Louise is an expert in contentious construction, energy and maritime law and professional negligence. She advises clients on construction, engineering, energy and shipbuilding projects and related professional negligence, both domestically and internationally.
Louise has acted on disputes in relation to bridges, car parks, commercial buildings, electricity sub-stations, energy-from-waste plants, anaerobic digestion plants, highways, hotels, LNG plants, prisons, process facilities, railways, residential developments, sewage works, tunnels, mines, wind farms, water attenuation facilities, water treatment facilities, cargo ships, drilling rigs, LNG carriers, passenger ferries and superyachts.
Louise is experienced in various forms of dispute resolution including litigation, international and domestic arbitration, adjudication and other alternative dispute resolution procedures. She advises on UK domestic forms of construction contract, including NEC and JCT, FIDIC, SAJ, AWES, BIMCO and bespoke contracts in various jurisdictions including England and Wales, Angola, the BVI, the Caribbean, China, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sierra Leone and Tanzania.
Expertise
- Construction disputes
- Engineering disputes
- Energy disputes
- Shipbuilding disputes
- Professional negligence
Experience
Construction
- Acted for a joint venture of railway contractors in a series of disputes against Network Rail concerning works to the West Coast Mail Line Upgrade, including a dispute concerning claims of in excess of £200m concerning delay and defects and a dispute heard in the Court of Appeal.
- Acted for a large Japanese contractor in an ICC arbitration in relation to the construction of a significant road in East Africa concerning claims in the region of US$160m. The issues included non- and late-payment of IPCs, extensions of time, delay and disruption, termination, performance security and quantum.
- Acted for a South African contractor in two LCIA arbitrations in relation to the construction and maintenance of a significant railway in Sierra Leone serving a gold mine. The issues included measurement, variations and delay and disruption.
- Acted for owners and contractors on disputes in relation to the construction, fit-out or refurbishment of significant projects including Wembley Stadium, The Shard and the M25 extension.
- Acted for a housing association in relation to 42 disputes concerning defective cladding and fire safety on residential properties, several of which were resolved by way of litigation.
Energy & Natural Resources
- Acted for the main shaft contractor on the largest mining project in Western Europe in relation to the design and construction of the main shaft and termination of that contract.
- Acted for the building contractor consortium in relation to the design and construction of the first waste-to-energy plant in Africa concerning claims in the region of US$ 120m. The issues included design, performance, and non- and late-payment of IPCs.
- Advised, and acted in an arbitration for, an owner of a semi-submersible drilling rig in relation to claims against a shipyard in the region of US$110m. The main issues included delay in delivery, defects, warranty items and loss of hire.
- Acted for the developer of a renewable energy plant in relation to disputes concerning the design and build of anaerobic digestion plants against the respective professional teams and contractors.
- Advised various owners and contractors in relation to day rates, force majeure and contractual interpretation in relation to drilling contracts.
Hotels, Hospitality & Leisure
- Acted for a hotel developer and related operator in relation to all legal aspects, including disputes arising from the design and build of hotels with claims up to £120m concerning delays and defects and a dispute heard in the Court of Appeal.
- Acted for a hotel developer and operator in relation to disputes arising from the refurbishment or fit-out concerning delays and defects.
- Acted for a contractor defending claims concerning alleged defective cladding and fire safety issues and defects on several hotels.
- Acted for an insurer concerning recovery claims following indemnity of defective cladding and delays and defects claims on several hotels.
Marine & Shipping
- Advised, and acted in an arbitration for, an owner of semi-submersible drilling rigs in relation to claims against a shipyard in the region of US$110m and US$12m. The main issues included delay in delivery, permissible delay, defects, warranty items and loss of hire.
- Advised, and acted in an arbitration for, a shipyard against owners of in relation to the construction of megayachts. The main issues included delay in delivery, warranty items, exterior paint finish and costs.
- Advised the owner of a passenger ferry in relation to the cancellation of the shipbuilding contract. The main issues included termination under the shipbuilding contract and at common law, refund of pre-paid instalments and recovery of general damages at common law.
- Advised various shipyards and owners in relation to construction, delivery and warranty issues in relation to superyachts and passenger and cargo vessels.
Professional Negligence
- Acted in litigation for a hotel developer in relation to claims in professional negligence against the architect, M&E designers, interior designers, project manager and construction manager.
- Acted in litigation for a contractor against an architect in relation to negligent design in relation to a road.
