Husna Patel
Construction and Engineering Consultant - Property
"I am a specialist construction, engineering and energy lawyer with particular experience in transactional and advisory work. I advise clients throughout the full project lifecycle, from inception to completion and beyond, delivering strategic, commercially focussed guidance to help minimise risk and achieve successful outcomes.”
I am a specialist construction lawyer with over 18 years of experience in advising on front-end construction, engineering and energy projects.
I provide strategic legal support on transactional matters as well as dispute prevention and resolution both domestically and internationally.
I am highly experienced at advising on the full suite of construction documentation, including standard forms of contracts and sub-contracts such as NEC, JCT, ICE, GC/Works, ACE, and FIDIC; and bespoke agreements, professional appointments, collateral warranties, framework agreements, letters of intent and pre-construction services agreements, guarantees and bonds, alliance agreements; joint venture agreements, and other associated documentation as well as input in development and funding agreements;
I have extensive experience advising on projects across a range of sectors, including data centres, power and process, nuclear decommissioning, healthcare, retail, office, education, sports facilities, and residential.
I also assist clients with contract management and dispute resolution, including litigation, adjudication, arbitration and mediation.
Having worked in private practice for international, national, and regional firms, as well as in-house, I can deliver perceptive, practical, clear, and concise advice.
- Advised multiple national and international developer clients concerning the design and development of various data centres across the globe, i.e. in Japan, India, Amsterdam, Paris, Netherlands, UK, etc.
- Acted as interim legal counsel for Schneider Electric UK and for Siemens Plc Energy Management Division, advising on various national and international engineering and energy projects.
- Provided strategic and legal risk management advice for the Group Board of a national contractor relating to a £150 million specialist laboratory project, including risk associated with intellectual property and confidentiality agreements.
- Prepared the framework agreements and call-off contracts for a series of wind farm projects for the European arm of a large US energy technology company.
- Instructed on a £60m electricity distribution project in a joint venture with an overseas company, drafting non-disclosure agreements and consultancy agreements.
- Acted for Ask Property Developments Limited on various multi-million-pound development projects, including the remediation, public realm and subsequent commercial development of a site in Central Manchester with a development value of £100m.
- Acted for a Joint Venture developer to draft and negotiate the full suite of construction documentation concerning the procurement and construction of a Police Headquarters building.
- Acted for Russell Construction to negotiate the building contract and warranties and prepare sub-contracts, stepping down the provisions of the building contract in respect of luxury student accommodation of the Vita Student Living project in Liverpool.
- Acted for a PFI Joint Venture developer advising on all the construction and procurement stages of each phase of the development at Townside Fields Bury, which consisted of Bury Primary Care Centre Trust, offices for council staff and a multi-storey car park.
- Acted for Birse Civil Limited on a £176m PPP scheme relating to the motorway extension of Carlisle Northern Development Route.
- Acted on behalf of a Derby Council in respect of the development of a £30m Multi Sports Arena.
- Advised a US firm of consultants on their risks and exposure in respect of a multi-million-pound project in Saudi Arabia.
- Worked with the client’s accountants to provide strategic advice concerning the structure of a multi-million-pound retail park development where the entire structure had to be changed for tax purposes.
- Prepared the construction-related tender documentation for the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) concerning the general enhancement, refurbishment and construction of Senate House.
- Acted for a JV Company, providing strategic advice on the structure of the proposed deal and highlighting the impact of the Public Procurement Regulations before entering into a joint venture with Oldham Borough Council under a PFI initiative.
- Regularly undertake due diligence reviews of construction documentation and report on risk issues when acting for mainstream banks, such as NatWest, Lloyds, and Handelsbanken, as well as mezzanine funders, including Close Brothers and Flourish Capital.
- Drafting and negotiating a construction package of documents for a high net worth client in respect of the development of his bespoke £ 4 million private residence.
- Provided strategic advice to Sedburgh School and drafted all the appropriate construction-related documentation following the administration of their contractor.
- Instructed by Holker Estates to successfully terminate the appointment of a contractor and re-appointing a new contractor.
- Advised a Plc Company on several multi-million-pound disputes arising from a potential design defect and also provided strategic-level advice to limit the business’ exposure to further claims and adverse publicity.
- Instructed by a Plc contractor to defend a multi-million-pound claim for defective and negligent mechanical works at a specialist hospital.
- Acted for a leading education institute in a £20m dispute against its maintenance and facilities contractor.
- Provided strategic advice to a Local Authority in respect of a potential claim against a Contractor for defective design and workmanship of a Primary Care Trust and Community Centre built under the PFI scheme.
- Instructed to act for a management company in respect of defective roofing works carried out by a Contractor, dealing with statutory demand notices, pre-action protocol and expert issues.
- Acted for a charity organisation to successfully bring a £10m action against a Local Authority for breaches in procurement processes relating to failures to comply with Public Procurement Regulations.
More about me
Proudest moment
Giving birth to my children
Favourite quote
“Live life as though everything is rigged in your favour”
Interests
Travelling, spending time with family, archery
Joined Higgs
2025
Latest insights
Meet the team
Jen Hicks-Jones
Partner and Head of Property
Joe Foley
Principal Associate - Commercial Property
Jonathan Moss
Senior Associate - Commercial Litigation
Aaron Bahra
Paralegal - Commercial Property
Sara Shepherd
Professional Support Lawyer - Commercial Property
Latoyah Thompson
Associate - Commercial Property
Adeela Ali
Associate - Commercial Property
Natasha Bhardwaj
Senior Associate - Commercial Property
Katie Williams
Principal Associate - Commercial Property
Zahra Farooq
Senior Associate - Commercial Property
Sarah Bradford
Legal Director - Commercial Property
Joe Hyland
Legal Assistant - Commercial Property
Khaleel Salman
Senior Associate - Commercial Property
Natalie Nasir
Senior Associate - Commercial Property
Aman Sahota-Dhatt
Legal Director - Commercial Property
Adele Grove
Paralegal - Commercial Property
Maria Nicol
Legal Director - Commercial Property
Toni Quinney
Associate - Commercial Property