Meet
The
Team

Kishan de Silva has broad experience in building and civil engineering works in the United Kingdom and overseas. He has advised on several major claims, including the recent dispute relating to the Wembley Stadium. He specialises in professional duties, heavy civil engineering works, hydraulic structures, offshore platforms, below ground construction generally, structural steelwork, waterproofing systems, concrete durability and epoxy resin applications in construction.

kdes@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Tristram Hambly has worked on a wide range of structural and civil engineering projects in the United Kingdom and overseas. His interests and experience include civil-engineering structures, post-tensioned concrete bridges, buildings, vibrations in buildings, subsidence, floor screeds, building envelopes and contract administration.

eth@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Howard Tucker is a Chartered Engineer with 25 years of experience in the construction industry.  Howard has worked on a broad range of projects with lead design roles on Heathrow Terminal 5 and major commercial and residential developments.  He is involved in the forensic investigation of civil and structural engineering defects; particular expertise includes structural failures, the durability of steel and concrete structures, basement structures, period buildings, heavily loaded industrial floors and pavements, drainage and flooding problems.  Howard also has a continuing interest in coastal engineering and the impact of wave action and erosion on the built environment.

Howard is regularly instructed as Expert Witness advising consulting engineers, contractors and building owners on the engineering issues in a wide range of disputes, including professional duties relating to design, materials and workmanship problems.  Experienced in liaising with solicitors and barristers and preparing CPR-compliant reports and joint statements, he has been involved in advanced technical inquiries leading to the submission of Expert evidence to the High Court in England and the Sheriff Courts in Scotland.

hjt@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Simon Murray is a Chartered Architect with 15 years of experience in the construction industry.  Simon has worked on a wide range of architectural projects in the United Kingdom and overseas. He has experience of diverse practice environments particularly in Egypt, Germany and the United States of America. Simon has directed project teams of architects and administered contracts for a variety of building types and sizes, including listed buildings, community centres, private residential buildings, retail, educational and medical facilities.

Simon balances work as a practising architect with the forensic investigation of building defects and the analysis of issues of professional practice.  Simon is regularly instructed to prepare Expert advice, including CPR-compliant reports, in various dispute resolution proceedings relating to a wide range of issues such as professional duties, boundary disputes, contract administration, planning permission, facades and building envelopes, acoustic separation, fire protection, water ingress, standards of finishes and condensation.

sem@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Richard Stevenson is a Chartered Civil and Structural Engineer with over twelve years of experience in the construction industry.  During this time, Richard has worked on a wide range of structures from large-scale civil engineering projects in the United Kingdom including Crossrail and the East London Line to complex commercial and mixed-use buildings both in the United Kingdom and overseas.

Richard has advised solicitors, insurers, owners and contractors on a variety of disputes including airports, bridges, power stations, basements, residential buildings, underground stations, museums, industrial buildings, shops, military structures and tall buildings.  Richard has acted as the Expert and prepared CPR-compliant reports for submission in court, arbitration and adjudication proceedings. 

rcs@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Owain is a Chartered Structural and Civil Engineer with over fifteen years of experience in the construction industry.  During this period he has worked for both contractors and consultants on a wide range of projects, from residential refurbishments to the construction of a £100m steelwork plant.  Owain has particular knowledge in the design of basements, swimming pools, large residential and commercial developments, industrial storage units, and wind farms.  Owain has an interest in historic buildings and has been involved in the design of structural alterations to Grade I listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments, as well as works on a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Owain has used the knowledge gained from working in both the contracting and consulting sides of the industry to advise solicitors, insurers, owners and contractors on a variety of disputes.  Owain has acted as the Expert and prepared CPR-compliant reports for submission in court, arbitration and adjudication proceedings.

Owain is a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.  Owain is a Module Leader and Honorary Lecturer at the Bartlett School of University College London, and a committee member and Chartership assessor for the Institution of Structural Engineers.

oe@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Suraj has worked on and led structural teams on a broad spectrum of civil and structural engineering projects, from architecturally driven buildings to heavy civil works.  These have included residential buildings, commercial and retail developments, concert halls and theatres, university buildings, airports, underground metro stations, major infrastructure projects, and offshore oil platforms.

Since joining the firm, Suraj has been involved in the forensic investigation of complex issues and prepared Expert reports for use in dispute resolution proceedings on a variety of matters.  His work in forensic engineering has covered residential refurbishments, failure of port pavements, leaking car parks, failure of wind turbine foundations, and high value disputes around the world concerning the design and construction of bridges, underground rail stations and airports.  Suraj has particular interests in structural dynamics, fatigue and advanced structural analysis.

sdes@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Nick Huband is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over thirty-five years of experience in building and civil engineering works in the United Kingdom. Areas of particular interest include structural timber and masonry, earth retaining structures and tree root induced subsidence issues. He has maintained over many years a close interest in historic and vernacular materials and methods of construction and has advised on works to a number of historic buildings including Grade 1 listed buildings in the UK and a medieval bridge in Azerbaijan.

