Karen Morean

Partner

Areas of Expertise

Karen is a Partner in our Construction team specialising in contentious construction matters. Karen has advised on disputes under all major forms of construction contracts including JCT, RIBA, NEC, FIDIC and ACA Term Partnering contracts. Karen has experience of mediation, arbitration (domestic and international), high court litigation, adjudication as well as expert determination. Karen regularly acts for employers, developers and contractors in relation to disputes as well as providing live project advice and advising on dispute avoidance options and mechanisms. Karen has a continuing and growing practice advising on insolvency matters including recently successfully challenging a CVA in the Insolvency Court.

Experience

Karen initially qualified as an Industrial Engineer and worked in industry prior to commencing her LLB. She trained at (then) Charles Russell and qualified into the construction team in 2012 where she remained until 2021 having joined the Construction, Engineering and Procurement team at Devonshires.

Publications

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

Education

King’s College London, 2009, LLB (hons)

University of the West Indies, 2002, B.Sc (hons)

Personal

Karen is the captain of several competitive ladies and mixed tennis teams at her local Windsor Lawn Tennis Club. She regularly competes in both Berkshire county tournaments as well as South East regional tournaments such as the National Premier League.

Notable Cases

Successfully challenging a CVA in the Insolvency Court including defending appeal proceedings brought by the company after the judgment ([2023] EWHC 973; [2023 EWHC 127).

Successfully enforcing a multi-million pound adjudicator’s decision in the Technology and Construction Court on behalf od a large Registered Provider. The adjudicator’s decision related to the award of damages following the contractor’s repudiation of contract. Our client made and beat a Part 36 offer thereby benefitting from the associated cost consequences ([2023] EWHC 1926).

Acting for a Registered Provider in multi-million pound proceedings in the Technology & Construction Court for damages to be incurred following serious fire-safety related defects. The case successfully settled weeks before trial.

Advising and progressing recovery of losses against third parties for a large Registered Provider in relation to its portfolio of medium and tall buildings.

Acting for various clients in numerous adjudications with experience of issues including contractual interpretation, repudiation, delay, liquidated damages , negligence and final account claims.