adele’s litigation expertise and intellectual property rights specialism, plus the recruitment we made in the debt recovery team last year, gives us the right experience to launch into this market.

“The firm has undertaken construction work for existing clients for some time but, given the legislative changes being introduced, the extension into offering a construction law team makes sense.”

Mr Thompson said Armitage Sykes had spotted a gap in the market.

“Trends in construction are starting to move upwards,’’ he said. “We have seen an increase in activity across the firm in the first quarter.

“All of our solicitors are significantly busier than we were. The New Year has started off with a great deal more confidence.

“We are looking to recruit further in the commercial property department.”

Armitage Sykes, which has been based in Huddersfield since the 1750s, provides legal services to more than 10,000 individual business and organisational clients.