Louise is a consultant in the property and construction team. She is a knowledgeable and respected specialist adviser with over 30 years’ experience of contentious construction and engineering disputes acquired in the road and rail sectors, in PFI, on tunnelling and dredging projects, and in the residential, retail, hotel, education, and health and leisure sectors. Louise has particular expertise in working for clients delivering mechanical and electrical engineering services.
Louise advises main contractors and subcontractors, consultants, and employers on all aspects of their construction and engineering needs, from advice on contracts and issues of design and construction, to disputes over payment, performance, and termination. She particularly enjoys advising on complex contract incorporation and interpretation issues, on final and interim account disputes, and on issues relating to delay and disruption, loss, and expense. Her experience includes advising on the usual standard form construction contracts including JCT and NEC, and on PFI and bespoke contracts.
Louise is a Fellow and SW Committee Member of the Forum for the Built Environment and a member of the Society of Construction Lawyers, the Adjudication Society, Constructing Excellence, and Interact Bristol.
Thank you so so much for everything you have done over the past I don't know how long, I couldn't have done it without you and so so grateful, I highly recommend you to everyone in need of a construction lawyer.
A Construction Client
Louise Garcia was incredible. At all times we felt secure that we were in safe hands. Litigation is not something anyone wants to be involved in but the manner and professionalism of Louise reduced our stress at all times. I could not recommend a better property lawyer!
A Property Client, Iain
Expertise
- Advising on standard and bespoke forms of construction and engineering contracts highlighting the risks of proposed terms and amendments
- Analysis of contractual and tortious rights, obligations and risks
- Scrutiny of complex issues of incorporation and interpretation
- Advising on issues concerning the agreed scope of work and allegations of defects in design and workmanship
- Providing guidance on the administration of construction contracts including concerns as to Payment, Pay Less and Withholding Notices, Early Warning Notices, and Compensation Events
- Advising on Interim and Final Account disputes and on issues of abatement, set-off and cross-claims
- Analysing claims for delay and disruption, concurrency, and loss and expense, and working with independent experts to assess the prospects of success and the most advantageous presentation or defence of these disputes
- Providing guidance on the risks and procedures for contract termination by employers and by contractors, and bringing claims for wrongful termination including loss of profits
- Dealing with issues arising upon employer, contractor, and supplier insolvency including issues of retention of title and step-in rights, and acting for liquidators and administrators in recovering debts
- Assisting clients with the delivery of internal training programmes to reduce and manage risks
- Dispute resolution and avoidance using mediation and negotiation
- Adjudication
- Litigation and arbitration including multi-party and international disputes
Experience
Construction Disputes
- Advising a contractor on step-in rights on insolvency and issues of design warranties on a multi-million pound airport project.
- Representing a national contractor on claims and counterclaims relating to the delivery of works on a PFI project including complex concurrency and quantum issues and securing settlement terms.
- Advising a contractor in response to allegations of defects in the design and workmanship on a commercial development including defending substantial claims brought against the contractor for diminution in value and loss of profits.
- Acting for a national M&E contractor on issues concerning a lighting system on a prestigious sustainable commercial development and allegations of defects in the performance of a combined heat and power system, including international issues of subcontractor retention of title.
- Acting for an international contractor on a multi-million pound claim relating to losses sustained on a dredging and reclamation contract for a UK port on issues of design and workmanship, insurance coverage, delay, and disruption.
- Securing an advantageous settlement for a main contractor of a dispute concerning the scope of works on a significant infrastructure project involving complex questions of contractual interpretation and incorporation of terms and documents.
- Represented a college on issues concerning works carried out on a project to design and build a new school and sporting facilities.
- Advising a national contractor on the termination of a framework housing maintenance project to avoid penalties and contra-charges on termination.
- Successfully defending Costain on the reported decision of Tesco Stores Ltd v Costain Construction Ltd and others, on design, workmanship, and limitation issues following a major retail fire.
- Provided behind-the-scenes advice to a construction consultancy on a dispute involving outstanding payments against a Construction company, and issues concerning due notice issue.
- Acted for a development company advising on issues with disputed consultancy services on a major London mixed development site, with circa 700+ units and retail stores.
- Advised a Hertfordshire-based groundworks contractor on a PFI contract dispute, involving a car park for a Hospital, where the client was a subcontractor to a Construction engineering company
- Advised a specialist construction management provider on a payment mechanism for a payment dispute concerning a multi-million-pound development in central London.
