Helen Thompson

Helen is a dedicated construction and engineering law specialist with over 19 years of post-qualification experience, underpinned by two years working on major UK and EU projects as a construction manager, having studied engineering before training as a lawyer. With a career-long focus on procurement and supply chain management best practice, Helen advises clients involved in the delivery of construction, maintenance, infrastructure and engineering projects, helping them to consider procurement routes, contract structures, pricing mechanisms, risk allocation, legal policy development, and many other associated issues.

Working closely with stakeholders across a wide range of sectors, including social housing, local government and highways, utilities, process plant, rail, healthcare, and private development, Helen provides the legal know-how needed to deliver projects on time and on budget and to support clients from project inception to contract drafting and negotiation stages.

Within the social housing sector, she supports multiple housing associations on long-term construction frameworks, partnering contracts and redevelopment projects. For example, she advised two leading Registered Providers of social housing on strategic long-term planned maintenance contracts, with a combined value of more than £3bn. She also delivers bespoke training sessions for commercial and operational teams, to establish a clear understanding of contractual terms and conditions and to promote positive contract management and partnering behaviours.

With significant experience of Public Sector & Framework Procurement, she has drafted and advised on multiple NEC4-based contracts for major public sector procurements, including highways maintenance, public realm infrastructure, aviation infrastructure and decarbonisation projects.