Nick has prepared Expert opinions on a wide spectrum of issues for use in dispute resolution proceedings.  He has advised on a variety of matters including flood damage, historic and modern cladding systems, collapses of a number of structures, subsidence and heave problems, and waterproofing failures in basements and car parks.  Nick has also advised on a number of more esoteric issues including the sequence of events of a WW2 aerial bomb attack on an industrial building and damage to buildings as a result of longwall mining subsidence.  Nick has given Expert evidence in Court on many occasions.

njh@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Ioannis is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over 10 years experience in the construction industry.  Ioannis has worked for both contractors and consultants on a wide variety of large geotechnical engineering projects in the transportation and maritime sectors within the United Kingdom and overseas, including countries of high seismicity, with lead roles in the design of underground stations, highway extensions, port terminals and railway embankments. Ioannis’ experience covers the design and construction of heavy civil engineering works and ground engineering applications, including ground investigation, earthworks, shallow and deep foundations, ground improvement, earth retaining structures, embankments and slopes.

Ioannis has used the knowledge he has gained working in both the contracting and consulting sides of the industry to advise solicitors, insurers, owners and contractors on a variety of disputes.  Ioannis has acted as the Expert and prepared CPR-compliant reports for submission in court, arbitration and adjudication proceedings.

ib@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Will has led structural design projects across a broad range of sectors, including residential, commercial and industrial buildings. He has taken on engineering roles on construction sites, design offices and laboratories both in the United Kingdom and overseas.

Will’s primary area of expertise is in building design, although in addition to this he has experience in structural surveying, physical modelling investigations and post-disaster redevelopment strategy. Since joining the firm Will has been involved in the forensic investigation of a variety of structures, including post-tensioned reinforced concrete slabs, masonry walls, and steel and timber balustrades.

wld@williamjmarshall.co.uk

David Tomlinson is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over 35 years experience in the construction and building material industries.  He has broad experience of civil engineering and building works in the United Kingdom and overseas, including roads, tunnels, mini-hydroelectric schemes, industrial, commercial and residential buildings.

He has extensive experience of investigations of construction problems and preparation of reports for litigation and other forms of dispute resolution, and has been appointed by clients to act as an expert.  His particular interests include: heavy civil engineering works, industrial floor slabs, building envelopes, basement construction, waterproofing systems, building subsidence, drainage, failure of ground improvement works, anti-vibration bearings and analysis of delay and disruption claims.

dt@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Stuart is a Chartered Structural Engineer with over ten years of experience in the construction industry.  During this period, he has worked on a broad variety of projects across a number of sectors, including residential, commercial and educational developments, and at listed churches and galleries.  Stuart’s work has ranged from the design of new steel and concrete framed buildings, to the refurbishment of a number of highly-significant historic buildings.

Since joining the firm Stuart has been involved in a variety of forensic investigations including defects in the works of a major infrastructure project, settlement issues to low-rise properties, and defects in cladding systems.

smh@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Juliette Sacher is a Chartered Architect with over twenty years experience in the construction industry.  During this time she has been involved in a wide range of project types in the education, arts, and commercial office sectors.  Juliette has experience of different forms of procurement and has worked on new-build schemes, refurbishment projects within listed buildings, and on new secondary schools and university buildings.  She has led project teams at all stages of design and delivery in both the UK and France.

Since joining the practice Juliette has carried out a variety of investigations relating to construction disputes including planning breaches, issues of compliance with professional duties and of design, specification and workmanship defects in roofs and cladding.

jhes@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Ana Aquino is a Chartered Civil Engineer with experience in the construction industry, in both the United Kingdom and Portugal.  Ana has worked with various structural materials and her experience includes seismic analysis and foundation design of buildings and bridges, investigative work on existing structures, design of post-tensioned concrete and temporary works design. Ana’s areas of particular interest include heritage and listed buildings.

Since joining the firm, Ana has been involved in structural design reviews and appraisals of concrete and steel structures, analysis of defects and excessive movements in existing and listed buildings, and analysing the nature, extent and causes of cracking in reinforced concrete structures.

aaq@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Frances Forward has working experience of many types and sizes of building project, acting as designer, contract administrator, project manager, site architect and management contractor, both in the UK and Germany.  She has particularly detailed knowledge of off-site fabrication techniques, using a range of timber and precast concrete technologies to achieve very low energy design and construction to Passivhaus standard.

Frances has investigated a number of technical issues across a wide range of building types and construction methods, covering diverse issues including water ingress, fire protection, thermal performance and air quality.  She has also given Expert opinion on matters of architects’ performance of their professional services, including in relation to planning applications, contract administration and conduct complaints raised with the Architect’s Registration Board.

