Edward Shaw
PartnerAbout
Edward Shaw has 20 years' experience of advising on construction, engineering and infrastructure disputes. He focusses on international arbitration and has acted for contractors, sub-contractors, employers, owners and financiers in complex, high value, multi-party disputes. He has extensive experience of handling arbitrations subject to ICC, LCIA and SIAC institutional rules, as well as on an ad hoc basis. He is also familiar with adjudication, litigation, arbitration, mediation, and other types of dispute resolution.
Edward has advised on major projects in the infrastructure and transport, power and energy, water, and heavy engineering sectors. He has particular experience in working for and advising Chinese and Korean clients and has acted on disputes arising from projects in the Caribbean, the UK (involving international clients), Eastern Europe, Pakistan, Turkey, Africa and across Asia.
Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and Investigations
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
EXPERIENCE
- Acting for supplier of solar energy units based in the Far East in an ICC arbitration brought by the main contractor. The claims concern delays and defects and are valued at over USD 330 million.
- Acting for an EPC contractor in a dispute relating to a number of coal-fired power plants in Turkey. The dispute concerned the modernization of the plants to deliver increased capacity and comply with current environmental standards. The sums in dispute exceeded USD 150 million.
- Acting for a consortium of major international EPC contractors based in the Far East and Middle East in an arbitration, pursuant to the ICC rules, brought by the main subcontractor. The claims and counterclaims are valued at over USD 300 million, and the issues include claims for delay, disruption, variations, valuation issues and scope changes, as well as counterclaims. The claims also turn on complex allegations of fraud and breach of good faith.
- Acting for an EPC contractor in an ICC arbitration concerning a biomass-fueled power plant which, when finished, will be one of the largest biomass power plants in Europe. The project experienced substantial delays and the contract was terminated. The sums in dispute exceed GBP 300 million.
- Advising a state-owned Chinese EPC contractor in relation to delay, disruption and variation claims against the employer under an EPC contract for the construction of a coal-fired power station in Vietnam. The value of the claims exceeded USD 200 million.
- Acting for the owner and operator in relation to two disputes concerning its LNG terminal in Pakistan – a project of significant importance to Pakistan’s energy needs.
- Advising a Chinese subcontractor in relation to delays, disruption and additional cost associated with the design and procurement of specialist environmental protection equipment for a coal-fired power plant in Indonesia. The matters in dispute included responsibility for delays associated with the design submission, review and approval process; the subcontractor’s liability for liquidated damages; its liability for additional resource deployed by the EPC contractor to assist with the subcontractor’s design work; and its entitlement to additional payment for variations to the subcontractor’s scope of work. The claims were valued at in excess of USD 150 million.
- Acting for a South-East Asian contractor in relation to its dispute concerning the on-going project for the construction and commissioning of a power plant worth approximately USD 1.1 billion in North Africa. Issues included concurrent delay, extension of time requests, serial defects and instructed changes.
- Acting for a Turkish energy company in disputes with an EPC contractor and a National Bank arising from the financing and construction of a coal-fired power station in Turkey during the project. The disputes in question exceeded EUR 500 million.
Acting for an EPC contractor in a dispute in respect of a major PET and PTA plant in North America arising from issues including defects, potential termination, delay and variations. The dispute involved the solvency of the Owner and entitlement to additional time and money by the Contractor - the claims exceeded USD 60 million. - Acting on behalf of a UK subsidiary of a Korean conglomerate in an ICC arbitration, contrary to the interests of a German engineering company in connection with a dispute concerning serial defects and increased time and costs, arising from the construction of a complex chemical process plant in the UK. The sums in dispute exceeded EUR 45 million.
- Representing an East European state-owned entity in arbitration proceedings brought by a JV contractor arising from the contract for the on-going project for the decommissioning of a nuclear power station. The specific dispute concerned the delayed construction of a new interim spent fuel storage facility and solid waste management facilities and entitlement of the JV contractor to a Change/Contract Price adjustment.
- Acting for a shipyard in a dispute with the Owner relating to the delivery of a deep-water drill ship, with claims and counterclaims of more than USD 600 million. The highly technical dispute involved allegations of defects preventing delivery, contractual termination, and claims for extension of time on the basis of Owner prevention and delay. The Award was obtained in the shipyard’s favour. Subsequently the award was challenged, unsuccessfully, by the opponent in the High Court.
Education
- College of Law, York: Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (1998) and Legal Practice course (1999)
- University of Dundee: English/History, MA (Hons), 2(i)
Awards
- “Edward Shaw is an exceptional litigator – he is always hands on with the dispute, works seamlessly with his team and is always thinking two steps ahead in terms of the litigation and also the client’s commercial needs.” (Legal500, Construction, 2022)
- Who’s Who Legal’s 2022 Construction report ranked Edward as a Global Leader
- “Edward Shaw with DLA Piper is “one of those fantastic lawyers that gets involved in all phases of a claim and manages to create the expected output even when the dispute becomes complicated”, praise sources." (WWL: Construction - Future Leaders – Partners, 2021)
- "Ed Shaw is a very capable lawyer and provides excellent management and advice. He is easily approachable and is able to communicate complex issues in a clear and considered manner." (Legal500, Construction Contentious, 2021)
- Edward Shaw is mentioned as a key lawyer in the International Arbitration section of Legal500, 2021
- "DLA Piper’s Edward Shaw is praised by clients, one of whom describes him as "a very clear thinker and communicator with a strong understanding of the particularities that surround a construction claim". Another adds, "He has the ability to quickly understand the client’s position, advise on options and communicate succinctly in a calm manner." ("Construction - Future Leaders - Partners" chapter of WWL: Construction 2019)
- Ranked in the "Construction - Future Leaders - Partners" chapter of WWL: Construction 2019
- Legal500 has described Edward as a 'standout partner in London, and particularly easy to work with under pressure' (Legal500, Construction, 2018)
- Legal500 has described Edward Shaw as ‘bright and tenacious’ (Legal500, Construction, 2017)
Memberships And Affiliations
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb)
- Member of the Society of Construction Law (SCL)