- Advised a specialist construction management provider on alleged water ingress issues, and a payment dispute concerning a multi-million-pound development project in London.
- Advised a specialist construction management provider in a dispute with a stonework subcontractor on a multi-million-pound London project, regarding payments and defects.
- Advised a specialist construction management provider on securing development insurance following purported rejection by insurers.
- Advised a specialist construction management provider in a significant dispute with a joinery subcontractor on two major London projects, resulting in multiple adjudications and disputed Part 8 proceedings, involving joinery, programming, and quantum analysis of the effects of alleged extensions of time. Advise was also sought on the interpretation of disputed bespoke provisions, including the advice of King’s Counsel and junior counsel.
Debt Recovery
- Advising on an international debt recovery claim for an ‘eco’ company including local law issues and advice to avoid pay-when-paid provisions.
- Providing efficient and effective advice in portfolio debt recovery for companies, liquidators, and administrators.
- Advising a major national contractor on a wide range of contentious construction and infrastructure project procurement issues, including subcontractor disputes, disruption, concurrency, and payment issues. Advising on disputes with employers, suppliers, and subcontractors, over final accounts, as well as insolvency issues and extensions of time disputes. Working alongside the contractor’s board and senior management to interpret complex contractual issues, providing advice on bespoke payment arrangements.
Hotels, Health & Leisure
- Representing hospital trusts on claims arising from the procurement and delivery of projects including project time and cost overruns, performance of the consultant team, and actions against the contractors for delays in completion and defective performance.
- Advising a national hotel group on issues arising on new build and refurbishment projects involving claims made against contractors and consultants.
- Provided advice on various property and construction aspects to the parent company of a chain of restaurants regarding a potential dispute with developers and landlords at a new site with a high-value lease.
- Advised a property developer on issues relating to the project fallout following the main contractor’s insolvency on a large hotel and restaurant project, including dealing with termination as well as Bond, consultancy issues, and damages.
- Advising a consultancy company on a dispute with complex design and installation issues, affecting a development at a Hotel in Cornwall with possible claims against a sub-contractor/sub-consultant
Property Disputes
- Representing a college on issues concerning works carried out on a project to design and build a new school and sporting facilities, involving claims against numerous defendants and issues of architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical, and general building defects.
- Working on behalf of a land owner and house developer on adjudications concerning the defective performance of various contractors on a project for 40+ properties.
- Acting for home owners in claims against developers and building insurers for defects in their properties.
- Supported a leading provider of housing and construction services in the UK on a dispute with a council, the M&E consultant and contractor, regarding issues with the heating and water supplies on a large London authority housing development, and losses incurred as a consequence, which involved advice on negligence and breach, as well as on a claim against a council for failure to release a performance bond.
- Advised a UK Property developer on issues concerning a multi-million-pound housing development, in circumstances where the contractor had financial issues that affected the delivery of the project, and resulted in the termination of the contractor and a call on the Bond, which was disputed.
Road & Rail
- Advising on upstream and downstream contractual issues concerning delivery and client obligations on major national and international tunnelling projects including the analysis of complex Z-clause amendments to the NEC3, early warning notices and compensation events.
- Working with a national contractor on various projects in the rail, road, and housing sectors to avoid and resolve disputes through advice on rights, obligations, and tactics appropriate to the issues and the commercial necessities.
- Supported a leading provider of housing and construction services in the UK, in a complex dispute with a City Council and its consultants concerning alleged issues with the design and construction of the City Bus Terminal, including advice on technical issues, limit of design obligations, and co-defendant issues.
- Advising major infrastructure contractor on complex interpretation issues on rail and road projects, involving Network Rail and local authorities on heavily amended standard form, and bespoke contracts
- Advised the new management team of a large Construction company on complex acquisition matters and contractual disputes, including behind-the-scenes dispute avoidance advice in regard to an ongoing dispute with a British train operating company, on a multi-million-pound station railway project.
Other
- Advising the liquidator of a company on the strength of a significant claim brought against the company and providing a report to permit final distribution.
- Advised on the issues arising following the cancellation the Premier Guarantee latent defects insurance policy.