- Acted in litigation for an UHNW owner in relation to claims in professional negligence against the project manager and architect.
- Defended in litigation an architect in relation to allegations of negligent design on a conference centre.
- Defended in litigation structural and civil engineers in relation to allegations of negligent design of infrastructure, commercial and residential property.
Arbitration
- Acted for an owner of a semi-submersible drilling rig in relation to claims against a shipyard in the region of US$120m. The main issues included: delay in delivery, permissible delay and alleged compromise.
- Acted for a tier one contractor and project manager in arbitration on claims totalling £150m for non-payment of invoices, defects and fraud in relation to the design and build of a community centre.
- Acted for a large Japanese contractor in an ICC arbitration in relation to the construction of a significant road in East Africa concerning claims in the region of US$160m. The issues included: non-payment and late payment of IPCs, extensions of time, delay and disruption, termination (under the contract and at common law), performance security and quantum (including claims for devaluation, loss of opportunity and financing charges).
Agricultural
- Acted for a pig farm in a dispute against the contractor arising from the design and construction of an anaerobic digestion plant required for the processing of waste arising from the farm. The issues included defective design, defects and delay to completion.
- Acted for a farming developer of an anaerobic digestion plant in claims against the environmental consultant in respect of failures pertaining to the obtaining of a bespoke permit.
- Acted for a farming developer of an anaerobic digestion plant in claims against the contractor arising from the design and construction of the plant. The issues included defects, delay to completion and failure to meet the performance criteria.
- Advised an arable farm in relation to the design and construction of wind turbines and acted in disputes against the professional team and contractor.
- Acted for a contractor defending claims made by the farming landowner and employer concerning the design and construction of an energy from waste plant. The issues included defective design, defects and delay.
Middle East
- Acted for a multinational food and packaging and processing company in a FIDIC contract dispute with an arbitration held in Dubai under DIAC Rules regarding the design and build of a processing plant in Oman.
- Acted for a Saudi-Arabian investor in relation to the management of his property portfolio in the UK including the acquisition and disposal of assets, their construction, refurbishment and maintenance with a particular emphasis on avoiding any potential disputes.
- Acted for a Lebanon-based investor in relation to the management of his hotel and residential property portfolio in the UK, including the provision of all necessary legal services to minimise the risk of disputes.
Germany
- Acted for a German fund in litigation in relation to the design and construction of a shopping centre in Oxfordshire, including complex technical litigation in relation to a multi-storey car park requiring expert evidence in four fields.
- Advising, and acting in several arbitrations for, a German shipyard against owners in relation to the construction of megayachts. The main issues included delay in delivery, warranty items, exterior paint finish and costs.
- Advising the owner of a passenger ferry in relation to the cancellation of the shipbuilding contract with a German yard. The main issues included termination under the shipbuilding contract and at common law, refund of pre-paid instalments and recovery of general damages at common law.
- Acting for a large international contractor with headquarters in Germany in an adjudication in relation to the design and construction of an energy from waste plant involving claims totaling £10m. The main issues included delay and disruption, extension of time, defects and loss and expense.
- Advising various German shipyards and owners in relation to construction, delivery and warranty issues in relation to superyachts and passenger and cargo vessels.
Africa
- Acted for a South African contractor in two LCIA arbitrations in relation to the construction and maintenance of a significant railway in Sierra Leone. The issues included: measurement, variations, and delay and disruption.
- Acted for the building contractor consortium in relation to the design and construction of the first waste-to-energy plant in Africa concerning claims in the region of US$120m. The issues included: design, performance, and non-payment and late payment of IPCs.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in The Legal 500 2024 for Property Litigation
Recognised in The Legal 500 (2024-2025) for Construction
“Louise Elmes is a highly knowledgeable lawyer with a perfect blend of powerful expertise and pragmatism to deliver best outcomes for clients.” The Legal 500 2025
Recognised in The Legal 500 2023 for Oil and Gas
Recognised in The Legal 500 2022 for Construction
Recognised in The Legal 500 UK 2016–2021 for Contentious Construction, International Arbitration and Professional Negligence
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Member of the Society of Construction Law
Member of the Cambridge University Land Society
Career
Louise was Called to the Bar in 2002. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2021, she worked at the following firms:
- Trowers & Hamlins
- Fieldfisher
- Haynes & Boone CDG
- Keating Chambers