Adam Mathewson

Partner

Areas of Expertise

Adam acts for all groups including developers, housing associations, public bodies, contractors, sub-contractors and construction professionals.

Adam specialises in construction dispute resolution representing parties in adjudication, mediation, arbitration, expert determination and litigation.

Experience

Prior to Devonshires, Adam worked for a local authority as a Housing Officer and Housing Management Officer, where he advised clients who required housing options and/or were homeless, or at risk of homelessness. He has substantial experience of working with a number of RSLs and Local Government Departments. He also made applications to court and regularly attended courts with clients.

Adam joined Devonshires as a paralegal in the Construction and Engineering Department in 2016 and completed his training contract at Devonshires and qualified as a solicitor in April 2021.

Publications

Adam contributes to our Construction Law Brief and has contributed to Devonshires’ construction law articles.

Adam is a joint author of the Isurv guidance note on the professional conduct of expert witnesses.

Education

Adam completed the LPC in 2019 achieving a Distinction. In 2016, Adam was called to the Bar (in 2016) achieving an Outstanding grade and the highest mark in the Chancery unit. Adam graduated with First Class Honours and first in his year with an LLB (Hons) Law from the University of Portsmouth.

Personal

Adam enjoys all sports and was a keen amateur footballer before hanging up his boots. He is also an experienced snowboarder and has spent two winter seasons in France and one in the United States.

Awards

Adam won mooting, advocacy and academic awards whilst at University and was awarded scholarships to study the Bar Professional Training Course at the University of Law, London.

Professional Memberships

Adam is a member of the Society of Construction Law and the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.

Notable Cases

Acted on a multi-million pound dispute in relation to a ground collapse.

Advised on and is acting on a number of PFI projects, including multi-million pound disputes in relation to latent defects and claims for deductions.

Acted on the following reported cases Metropolitan Housing Trust Ltd v RMC FH Co Ltd [2017] EWHC 2609 (Ch);
Lea Valley Developments Ltd v Derbyshire [2017] EWHC 1243 (TCC); and Lea Valley Developments Ltd v Derbyshire [2017] EWHC 1353 (TCC).

Currently acting for numerous building owners across the United Kingdom in connection with the design and construction of external wall systems and fire safety defects.

Successfully defending an adjudication on behalf of a housing association in relation to a claim by a contractor in relation to the valuation of variations and the assessment of extensions of time and loss and expense under a JCT Design and Build Contract 2011.

Acted for a sub-contractor on two adjudications in relation to two landmark high-rise buildings in central London.

Acted for a defendant housing association in High Court proceedings in relation to claims for extensions of time and loss and expense and the repayment of liquidated damages.

Client Testimonials

“Matthew Cocklin and Adam Mathewson have worked incredibly effectively to tight deadlines producing work of an outstanding standard.”

Adam’s Insights

1 Apr 2025 • Webinar Online

Back to Basics: Payment in Construction Contracts

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2 Aug 2023 • Article

The Technology and Construction Court enforces, what was in reality, a “vanilla ‘final account’” adjudicator’s decision

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