We are LEA. We provide Legal & Expert Advocacy for the Construction Industry.

Are you managing your risk?

LEA Services:Adjudication
LEA Services:Arbitration
LEA Services:Claims
LEA Services:Conciliation
LEA Services:Commercial Management
LEA Services:Contract
LEA Services:Insurances
LEA Services:Mediation
LEA Services:Performance Bonds
LEA Services:Quantum
LEA Services:Surveying

Articles & Publications

Clients / Design Teams – Are you ready for the Construction Contracts Act 2013?

The effects of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 are far reaching, encompassing not only Main Contracts, sub contracts […]

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Events & Courses

LEA’s Lead Consultant Ian O’Connor is proud to be a Member of the Adjudication Society

Our lead Consultant Mr. Ian O’Connor is proud to confirm his membership of the Adjudication Society, why not […]

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News

Ministerial Panel under S8 of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 announced

A long standing impediment to the Construction Contracts Act 2013 [the 2013 Act] being given an effective commencement […]

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About LEA

LEA Consulting Limited is a Consulting Business aimed at the provision of Expert and Legal Advocacy to the Construction Industry.

Our goal is to help our Clients manage their risk in the key areas of; Contract Negotiation, Commercial Management & Control, Claims Preparation & Defence, Dispute Resolution and Expert Services. This is achieved through the development of enduring partnerships with our Clients and the provision of a one to one service, that allows LEA, with our Clients, to identify risk at the earliest possible stage, design strategies to manage risks identified and assist in the implementation of those strategies to ensure that the impact of such risks on our Client’s businesses are eliminated, or mitigated to the extent possible.

Ian O’Connor

B.Sc.(Hons), LLM CLArb, MCIArb (Med), CMMII, Certified Mediator

Ian is LEA’s founder and Lead Consultant, his reputation is one of a driven professional, with a no-nonsense approach, a skilled negotiator, with a flair for developing creative solutions to complex Contractual problems.

Ian’s experience of the Construction Industry has been based in tier one Main Contracting allowing him, or two decades, to interact and work with blue chip clients, tier one Design Teams and the entire spectrum of Sub-Contractors / Suppliers, making him extremely familiar to those operating in the industry and ensuring that his knowledge of the industry is second to none. During this time Ian has worked on some of the country’s most prestigious and high profile projects, totalling in the region of € 780 million Euros in value, involving him in the settling of a large number of Final Accounts, thousands of sub-contractor / supplier accounts and assisting in the successful outcomes of a number of significant conciliations, mediations and Arbitrations.

Ian holds undergraduate qualifications in Construction Economics and Quantity Surveying, a post graduate LLM in Construction Law & Arbitration, he is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Certified Member of the Mediators Institute of Ireland and Certified as a Mediator by both the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Mediators Institute of Ireland.

Our Services

In providing Legal & Expert Advocacy to the Construction Industry we have split our services into a number of keys areas as follows; Contractual Advice, Cost Management Advice & Financial Control Services, Claims Preparation Appraisal & Defence, Surety and Insurance Claims, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Expert witness services. We have provided more detailed information on each of these services below, but would urge you to contact us directly to arrange a without cost consultation, so that we can establish your requirements and agree how best LEA can assist.

Contractual Advice

It is generally accepted by the Industry that there is a low level of Contractual Knowledge within the companies operating therein and the small number of specialist Legal Practices puts the availability of cogent advice at a premium. LEA Consulting is ideally placed to provide our Clients with strategic pre & post Contractual advice to minimise their potential contractual liabilities whilst maintaining / enhancing their business relationships.

LEA Consulting is fully conversant in the GCCC, RIAI, IEI, FIDIC, JCT, NEC, NDFA and SBCC Forms of Contract and can utilise this base, if required, in relation to bespoke Contracts which have become somewhat of a vogue in the Private Sector where Clients seek to utilise a form of Contract that is similar to that being utilised by the state.

We can also assist our Clients with their Contract Administration and Contractual correspondence.

Cost Management Advice & Financial Control Services

This element of LEA Consulting’s services is primarily aimed at the Sub-Contractor / Supplier sector of the Industry, this is based on the understanding that the downturn has necessitated companies in overhead cost reductions meaning that key resources focused on the creation of added value and minimisation of costs have been lost, while the industry is currently in recovery, this is a very slow recovery with the companies that are still in operation taking a very conservative view on any expenditure.

