Expert witness and advisory services

Independent expertise, grounded in practice

We have advised on a wide range of UK and international projects, including power, oil and gas, process, infrastructure, hospitals, airports, sports facilities, commercial, educational, residential and public sector schemes. As part of a interdisciplinary practice, we can resource entire expert teams from within Ridge, drawing on structural and MEP engineering, project management, building surveying, fire safety and architectural expertise.

Our team includes professionally qualified engineers, surveyors, architects and fire specialists, with additional qualifications in law and arbitration. We analyse technical and commercial issues, assess causation and programme interaction, and provide informed opinion grounded in current industry practice. Our experts remain actively involved in live project delivery and closely follow technical developments, so we can offer up-to-date advice on complex construction and engineering matters.

Our clients include leading international contractors, developers, employers, government agencies and public bodies, and we regularly receive referrals from international law firms. Where litigation or arbitration is unavoidable, we work as an integrated part of legal teams, presenting technical evidence clearly and impartially.

• Engineering defect disputes – UK

  Our engineering experts advise on UK defect disputes involving concrete ground-bearing slabs, defective cantilevered balconies, concrete quality issues, corroded filler joist floors in historic buildings, cladding defects and project management matters.

  This work requires detailed technical analysis of construction methodology, material performance and compliance with design intent, supporting clients through formal dispute resolution processes.

• Design defects – airports, Gulf region

  Our structural engineering experts provide independent technical opinion in disputes relating to airport projects in the Gulf region, including matters concerning alleged design defects and the timing and coordination of the design process.

  The role involves detailed examination of design development, interface management and programme interaction, with opinion provided on both liability and causation.

• Steel and concrete defects – international process plants

  Our engineering experts support international arbitrations in Australia and the Gulf relating to steel and concrete defects in process plants, alongside issues arising from design development and subsequent changes.

  These matters involve detailed assessment of structural performance, construction sequencing and the impact of design evolution on progress.

• Impact of design changes – international process plants and rail

  Our experts advise on the technical impact of design changes across rail and process plant projects in Australia and the Gulf, including substantial delay disputes.

  Analysis focuses on the implications of revised design information, programme interaction and the resulting impact on construction.