Jon Close

Jon is a construction and engineering specialist, handling both contentious and non-contentious legal work. His practice focuses on acting on hotel developments, including new builds and renovations. 

• Drafted and negotiated the UK roll-out of construction documents in the UK for Pure Gym across over 70 sites including the first at Spinningfields, Manchester, in 2009. 
• Advised and drafted the contract suite based on JCT D&B 2016 with further considerations for phase 1 (£60m) proposed hotel development in Cornwall, acting for Kingfisher UNA Resort Ltd and St James’ Construction Ltd. 
• Drafted contracts (JCT, ICC-based plus consultants’ appointments, assignments and novations) for a number of hotel groups including Holiday Inn Express, Luxury Family Hotels Group, and Cotswolds-based boutique hotel group Dunkerton Properties LLP with a build value for each site of between £450,000 and £4.2m. 
• Acted for the successful contractor for recovery of sums due in both SG South Ltd v (1) Kings Head Cirencester LLP (2) Cornhall Arcade Ltd [2009] and SG South Ltd v Swan Yard (Cirencester) Ltd [2010] in relation to a shopping centre development and high-end hotel. 
• Advised on various contractual issues arising from works at hotels at Moonfleet Manor, Dorset, and Thornbury Castle. 
• Acted for Dowdeswell Estates (Building Contractors) Ltd in relation to contractual issues with their supply chain and fund raising in relation to a number of their hotel renovation sites including a £55m city centre re-development in Gloucester. 
• Drafted SMA Building and Maintenance Solution Limited’s framework agreement with Majestic Wines for property maintenance work to be done across 107 stores, within the UK. 
• Supported an ultra-high-net-worth individual, who is a key player in the global gambling industry, with the negotiation of all construction documents for the £40m renovation of the property and grounds of a country estate in Hampshire. 

Jon has particular expertise in energy-related issues including renewables and green technology, acting for employers and their design teams, as well as contractors and engineers. 

• Advised a mid-tier energy company in relation to the proposed rollout of its grass-fed-only AD plants, using a local network of farms within 10km of each site to achieve a sustainable feedstock. 
• Drafted supply, installation and commissioning contracts for anaerobic digestion plants for an Austrian engineer – bespoke contracts, IChemE Red Book and MF/1 procured across England and Scotland (140kwp-2.4mwp schemes with Downing funding considerations) including specialist plant and civil engineering. 
• Drafted EPC contracts for commercial solar schemes including the largest rooftop solar PV installation in Europe in 2014 (6.1 MW with an array the size of 11 football pitches) at Marks & Spencer’s distribution hub at Castle Donnington, Leicestershire. Advised further on the rights disposal to Amber Infrastructure. 
• Advised on various piling and O&M contracts relating to wind farms (ICE/ICC-based). 
• Acted for Ecotricity Group on the procurement of manufacturing facility and provided related contract advice relating to MF/1, JCT and bespoke appointments with engineers based in Italy, Germany, and the Czech Republic. 

Jon advises clients in the agriculture and rural affairs sector, and their design teams, on construction and engineering projects. 

• Advised a county estate in the North West in relation to the construction of a number of buildings and facilities on the wider estate, including a wedding venue by way of diversification. 
• Advised Biogest AG on the procurement and installation of anaerobic digesters on a number of farms and estates within the UK. 
• Advised a mid-tier energy company in relation to the proposed rollout of its grass-fed-only AD plants, using a local network of farms within 10km of each site to achieve a sustainable feedstock. 
• Advised a leading agri-tech business engineering, procurement, and commissioning (EPC) contracts for the construction and installation of vertical farming works, including automated systems in the Northamptonshire, London, Italy, Australia, and Mexico. 
• Advised a regional project management team  in relation to a number of their projects including runway upgrade works for Gloucestershire Airport, a large regeneration project for Cotteswold Dairy in Tewkesbury, new facilities for Hartpury University, and upgraded storage facilities for The Science Museum at Wroughton, near Swindon, Wiltshire. 
• Advised a well-known installer of equine facilities for the design, supply, and installation of livery complexes.  

Jon is a construction and engineering specialist, handling both contentious and non-contentious legal work. His practice focuses on acting for developers and their design teams, as well as contractors and engineers. 

• Advised Cell Therapy Catapult (Innovate UK) on procurement strategy and contract drafting for a £6m clean-room research and development facility at Guy’s Hospital.  
• Drafted and negotiated FIDIC Silver and Yellow Book contracts for a £9m high-performance automotive testing facility in West Sussex for Horiba UK.  
• Led negotiations with Wasserman (US) regarding the retractable tensile roofing installation at the Katara Fan Zone in Doha, ahead of the 2022 World Cup, and for further Middle Eastern sites.  
• Advised local authorities in the South West on procurement and contract matters relating to sports facilities, roofing remedial works, and a brewery and canalside regeneration scheme under JCT forms. 
• Prepared suites of construction contracts for national housebuilders (including Cotswold Oak / Bloor Homes / RES Homes) on multi-million-pound housing schemes (average site values £3m–£5.7m).  
• Resolved a £4m dispute on the renovation of a Grade I listed private estate in the Cotswolds.  
• Advised on construction arrangements for prime and super-prime residential developments across London, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire, including re-pricing, variation, and delay claims.  
• Advised the owners of a country estate in the North West on the design and delivery of a new £3m country wedding venue, including construction contract negotiation and commercial project support.  
• Acted for a care home provider in the West Midlands on valuation of final account claims relating to 16 luxury apartments (£5.4m) and the subsequent procurement strategy for a wider development phase.  
• Supported a large UK housing and construction services provider in ADR proceedings concerning heating and water supply design failures on a London authority housing project, including issues surrounding a disputed performance bond.  
• Advised on Belgravia townhouse construction and smart-systems integration as part of a high-value residential property acquisition by a Qatari investor. 
• Advised on construction and engineering aspects of the sale of apartments at Regent’s Crescent in prime central London.  
• Provided construction and fit-out advice for a client relocating its headquarters to 27 Eccleston Place, Belgravia.  
• Advised on lease acquisition, construction contract and property matters relating to the creation of a cultural events space in London.  
• Advised a global engineering and consultancy firm in relation to construction matters relating to its acquisition of over 27,000 sq ft in CEG’s flagship EQ development in Bristol city centre. 
• Advised and drafted construction documents in relation to an £8m renovation of a super prime residence in Eaton Square, London. 
• Advised a Saudi investor in relation to a non-compliance flooring-level issue caused by the contractor during the fit-out of a super prime residence in London. 
• Advised and represented a manufacturer in the North West in relation to defects arising within its new warehousing facility.  
• Advised a listed commercial developer in relation to issues arising with the HVAC system, cladding, and roof of its tenanted property in East London. 
• Advised the owner of a prime residence in Hampshire in relation to claims for defective design and workmanship.  

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Construction 2020–2027

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Agriculture and Estates 2025 & 2027

Recognised by Chambers UK for Construction 2022–2026

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) 2022–2024 

Recognised by Chambers UK as a Leading Individual for Construction: South West 2022 

Author of A Comparative Guide to Construction and Engineering Contracts (published by Law Brief Publishing, September 2017) 

Co-authored pieces on the benefits in terms of legal risk management associated with offsite modular construction 

Member of the Society of Construction Law