Laura Crowley

Instruct Laura

To instruct Laura please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7842 5555 or email [email protected].

Laura has a commercial practice, encompassing both litigation and international arbitration. She has acted in a wide variety of disputes, but has particular experience in construction and engineering disputes, (including offshore and energy disputes), civil fraud proceedings, insurance disputes and professional negligence claims.

Laura has been ranked in the Legal 500 for construction disputes for a number of years, where she has been described as “a first-class junior, bringing all the skills and dedication to the team that anyone could want,” and is recommended, amongst other things, for her “prodigious work ethic and brilliant legal mind” and for being “extremely hardworking, and completely reliable, always producing quality documents and advice on time”. She acts in complex, high-value litigation, both as sole counsel and as junior counsel in large proceedings. She has conduct of trials and applications and carries out a full range of drafting and advisory work. As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a TECBAR-accredited arbitrator and adjudicator, Laura is well-placed both to represent parties and accept appointments by parties in these types of proceedings. She also represents parties in mediations.

Recommendations

Laura has been recommended for construction law in the Legal 500 for a number of years. Comments include:

‘A first-class junior, bringing all the skills and dedication to the team that anyone could want’
‘Prodigious work ethic and brilliant legal mind’
‘Extremely hardworking, and completely reliable, always producing quality documents and advice on time’
‘Recommended for her impressive knowledge of construction law’
‘Diligent and concise, and works well with leading counsel’.

Commercial Litigation

Laura has acted as sole or junior counsel in a wide range of commercial disputes for a range of clients, including banks, major insurance companies and brokers, and IT systems providers. Her experience includes appeals against arbitration awards and applications for injunctive relief. As part of her commercial practice, Laura has acted in a number of substantial civil fraud disputes in various sectors.

Featured Commercial Litigation cases

Instructed as junior counsel in civil fraud proceedings arising out a joint venture agreement for the construction of a German property development;

Instructed as junior counsel by a major insurance broker in a claim for losses arising out of fraudulent schemes orchestrated by his employee (included applications for freezing and search orders).

Instructed as junior counsel for the Respondent ship broking company in a Court of Appeal hearing relating to significant legal issues concerning claims for dishonest assistance arising out of a multi-million pound fraud claim;

Instructed as a junior counsel in a high-value fraud claim arising out of the purchase of a scrap metal business.

Instructed as junior counsel for a defendant to proceedings arising out of a fire at a well-known London restaurant.

Instructed as junior counsel for a large manufacturer in relation to a significant claim for losses arising out of the failure of a sprinkler system at a factory.

Instructed by a high street bank in relation to disputes by arising out of sales of interest rate hedging products (including claims within the FCA scheme).

Instructed as junior counsel in relation to the successful appeal of a series of FOSFA arbitration awards arising from pursuant to ss.67 to 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Instructed by a substantial IT systems and services provider in relation to a dispute with one of its contractors.

Instructed as junior counsel for a US cosmetics manufacturer and exporter in relation to proceedings against a distributor, involving issues concerning jurisdiction, termination and notice period.

Instructed as junior counsel for a company in proceedings against an IT consultancy firm;

Advising an IT systems and service provider in relation to contractual issues arising from a supply agreement.

Acting for a company business support services in contractual disputes with a company delivering government-funded employment and skills services.

Advising a supplier of accommodation and service vessels for the offshore industry in relation to contractual issues arising from negotiations governed by an exclusivity agreement

Advising the Office of Rail Regulation in relation to track access options and agreements and the determination of appeals to the ORR brought by Network Rail and train operators pursuant to the Network Code.

Representing a meat importer in proceedings arising out of a contract with a Hungarian meat supplier.

Construction, Engineering and Energy

Laura has been recommended in the Legal 500 for a number of years as a leading junior for construction disputes. She has experience in a wide range of construction litigation, arbitration and adjudication proceedings, both as sole counsel and as part of a team. Laura has been instructed by employers, contractors and sub-contractors in domestic and international disputes, both onshore and offshore, involving a variety of complex technical and legal issues. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, has an MSc in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution at King’s College London and is a TECBAR-accredited adjudicator and arbitrator.

Featured Construction, Engineering and Energy cases

Instructed as junior counsel by property development companies in separate sets of proceedings against a well-known civil engineering company in relation to two large, luxury London developments.

Instructed as junior counsel for a large contractor in relation to ICC arbitration proceedings arising out a $2 billion construction project in Qatar.

Instructed in relation to ICC arbitration proceedings arising out of the construction of a landmark building in Saudi Arabia.

Instructed as a junior counsel by a leading firm of geotechnical specialists in a dispute concerning the construction of a port.