The Directors of LEA Consulting have, for a combined 30 years, worked for tier one Main Contractors and Consulting Firms within the Irish Constructing Industry, accumulating a cost management and financial control skill set that, can, on a contract basis, provide our Clients with added value and cost control without the burden of a fixed overhead cost. Our research to this point has indicated that this is a service that will be very much in demand.

Claims Preparation, Appraisal and Defence

The industry can be split into the following categories of operation; Private Sector Clients, Public Sector Clients, Professional Advisors [Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Services Consultants & Project Managers], Main Contractors, Sub-Contractors and Suppliers.

LEA Consulting is ideally placed to provide Contractual and Quantum expertise for the preparation, appraisal and defence of all forms of Contractual Claims such as; Extension of Time [EOT], Delay, Disruption, Prolongation, errors, omissions and tortuous claims.

Contract Insurance Claims

LEA Consulting Limited can prepare, negotiate and settle insurance claims of any nature pertaining to the Construction Industry on behalf of our Clients such as; Products Liability under Public Liability Indemnities, Performance Bonds, Contractors All Risks and Professional Indemnity.

LEA Consulting Limited is also investigating the creation of retainer arrangements with Insurance Companies to act as independent Loss Assessors in respect of Claims received, where liability has been accepted and settlement is required.

Dispute Resolution

Alternative Dispute Resolution or ADR as it is more commonly referred to within the Construction Industry can be split into the following categories; Mediation, Adjudication, Conciliation, Arbitration and Expert Determination. LEA Consulting can act as party representative in the case of Mediation, Adjudication, Conciliation and Arbitration as well as being available to act as Mediator, Adjudicator, Conciliator, Arbitrator and / or Expert should the Legal Representatives of the parties to a Dispute wish for this role to be performed.

Conciliation, Arbitration and Expert Determination are already well established methods of ADR and are widely used within the industry, however the impending effective commencement dates of the Mediation Bill 2012 and the Construction Contracts Act 2013 will see a significant surge in activity in these areas.

Expert Reports & Witness Services

Our discussions with certain specialist Legal Firms operating within the Industry has identified the requirement, where during the course of the ADR processes referred to above; Expert Reports, Witness Statements etc. may be required on matters of Contract, Quantum, Custom / Practice and Time Impact Analysis. Such services are required by both the parties and the professionals appointed to oversee the process.

What our Business Partners say

  • Anthony J. Fenton
    Joint Managing Director – Edina UK Limited

    Ian…has always acted in the most professional and ethical manner… I have been impressed with his knowledge, dedication and tenacity…Without a doubt I would say Ian brings to whatever task he is given a sense of determination to achieve the results required. Link to PDF.

Industry News

Ministerial Panel under S8 of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 announced30.04.2016

A long standing impediment to the Construction Contracts Act 2013 being given an effective commencement date, was the appointment of a Ministerial Panel of Adjudicators in line with S8 of the 2013 Act. On the 15th January 2016 the Minster of State for Business and Employment, in exercising the powers conferred on him by the 2013 Act, announced the appointment of Construction Contracts... (read more)

LEA’s Lead Consultant Ian O’Connor is proud to be a Member of the Adjudication Society29.04.2016

Our lead Consultant Mr. Ian O’Connor is proud to confirm his membership of the Adjudication Society, why not check out Ian’s profile at www.adjudication.org or get in touch with Ian to discuss your adjudication queries via our Contact... (read more)

Clients / Design Teams – Are you ready for the Construction Contracts Act 2013?20.04.2016

The effects of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 are far reaching, encompassing not only Main Contracts, sub contracts and sub sub-contracts, both also Professional Services Contracts as outlined under S1(2) of the 2013 Act. Such Professional Service Contracts can be with the Employer or Client, they may be with a Main Contractor or Sub-Contractor, or they may even be Consultant to... (read more)

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Contact Us

LEA Consulting Ltd.
Unit 2B,
Redhouse Business Centre,
Main Street, Donabate,
Co. Dublin, K36 KD28.

T: +353 (01)843 6802
M: +353 (0)86 388 7746
E: ian@leaconsulting.ie

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