Justin Mendelle

Senior Partner, Head of Construction and Mediator
020 7405 4600
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Sharpe Pritchard are the dependable authority on construction law, who take an approachable, understandable and unpatronizing approach to communicating with their clients. They understand my business and ensure that their advice is relatable to my daily challenges.

Head of Projects Delivery, Russell Group University

I have always found lawyers to be very good at quoting to me “notwithstanding”, “reserving rights”, and generally leaving me more confused than when I originally sought their advice. Justin has this very clever way of breaking down and explaining the issue infront of you and it is all in modern day plain English – if I can understand it, then we all can. Most of all Justin is very approachable, easy to speak to and never fails to return a call.

David Rose, Managing Director

Sharpe Pritchard provided an exceptionally professional service. Requests from us were responded to incredibly promptly and they could be relied upon to be there when we needed them.
The solicitors possessed excellent practical knowledge and experience of the subject and were comfortably able to advise on more diverse aspects when issues arose.

Executive Director of Commercial Services

Our trusted source – we wouldn’t go anywhere else

Client

Justin Mendelle is an exceptional lawyer with a razor sharp brain.

Client

“Great understanding of the client’s drivers”
“An excellent sounding board for ideas and approaches to issues”
“Flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances”
“Prepared to go the extra mile”
“Very approachable”
“Providing sound practical advice”
“Measured and organised in approach”

Assistant Director – The Economy Department

“a first-class negotiator.”
“extremely knowledgeable and gives excellent presentations at board level”
“Construction head Justin Mendelle leads the team of ‘superb, proactive problem solvers’”

Legal 500

Justin has “a strong public sector practice and advises clients on both contentious and non-contentious matters.”
“gives strong all-round advice, has a clear strategic view of the issues and is tactically sound in his approach.”
“… is able to break down complex legal issues into a jargon-free easy to understand way”
“Justin Mendelle is well placed to advise on both contentious and non-contentious work”

Chambers and Partners

He is acknowledged as a “Leader in the Field” by Chambers UK which says he is “admired by sources for his impressive commercial awareness.” It quotes his clients who say that he is “unflappable and very thorough, and has the ability to quickly grasp the issues at hand”, and notes “strong all-round advice” together with his “clear strategic view of the issues”.

Client

Practice areas:

Sector experience:

Having trained and taught as an economist before qualifying as a lawyer in 2003, Justin brings a range of skills and knowledge to his role as mediator.

Justin’s areas of expertise are construction, procurement, and disputes. He has guided numerous clients through all manner of dispute processes including mediations, arbitrations, expert determinations and litigation, and is a recognised adjudication specialist.

This experience has made him all too aware of the difficulties and frustrations often encountered by clients during these processes.

Justin brings his collaborative, pragmatic approach to his mediation practice, taking the time to understand the parties’ aims and working to achieve their objectives.

Full Profile

Justin trained and taught as an economist before qualifying as a lawyer. He brings a range of skills and expertise to his role as a trusted adviser. His areas of expertise are construction, procurement and disputes.

Justin advises on all aspects of construction law, from major infrastructure and development projects to town centre regenerations. He also advises on all manner of construction disputes, is a recognised adjudication specialist, and is regularly engaged in mediations, arbitrations, expert determinations and litigation.

Justin also advises on procurement law and has a detailed and practical knowledge and understanding of all EU procurement routes. He is enormously experienced in delivering projects through competitive dialogue, the competitive procedure with negotiation and the restricted procedure. He is not only fully conversant with the relevant rules and practices, but is very well versed in market positions and understands how to get projects delivered.

The key word is collaborative. Justin takes the time to fully and properly understand what his client is trying to achieve and the challenges they face in doing so. He then takes a pragmatic and open-minded approach to helping them achieve their objectives. He aims to become a member of their team, someone who they not only trust, but really want to work with.

Justin works with central Government, local authorities, higher education institutions, utilities, NHS trusts, private companies, consultants and charities on a wide variety of construction and procurement projects. The work ranges from strategic advice on procurement routes to detailed negotiation of complex building contracts. He regularly leads procurements, where his role can extend to both evaluation and moderation of detailed technical submissions. He frequently briefs senior members of organisations at board level on sensitive and challenging issues. He is also regularly involved in advising on and resolving disputes, ranging from straightforward ‘smash and grab’ adjudications to highly complex contractual arguments on disputes that run into the hundreds of millions of pounds. The scope of his practice includes JCT, NEC, PPC, ICE, GC/Works and all manner of bespoke PPP/PFI contracts and project agreements.

Memberships

The Society of Construction Law
The Technology and Construction Solicitors Association (TeCSA)
The Procurement Lawyers Association
Member of team that was Highly Commended for Boutique Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2019 for expertise in Public Law

Case highlights

Non-Contentious

  • Justin is currently advising central Government on a high profile, high value capital works project. He is engaged to advise on the key strategic challenges, the construction procurement route and the wider legal obligations.
  •  Better Queensway – lead partner on a competitive dialogue procurement for a joint venture partner for Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. This is the Council’s most significant and largest ever regeneration project. Justin led the team that advised on the 10-month procurement process that successfully procured a joint venture partnership to deliver the regeneration of the Queensway estate. The project has an anticipated capital spend of £500 million, will involve major highways works, the demolition and rebuilding of 4 tower blocks, community and civic spaces and the re-housing of large numbers of existing tenants. The project stands out from other regeneration schemes because of the sheer scale of the transformation, the true long-term partnership approach and the focus on residents and the provision of affordable housing.
  • Asset Development Joint Venture Procurement. Justin was the lead partner on a competitive dialogue procurement for a joint venture partner for a major Council, for projects with a gross development value in excess of £1bn. Justin led the team that advised on the 12-month procurement process that successfully procured a joint venture partnership to deliver multiple schemes across the Council, including a major town centre regeneration project. This flagship project has an anticipated capital spend of £350 million, will involve green infrastructure and highways works, the design and construction of a mixed use scheme, with private and affordable housing, community and civic spaces, including food and beverage and a cinema.

Contentious

  • Justin acted for a London local authority in respect of a serious health and safety breach by the contractor. The Council sought an immediate termination of the contract, whilst the contractor disputed the employer’s right to do so. The matter proceeded to adjudication, where the issues were finely balanced between arguments about proportionality and literal contract interpretation. Our arguments prevailed and the contract was successfully terminated.
  • Acting for a public sector client in respect of a cladding and mullions claim on 3 tower blocks in West London. The Council’s position was that the contractor’s design and workmanship were both defective, resulting in the need for major replacement works. The contractor denied responsibility. The case involved complex issues of law and fact, requiring detailed legal analysis and expert reports. There were also jurisdictional issues regarding the appointment of the adjudicator. All of the contractor’s arguments were defeated, with the result that the Council did not have to pay for any of the remedial work. 
  • Regularly acting for referring and responding parties in ‘smash and grab’ adjudications, extension of time claims and loss and expense claims under all forms of contract, with a focus on JCT and NEC.
  • Success rate of over 90% in adjudications, delivered through stand-alone unit known as SP Adjudication.