Frances is a current member of the RIBA President’s Advisory Committee on Dispute Resolution and between 2000-2005 was an architect member of the ICE’s NEC Drafting Panel.  Since 1997 she has been a visiting lecturer and examiner in professional practice in architecture at various universities including University College London, Portsmouth, Cardiff, Oxford and Canterbury as well as a dissertation supervisor at Kings College London.  Frances has also published ‘An Architect’s Guide to NEC 4’ and ‘NEC3 Compared and Contrasted’.

fjf@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Henry Stone is a Chartered Structural Engineer with experience across a broad range of sectors, but a focus on architecturally led design.  His most recognised design work has been a series of high-end, award-winning, new-build religious buildings.  Henry’s experience also includes façade retention, complex refurbishments of multi-storey buildings, and the design of a number of basements in constrained Central London sites as well as domestic refurbishments, school extensions, and a variety of sculptures.

Since joining the firm Henry has carried out forensic investigations on a range of concrete structures including bridges, concrete frames, defective transfer slabs, breakwaters and retaining walls.

hws@williamjmarshall.co.uk

David Wilson is our Senior Technician responsible for the Practice’s drawing office and for the production of architectural, civil and structural working drawings, reports and presentations. He has assisted in the design and development of new works and remedial schemes for steel, timber, masonry and concrete structures, bridges, historical buildings, earth and water retaining structures.

David specialises in producing presentation drawings, technical illustrations and static or working models to explain complicated components, structures or concepts to non-technical parties. His work in this area has received Judicial commendation. He has also produced the illustrations for papers published in technical journals.

David has acted as the Contract Administrator’s representative on site, co-ordinating/checking work and liaising with building facilities management, contractors and testing houses.

David is experienced in the forensic analysis of photographs, videos, documents, drawings and in the surveying of building defects including tree root related subsidence issues.

Mark Christmas joined the Practice as a scientist in 2006 and has worked on a range of structural and civil engineering projects in the United Kingdom and overseas. He is experienced in the surveying of building defects and on site testing. His interests and experience include tree-root related subsidence, water penetration through flat and green roofs, defects in surface coatings, deterioration of reinforced concrete marine structures, defects in sub-surface drainage systems, defects in concrete structures, defects in masonry and steel framed buildings, document control processes and contract administration.

Mark produces working drawings, report and presentation illustrations and has been responsible for the production of civil working drawings for large projects including civil engineering drainage and paving schemes for major shopping centres and PFI hospitals.

Matthew’s experience encompasses large civil engineering projects such as bridges, retaining structures and structures associated with water treatment and sewage works as well as smaller scale commercial and residential developments. He has a keen interest in the forensic investigation of building failures and defects and has advised on a wide range of matters covering design, materials and workmanship problems.

Matthew has prepared Expert opinions for use in legal or arbitration proceedings and reports or presentations for use in adjudications and mediations. In addition to a continuing interest in heavy civil engineering works, Matthew has also developed an expertise in building technology and particularly matters relating to serviceability, weathertightness and tolerances.

mjd@williamjmarshall.co.uk

Richard Barter has worked on a wide range of structural and civil engineering projects in the United Kingdom and overseas. His interests and experience include contract administration, airfield and blast resistant construction, the external envelopes of buildings (including roofs, glazing, curtain walling and masonry) and reinforced concrete. He has handled many complex disputes.

Alex Fleming has some 40 years experience of designing and detailing many different building types and specifying their construction, including responsibilities for directing large and small teams of architects and technicians. He has overseen the establishment of studios abroad and in the United Kingdom, negotiated permissions and approvals, and administered contracts ranging from domestic alterations to major town centre redevelopments. Alongside his keen interest in design and construction, he has been instructed as an independent Expert to assist with complex disputes resolved in mediations, arbitrations, and English, Scottish, European and Middle Eastern Courts.

Robin Blois-Brooke has over forty years’ experience in the construction industry in the United Kingdom and abroad on projects ranging from commercial and residential developments to large infrastructure schemes, with particular emphasis on geotechnics, ground treatment, foundations and structures, together with roofing, glazing, curtain walling and cladding.

Robin has acted as an Expert in a wide range of disputes, dealing with issues that have included design and workmanship defects, professional negligence, delay and disruption claims. He has given evidence and has been subjected to cross examination on several occasions in the Technology & Construction Court, in the Court of Session, and at Arbitrations.

Robin has been appointed as the sole Arbitrator in over twenty disputes involving various aspects of building and civil engineering, almost all of which have led to published Awards. He has also acted as a party-appointed Arbitrator and as the Chairman of the Tribunal in DIAC arbitrations.

Robin has written and contributed to Reports on soils, fenestration and cladding published by the Building Research Establishment, CWCT and CIRIA.

Nick Buenfeld is Professor of Concrete Structures at Imperial College London (since 2000) and was Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from 2011 to 2021.

His expertise concerns the durability and long-term performance of concrete and concrete structures and his research is aimed at better understanding deterioration processes, developing methods for assessing durability and monitoring deterioration, improving concrete specifications and repair methods, and predicting the service life of concrete structures.

Nick has acted as an expert witness in disputes involving concrete and has provided guidance to governments and to the designers and constructors of a wide range of major infrastructure projects. He has a particular interest in service life prediction and has been a consultant on major tunnel, bridge, offshore platform, maritime and building projects in the United Kingdom, United States, Hong Kong, Norway, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Libya.