Overview
Bill can provide expert witness and technical expert advice covering:
– Technical assistance with compilation of statements of claim / defence
– Expert reports
– Preparation of Scott’s Schedule
– Expert meetings
– Hearing presentations
– Assistance to Counsel for cross-examination
– Expert testimony and cross-examination
EPC Contractor | South Africa
Provision of expert reports on the erection of a 14,000 tonne steel structure to support process plant for a massive coal-fired plant in South Africa. The dispute involved a site visit to review the bolted connections and access arrangements. The assignment involved submission of an advance expert report to address separated issues, a final expert report, preparation of Scott Schedule and attendance at meetings with experts in Johannesburg. A hearing to a dispute adjudication board was held in 2018 at which I gave expert evidence. The dispute is moving to arbitration which will involve preparation of fresh expert reports and advice for Counsel.
Structural Fabrication of Vertical Pipe Rack | Israel
A 210 m modular pipe rack attached to a concrete tower to support pipes connected to a boiler situated at the top of the tower. The boiler was powered for 3.5km2 array of solar cells focused on the top of the tower. The dispute was in connection with a change of the design following contract award involving ca 800 tonnes of steel fabrication. My expert report compared the differences between the as-built structures with the as-contracted design. This arbitration was held in Tel Aviv at which I gave my expert evidence and a presentation.
Structural Fabrication of Tower Structure | UK
This dispute mainly involved changes to the design requirements for a tower structure on a pipe lay vessel fabricated by a Dutch contractor. The tower structure was ca 1,000 tonnes of complex box type fabrication to Lloyd’s rules involving through-thickness grade S460 material with welding to European and American standards. The brief involved working with instructing solicitors, QC Barrister and the client to prepare the statement of defence and counterclaim assisted by my interim expert report. The arbitral hearing was due to be held in London in mid-2018 but following late negotiations the parties agreed to settle.
Structural Fabricator | Australia
A dispute arose between a fabricator who sub-contracted 18,000 tonne of structural steelwork to a Korean fabricator for a huge Exhibition and Conference Centre in Sydney. The fabricator contended that the workshop drawings were insufficient to permit fabrication to commence. Other claims involved liquidated damages for late delivery and errors / damages to the fabricated assemblies. Detailed knowledge of shop drawing production using Tekla and welding to AWS D1.1 and other Australian national and international standards was required for this assignment. The arbitration was heard in Singapore where I gave expert evidence and a presentation.
Pedestrian Bridge | Perth, Australia
Provision of expert opinion and reports on the fabrication of an elegant 700 m three-span arch bridge with a cable suspended deck the subcontract for which was prematurely terminated. The brief involved assessing the design documentation to assess readiness to start fabrication and the impact of design changes on the delay. The dispute involved advising an expert delay team to determine the extent of disruption prior to the start of litigation.
Offshore Contractor | The Netherlands
The dispute involves the costs arising out of changes to the design of an offshore platform involving providing expert opinion on fabrication, welding, multi-crane lifts, use of sophisticated trailers and suction caissons. The structure, was constructed using parts from a recovered module support frame formed a test structure for the sea trials for decommissioning offshore platforms. Court appearance at arbitration which was held in Rotterdam.
Specialist Subcontractor | UK
A dispute arose between a specialist process plant subcontractor and the main contractor over the delay in erection of structural steelwork for a Waste to Energy Plant in the UK.
The commission involved the preparation of an advisory report as independent expert for the specialist subcontractor in consideration of a potential claim against the main contractor and / or defence of a counterclaim by main contractor against the subcontractor.
In the absence of specific project procedures and specifications the review involved the consideration of good industry practice against what was actually done to coordinate the design of the main supporting structural steelwork provided by the main contractor. The assignment was terminated as the subcontractor went into administration.
