Mayer Brown featured in The Lawyer's Top 20 Cases of 2024

London – Mayer Brown has been featured in the 2024 edition of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases for its representation of UK-based construction company Shepherd in a landmark construction and cladding dispute worth almost £70m.

Shepherd v Kingspan & Ors is due to start trial on the 7 October 2024 for 11 weeks in the High Court (Technology and Construction Court). The case is being led by Mayer Brown partners James Morris and Michael Regan.

Shepherd was engaged as the main contractor for the Northern Quarter mixed-use development in Colindale, London. Its claims centre around numerous issues with the construction of the external wall systems of the buildings, particularly the use of combustible insulation within those external wall systems which are alleged to be non-compliant with building regulations. The 12-party case will be one of the first to consider the new cause of action against cladding manufacturers under s149 of the Building Safety Act and will have a large effect on the legal principles surrounding fire safety issues.

The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases considers proceedings set to be heard in court during 2024, recognising those with the most significant sums in dispute as well as disputes involving high profile parties or issues.

Counsel instructed on the case are Sean Brannigan KC and Luke Wygas (4 Pump Court) and Sarah Williams and Thomas Saunders (Keating Chambers).