Dominic Richardson

A leading projects lawyer, who advises government and private sector clients on major projects in the UK and internationally.

Dominic has had a key role on a number of transport, energy and social infrastructure Projects, including advice on the negotiation of long term maintenance and lifecycle agreements, arrangements with funders including reserving mechanisms for long term maintenance and the pass down of liability and performance mechanisms in long-term project contracts. Dominic is listed as a 'Next Generation Partner' in Legal 500 2024 in the Energy, Project Finance & PFI and Transport categories, and is also listed in the Rail, Infrastructure and Project Finance and Development categories.

Highlights include advising:

  • Brent Cross Thameslink: advising the London Borough of Barnet on the appointment of an implementation partner for the delivery of a new Thameslink Station on the Midland Main Line. Supported all stages of a competition run using a TfL Framework including preparation of the ITN and form of contract documents, hosting of Market Engagement activities, support with bidder clarifications, leading Moderation activities, preparation of notifications to bidders, management of potential challenges and negotiation of the final form of contract, including supporting activities to ensure the transfer of staff, assets, IP and data from an incumbent provider
  • Successor /Dreadnought Submarine Programme: advising MoD on contracts relating to the delivery of long lead items under a contract with industry partners
  • Advising MoD on elements of the Continued Provision of Marine Services contract that was awarded to Serco in December 2022;
  • Advising MoD on other procurements and renegotiations relating to the long term provision of Marine Assets;
  • Advising a government department on major complex procurement including a trials phase procurement to enable the testing and evaluation element of the main procurement.
  • Advising a Procuring Authority on all stages of the procurement of contractor for the construction of a new build railway station.

Advising developers on arrangements for the establishment of new Rail Freight Facilities forming part of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects ("NSIPs") at Northampton Gateway and East Midlands Gateway, including the provision of support on Operations Agreements, Track Access Arrangements & rail connections.

The Sherford consortium (Taylor Wimpey, Bovis Latimer and Linden Homes) on its participation in the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport, including negotiations concerning the Freeport Compliance Agreement.

The Sherford consortium on arrangements relating to the construction and long term operation of new leisure facilities as part of the Sherford New Town.

UK Heat District Networks / CHP Schemes advising developers on capital stage and long term operation arrangements i) to connect a development located at Barts Square to the E.ON operated Citigen District heating network; ii) to connect the redeveloped Barbican YMCA building to the Citigen Network and iii) on a long term arrangement between the developer (Royal London) and Veolia for the construction and long term operation of a heat network and CHP in Colindale, London

Tarmac (Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd) as part of the FCC / Meridiam Consortium on the A465 MIM Road PPP £450 million PPP road project procured under the Welsh Assembly government's MIM structure.

A UK central government department on the handback process for a major PFI project. This includes advice on all aspects of the existing contract, application of the contract mechanisms including those for surveying and assessing the condition of assets in the lead up to expiry and support on planning for future service delivery and competitions to appoint replacement providers.

National Highways on ongoing management and variations to its DBFO PFIs, including operational support on the M25 DBFO and advice on handback arrangements for nine DBFO PFI projects.

Alstom / Bombardier on the variation of a number of contracts relating to Manufacture and Supply Agreements for new rolling stock being supplied to a number of UK Rail Operators.

National Highways on the A303 Stonehenge Tunnel, a £1.5 billion privately financed DBFM scheme for the construction of a new link road (including a 3km twin bore road tunnel) through the UNESCO World Heritage site at Stonehenge, and on arrangements for the contract to be let as a D&B contract following the cancellation of the PF2 programme.

A tenderer (two UK Contractors) on a bid to HS2 for a competition forming part of the HS2 Railway Systems packages for Phase 1 and Phase 2a.

Bouygues Energies & Services on projects including the Gibraltar Diesel Power Station Project, acting as lead adviser on a project for the construction of a diesel power generation plant together with associated fuel supply infrastructure and upgrades to the distribution network.

CRRC Corporation Inc since 2016 on contracts with London Underground Limited, Guinea Alumina Corporation and on a bid to supply rolling stock to West Midlands Metro, and advising Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric Co. on the establishment of its UK Technical Innovation centre. A UK central government department on the expiry of a major real estate PFI, including assisting them in facilitating an exit from those current contractual agreements. Dominic was involved in advising (and consolidating existing advice) on potential ways to advance claims / resolve problems relating to issues with the condition of the PFI buildings, the financial condition of the Project Co and the operation of the process to expiry.

Clients

National Highways, Tarmac, Alstom, Ministry of Defence.

Experience

The UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on certain arrangements relating to UK Nuclear sites;

Wood Group on its bid (through a competition procured using competitive dialogue) for packages forming part of the Sellafield Programme and Project Partners project, to deliver site wide design, civils and construction works at the Sellafield site under an integrated PPP. This included support on the project contracts and the dialogue stage of the procurement.

A consortium of Atkins, Amec and Rolls Royce on its bid for the decommissioning and site management of the UK's estate of Magnox nuclear power stations, including support through the dialogue stage and submission of the final tender.

Washington Group, on bids for UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority site management and operation contracts

Advising the London Borough of Barnet on the Brent Cross Thameslink project (a project involving the construction of a new passenger railway station, forming part of the Brent Cross Cricklewood development).

Advising an investor on the potential development of a new mainline railway station funded by private capital. This has included advice on structuring and on the use of existing statutory and regulatory provisions (under the Railways Act and the delegated powers subsequently granted to Transport for Wales) to enable the funding and delivery of the scheme.

Advising Midlands Air Ambulance on commercial arrangements including support for the construction of its new headquarters and operational facility at a site adjacent to RAF Cosford.