Instructed as junior counsel for a construction company in proceedings relating to alleged breaches of an EPC contract relating to wellhead platforms.

Instructed as junior counsel by a professional services firm in relation to TCC proceedings arising out of allegedly defective flood modelling in respect of a large development site.

Instructed as junior counsel by the Treasury Solicitor in TCC proceedings arising out of defective motorway design and traffic modelling work.

Instructed as junior counsel for the employer in a dispute arising out of a drill for oil off the coast of Tunisia.

Instructed as junior counsel for a construction company in proceedings relating to alleged breaches of an EPC contract relating to wellhead platforms.

Instructed as junior counsel for a major utilities provider in adjudication proceedings relating to an ongoing commercial contract.

Instructed by a water authority in relation to proceedings against a contractor.

Instructed as junior counsel for a party in a series of high-value adjudications arising out of BSF projects.

Instructed by an architectural firm in substantial adjudication proceedings relating to a luxury development in Manchester.

Acting for a party in proceedings brought against a contractor and architects arising out of the flood of a newly-refurbished property.

Acting for a sub-contractor in relation to a claim against a contractor arising out of building works undertaken at a London hospital.

Instructed as a junior counsel in the preparation of LCIA arbitration proceedings concerning the construction of one of the world’s largest semi-submersible drilling rigs.

Instructed as junior counsel by a local authority in relation to proceedings arising out of the construction of a spa.

Insurance

Laura has been involved in a wide range of insurance disputes and has frequently been instructed by leading insurers and insured parties in relation to issues relating to coverage and also in cases where the quantum of settlement is in dispute (including the quantification of business interruption losses). She also regularly acts for insurers in subrogated claims against third parties.

Featured Insurance cases

Advising in relation to Hong Kong arbitration proceedings concerning an insurance coverage dispute.

Advising in relation to coverage issues relating to a marine insurance policy.

Acting for an insurer in proceedings concerning breaches of the duty of utmost good faith in relation to an income protection policy.

Advising an insurer in relation to indemnity issues concerning a highway inspection agency’s claim under a public liability policy.

Acting for an insurer in arbitration proceedings concerning the quantum of a business interruption claim consequent on property damage caused by flooding.

Advising an insurer on issues relating to the scope of notification provisions under a product liability policy;

Acting regularly in property insurance cases: in particular, tree root and other subsidence claims; flood damage; storm damage; fire damage.

Professional Negligence

Laura acts on a regular basis in professional negligence claims involving construction professionals, such as architects, project managers, surveyors and engineers of various disciplines, in claims involving allegations such as negligent design, advice in relation to contract formation, certification and project management.

Featured Professional Negligence cases

Instructed as a junior counsel by a leading firm of geotechnical specialists in a dispute concerning the construction of a port.

Instructed as junior counsel by a professional services firm in relation to TCC proceedings arising out of allegedly defective flood modelling in respect of a sizeable development site.

Instructed as junior counsel by the Treasury Solicitor in TCC proceedings arising out of defective motorway design and traffic modelling work.

Acting for architects in various proceedings arising out of certification of building works.

Acting in various proceedings against surveyors for alleged negligent property valuations.

Advising a party wall surveyor in proceedings against him.

Instructed in TCC proceedings against a firm of private building inspectors.

Acting for a firm of engineers in a claim relating to foundation design.

Acting for a firm of engineers in proceedings relating to paving design for a local authority.

Other Professional Negligence experience

Laura has also experience of a wide range of cases involving allegations of negligence against other professionals, including insurance brokers, solicitors, barristers, accountants and estate agents.

Featured Other Professional Negligence experience cases

Instructed by an Austrian bank in Commercial Court proceedings arising out of negligence on the part of its insurance brokers.

Instructed by a firm of auditors in relation to arbitration proceedings brought against them in Singapore.

Instructed by an accountancy firm in relation to proceedings brought against them arising out of tax advice given to a client.

Instructed in relation to a number of claims brought against various firms of solicitors arising out of their handling of miners’ VWF compensation claims.

Acting for solicitors in proceedings against them for negligence and breach of fiduciary duty in the payment of settlement monies.

Acting in proceedings for solicitors in claims arising from conveyancing advice.

Advising solicitors in relation to potential proceedings against a barrister arising out of settlement of a dispute at court.

Acting for a firm of estate agents in proceedings relating to alleged negligence in property letting.

Acting for a firm of insurance brokers in proceedings against them.

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Events

SCL event: Mock appeal of an IT dispute – Thursday 15 October 2015, London

Host - Lee Gluyas, Partner, Nabarro LLP Chairman - Simon Henderson, 4 Pump Court Judge - Jeremy Storey KC, 4...