- Advised a specialist contractor on numerous contentious construction and general commercial matters, including claims concerning wrongful termination and issues of delay, disruption, quantum disputes, and insurance issues involving detailed correspondence with various opposition and their legal teams, numerous adjudications and court proceedings
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in Chambers UK 2025 for Construction
“This ensures that we can make commercial decisions quickly”.-Chambers UK 2025
“Louise Garcia is able to draw on the expertise within Keystone’s wider business if she’s busy or requires additional resources. This ensures that we can make commercial decisions quickly.“-Chambers UK 2025
“Louise is very prompt in responding, very knowledgeable and very easy to deal with.”-Chambers UK 2025
Acknowledged by Chambers 2025 for routinely advising contractors, developers and engineering companies on both contentious and non-contentious aspects of construction projects. She can assist with projects of all sizes and has particular strength in matters concerning transport and infrastructure.
Recognised by the Legal 500 2025 for Construction
“Louise Garcia has been enormously helpful and unwaveringly supportive.” The Legal 500 2025
Recognised by Chambers UK 2021 for Construction: South West
“Louise Garcia always maintains channels of communication and provides service at short notice.” Chambers UK 2024
Recognised by The Legal 500 for South West: Construction as a Leading Individual (2020-2024)
Recognised in Who’s Who Legal 2023 for Hospitality
Recognised in Chambers UK 2023 for Construction
“A large business with a very personal touch. This provides the best of both worlds, providing access to a wide array of legal specialisms and skills. The service provided by the likes of Louise Garcia is exactly what a company of our size needs. Speed of response and a good summary of the potential risks.” The Legal 500 2023
“Louise Garcia provides exemplary service with both responsiveness and great advice.” The Legal 500 2023
Recognised in Who’s Who Legal 2022 in Hospitality as Global Leader
Recognised in Chambers UK 2022 for Construction
Recognised by Chambers UK 2021 for Construction: South West
Recognised by Chambers UK 2020 for Construction: South West
Louise Garcia routinely advises contractors, developers and engineering companies on both contentious and non-contentious aspects of construction projects. An impressed client describes her as a “very good negotiator,” adding that she is “the kind of person you like to have with you when you are sitting at a table discussing matters with the opposition.” Chambers UK 2020
Louise Garcia is a consultant at Keystone Law and is lauded as “a formidable construction litigator.” She has extensive experience in handling disputes, particularly those in the road and rail sectors. Chambers UK 2019
Recognised by the Legal 500 2018 for South West: Construction
Louise Garcia of Keystone Law is a highly regarded contentious specialist. She represents contractors, subcontractors, employers and consultants in a range of construction disputes, with particular strength in matters pertaining to commercial and residential developments. Chambers UK 2018
Recognised by the Legal 500 2017
Louise Garcia of Keystone Law represents contractors, subcontractors, consultants and employers in significant disputes. One interviewee reports that she is “dedicated and thorough in her approach, and very knowledgeable in her field.” Chambers UK 2017
At Keystone Law, Louise Garcia, has notable experience in contentious construction matters. Legal 500 2016
Louise Garcia of Keystone Law acts for a wide range of clients on contentious matters. One client reports that she “tells it to you straight – she lets you decide whilst fully explaining the risks and opportunities around her advice.” Chambers UK 2016
Louise Garcia of Keystone Law has extensive experience of contentious and non-contentious matters. She advises on construction contracting and procurement, contractor and subcontractor insolvency matters and dispute resolution. Chambers UK 2015
Before joining Keystone, Louise was Head of the Construction Team of her previous firm, based in Bath. Chambers and Partners UK 2013 rates Louise as a Band 1 adviser in construction and engineering in her location and comments that Louise is noted by clients for “cutting to the chase” and “negotiating well”. She is respected for her abilities as a contentious practitioner, and sources describe her as “a very accomplished litigator who knows what she’s doing.” Comments from the 2012 review note: “Clients consider her to be extremely client-focused, highly competent and an excellent and persuasive communicator. She possesses a most welcome and natural ability to explain complex legal arguments in plain English.”
The Legal 500 UK recommends Louise and describes her as “very knowledgeable”, commenting also on her team-leader focus of delivering a service which is described as “very strong, personable …, and provides good value for money”.The Legal 500 quotes clients commenting on Louise as having “the ability to crystallise the important issues and communicate them succinctly and effectively”. She is “extremely client-focused, highly competent and an excellent and persuasive communicator”.
Fellow of Forum for Built Environment and Great Western Branch Committee member
Member of the Society of Construction Law
Member of the Adjudication Society SW
Member and current Bristol Chair of Interact
Member of Constructing Excellence Southwest
Career
Louise qualified as a solicitor in 1992. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2014, she worked at the following firms:
- Withy King
- Beachcroft
- Osborne Clarke
- Nabarro Nathanson