Advising the UK Ministry of Defence on a number of projects including: a major restatement of a complex, long-term contract for military testing and training services to deliver a significant modernisation and investment programme; a variation to a major military ground equipment services contract; and a long lead item contract for a major strategic naval procurement.

Advising Fly Plymouth on potential arrangements to re-establish aviation at Plymouth City Airport.

Adviser to Amey LG on a £235 million, 23 year outsourcing contract for the provision of Highways, Lighting and Environmental Services to Trafford Council.

Acting for Amey LG as the main operation & maintenance contractor for a £450 million bond financed project to upgrade the M8 / M73 and M74 motorways in Scotland

Advising British International Helicopters as part of a consortium with AAR Corporation on a contract for the establishment and operation of a new helicopter transport and search and rescue operation for the UK MOD.

Advising Solihull MBC on the voluntary termination of its PFI Contract (with an Equitix / Parkwood consortium), including negotiation and settlement of compensation on termination with senior lenders and equity holders in the PFI SPV, and provision of support to the council on the operation of the Solihull BSF Schools PFI.

Providing advice to contractors including Wood Group on bids for UK Nuclear decommissioning contracts.

Advice on a number of UK Leisure projects, including renegotiation of a number of UK PFI and non PFI leisure contracts, advising a contractor on a bid for a 25 year DBOM Leisure project, and advice on a leisure project involving the use of Community Asset transfers.

Providing advice to UK police forces on 3x PFI Contracts, including on operational issues with performance, record keeping, undocumented variations and potential grounds for default. This included advice on formal variations and measures to de-scope and revise future operations. The projects included an office accommodation PFI (which was to be vacated on project expiry) and a PFI that was the subject of a voluntary termination.

Advising a UK Freight Operating Company on arrangements relating to the renewal of its Track Access Contract with Network Rail.

Advising Associated British Posts on terms of its Track Access Contracts with Freight users of ABP track assets and maintenance arrangements with Network Rail.

Advising a developer client on the negotiation of arrangements with East West Rail Limited concerning the use of land value capture arrangements to finance the cost of new railway infrastructure.

Advising the developer of an inland freight facility on connection agreements for a new rail facility, track access agreements to enable the scheduling and connection of freight services across the main UK network.

Providing advice to TfL / London Underground Ltd on a number of major contracts including competitions to appoint operational service providers, and arrangements with Network Rail relating to major infrastructure improvement programmes.

Gautrain providing advice to the Gautrain operator on certain issues relating to the regulatory regime for rolling stock ownership and statutory control.

Advising Bombardier on arrangements relating to Infrasig (a joint venture with Carillion to deliver digital signalling projects) following the collapse of Carillion. This included negotiation with Network Rail to restructure existing contracts held by the JV and putting in place subcontract arrangements.

Advising on the renegotiation of funding agreements with the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development relating to Grandi Stazioni Česká republika s.r.o. as part of the demerger of Grandi Stazioni's Retail operation.

Advising an Amey led consortium on the financial close of the Sheffield Highways PFI, a combined highways and street services PFI with an approximate value of £2 billion. Dominic also continues to provide operational advice to the project company including advice on major variations.

Advising the PFI project company on three major variations to the Birmingham Street Services Highways PFI (approximate capital value £2.2 billion).

Advising Engie on the £45 million NHS Ayrshire & Arran NPD project, relating to the construction of and delivery of services to the new Acute Mental Health & North Ayrshire Community Hospital, procured as part of the Scottish Government's NPD (Non-Profit Distributing) infrastructure programme.

Lead adviser to the Worcestershire Hospitals NHS Trust on the Worcester Hospital New Radiotherapy Centre project, a project for the construction and long-term operation of the facility procured as a variation to an existing bond financed PFI.

Acting as lead adviser to Parkwood Holdings on a bid for the Wyre Forest Leisure DBOM project, involving the construction and long-term operation of Leisure Facilities in Kidderminster and Bewdley.

Advising a Joint Venture between Amec, Atkins and Rolls Royce, on a bid for a £7 billion contract to decommission the UK's estate of Magnox Nuclear Power stations. This included negotiations with the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on the wording and form of site management and operation contracts.

Lead adviser to Bouygues Energies & Services Canada on the RCMP Division E Headquarters PPP in Surrey (Vancouver) as part of Bouygues / Bird / HSBC consortium, approximate capital value £200 million.

Lead adviser to Bouygues Energies & Services on the establishment of a British Columbia subsidiary and negotiation through to financial close of the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre a Hospital PPP in Surrey (Vancouver) Canada.

Lead adviser to Bouygues Energies & Services Canada on the negotiation of the Surrey Pre-Trial Services Centre PPP (Vancouver), as part of Bouygues / HSBC consortium and one of three shortlisted bidders.

Lead adviser to Bouygues Energies & Services on the negotiation through to submission of the RFP response for the Surrey Memorial Hospital (Vancouver) PPP, as part of Bouygues / Bird / HSBC consortium.

Providing advice to a central government department on a competition to appoint a partner organisation for the establishment and operation of an investment fund.

Career & Recognition

Dominic Richardson is pragmatic and commercially astute
- Legal 500 UK, 2022
  • Rankings & Awards
    September 2021
    Legal 500 UK 2022 - Next Generation Partners - Projects, Energy and Natural Resources, and Transport
  • Rankings & Awards
    October 2020
    Legal 500 UK 2021 - Next Generation Partners - Industry Focus - Energy & Infrastructure, London
  • Rankings & Awards
    October 2020
    Legal 500 UK 2021 - Next Generation Partners - Project Finance & PFI, West Midlands
  • Rankings & Awards
    September 2019
    Legal 500 2019 Next Generation Lawyers - Project Finance & PFI
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