Stephen C Kenny

Stephen Kenny is a UK based Projects Partner who specialises in delivering complex infrastructure and government projects in the UK and globally. In doing so, Stephen guides clients in managing risk, helping clients navigate the legal, procurement and regulatory issues they face in procuring and delivering large programmes. Stephen has over twenty-five years' experience of advising government bodies, private sector providers and funders on a wide range of projects including public private partnerships (PPPs), alliancing/partnering arrangements and other complex commercial outsourcing contracts. Stephen's experience covers a range of sectors including defence, transport (including airports, air traffic control, rail), energy/environment and social infrastructure sectors. He has advised clients on projects throughout the project lifecycle: from initial project development (developing Outline Business Cases/ Commercial and Procurements Strategies), to supporting during the procurement process, to advising on operational issues/significant variations and handback arrangements. Stephen brings to his clients a detailed knowledge of deliverable and bankable risk positions, government guidance, public procurement rules and project governance issues.

Stephen qualified as a Solicitor in 1986 and in his early career advised on high value corporate finance and banking transactions in the UK and internationally. Stephen advised on a range of transactions including joint ventures, private equity deals, mergers and acquisitions and public/AIM listings.

Outside work

Stephen is a Council Member of Newman University, Birmingham (being also the Chair of its Finance & General Purposes Committee).

Experience

Stephen's experience includes:

  • Leading our team advising National Highways on the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down (Stonehenge) scheme, a nationally significant infrastructure project to deliver a 3.2 km road tunnel underneath the Stonehenge World Heritage Site, together with a new 12.8 km dual carriageway. Stephen's support included advising on the Commercial and Procurement Strategy and supporting National Highways through the Competitive Dialogue process.
  • Acting as our lead Client Partner for our work for the Ministry of Defence: Stephen has led our advice to the Ministry of Defence on a range of programmes over twenty-five years, including advising on the contractual arrangements for the Concept and Design Phases of the Dreadnought submarine programme and advising on the alliancing arrangements on the Queen Elizabeth II and Prince of Wales aircraft carrier project. Stephen has advised extensively on single source contracts governed by the Single Source Contracts Regulations 2014.
  • Advising Ministry of Defence on Project Marshall a £1.6 billion PPP for the design, installation, and delivery of a military air traffic control system in the UK, the Falkland Islands and Cyprus. Stephen advised on contractual risk positions, assisted on developing contract and procurement documents and supported the client through the Competitive Dialogue process.
  • Advising the Ministry of Defence on its Defence Marine Services – Next Generation, a third generation outsourcing for the provision of marine services in the UK's naval bases and on the Continued Procurement of Marine Services contract that was awarded to Serco in December 2022, following expiry of the Provision of Marine Services PFI project.
  • Stephen has advised on a number of significant waste treatment projects that have delivered residual waste treatment infrastructure. Stephen advised South London Waste Partnership and led the team during the Competitive Dialogue for the residual waste PPP that delivered a £295 million energy recovery facility at Beddington, London. Stephen has also advised East London Waste Authority on the procurement of its integrated waste management PFI project and has advised on operational issues. Stephen also advised Shropshire Council on their integrated waste management PFI that delivered the Battlefield Energy from Waste facility and advised on the Lincolnshire Waste to Energy PPP.
  • Advising on a significant variations and handback issues on PFI projects including advising a major government department on a variation to a serviced accommodation PFI project of a major government facility.
  • Advising a UK airport operator on a development of it facilities.
  • Advising the Government Property Agency on due diligence and structural issues on the acquisition and transfer of PFI projects.
  • Advising a leading global infrastructure fund on its secondary market purchase of primary health facilities.

Career & Recognition

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