Tom is an experienced lawyer who specialises in the non-contentious aspects of construction, development and finance law. His work includes drafting, negotiating and reviewing construction contracts, agreements from performance bonds to collateral warranties, professional appointments, and development finance documents. He routinely advises on bespoke as well as standard JCT, NEC and PPC contracts and has a track record in development projects ranging from small multi-unit developments up to multimillion-pound mixed-used projects. Tom has acted for developers, funders, landowners, professionals, registered housing providers, and blue-chip contractors. Clients have previously included ISG, Barnwood Construction, C&G, London & Cambridge Properties, Lincoln College Oxford, Baxalta UK Limited, The Oxford Science Park, Magdalen College Oxford, Lloyds Bank, L&Q, and City West Housing Trust.
Expertise
- Drafting, negotiating and advising upon development agreements, construction contracts, finance arrangements and ancillary documentation
- Building contracts (in all standard forms (including JCT and NEC) and bespoke forms)
- Acquisition and funding of development property
- Professional appointments
- Partnering agreements
- Collateral warranties
- Parent company guarantees and performance bonds and other forms of security
- Maintenance contracts
Experience
Housing
- The construction aspects of the Triptich Bankside development in London encompassing a mix of residential an elderly care facility and some retail for a value of £400 million.
- The construction aspects for the building of sheltered housing facilities at Oldham, Croydon and Stanhope in the UK to the value of £100 million each.
- The construction aspects of the London Borough of Camden’s Older People Housing Project.
- North Tyneside Extra Care and Sheltered Housing Project.
- Acting for a Guernsey-based fund on a number of housing developments in the UK ranging from 10 units to 200 units.
- Developed a suite of maintenance contracts for City West Housing Trust for ongoing maintenance works.
- Drafted and advised on full suites of construction documents for L&Q to use as precedent documents for range of current and future building projects.
Education
- Advised a major UK university on its network replacement programme to deliver a modern, secure, high-speed wired and wireless campus data network for the entire university.
- The construction aspects for the building of schools at Ealing and York in the UK to the value of £200 million each.
- Drafted and negotiated the building contract, professional appointments and ancillary documents for Magdalen College for the Oxford Science Park Project.
- Drafted and negotiated the building contracts and ancillary documents for Lincoln College development projects in Oxford.
- Swansea University Accommodation Project.
- Slough Schools PFI Project.
- The construction aspects acting for a purchaser of an international technology park in excess of £100 million.
Hotels, Hospitality & Leisure
- Acted for the fit-out contractor refurbishing a well-known hotel in Mayfair. The form of contract was a JCT Design and Build Contract amended by a schedule of amendments. Ensured that the contractor was fully aware of the design risk and passing this on. Sectional completion dates on a room-by-room basis were key issues.
- Acted for the developer on a new Travelodge development in Oxford. This transaction involved drafting negotiating the full suite of construction documents and ensuring that they were investor-friendly.
- Advised upon the construction contracts and ancillary documents for a hotel in Birmingham.
- Acted for the developers of nightclubs and fitness centres across the UK.
- Contract review for ISG on a hotel in central London.
Healthcare
- The construction aspects for NHS health facilities at Sheffield, Oldham and Cornwall in the UK to the value of £120 million each.
- The construction aspects for hospitals at Ealing, Croydon and Kent in the UK to the value of £200 million each.
- The construction aspects of the development of a foreign healthcare facility in London.
- Acted for Lloyds Bank on 4 extra care developments, advising upon and negotiation of all the construction documents (each development in excess of £30m).
- Kent Excellent Homes PFI Project.
- Camden Care and Extra Care PPP Project.
- Walsall Sheltered Housing Project.
- London Borough of Camden Older People Project
- North Tyneside Extra Care and Sheltered Housing Project.
Retail and Leisure
- The construction aspects acting for a company acquiring various UK industrial parks for the combined value of £300 million.
- The construction aspects in relation to the development of numerous hotels, leisure clubs and nightclubs across the UK.
- The construction aspects for new Travelodge developments in Oxford.
- The construction aspects for hotel development in Birmingham.
- Contract reviews for ISG on a number of hotel fit-out contracts.
Residential Property Development
- Developed a suite of maintenance contracts for City West Housing Trust for all of their future maintenance works, including drafting, negotiating and advising upon a bespoke maintenance contract for City West Housing Trust for a four-year contract worth £20m with Kinetics Group.
- Drafted and advised on full suites of construction documents for L&Q to use as precedent documents for range of current and future building projects.
- Advised a landowner on a 20-unit residential build development. Advised on and drafting promotion agreement, construction management agreement, funding agreement, step-in agreement, consultant appointments and collateral warranties.
- Oldham HRA Sheltered PFI Project.
- Stanhope HRA Housing PFI and Regeneration Project.
- Woking Housing PFI Project.
General
- Conducted numerous contract risk reviews for ISG, Deconstruct UK and Barnwood Construction.
- Acted on the construction aspects of a £400m mixed-use redevelopment in Cornwall by Inox Group.
- Acted for Baxalta UK Limited (biopharmaceutical company) on a major refurbishment project.
- Drafted construction documents for Tyseley Energy Park.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by The Legal 500 (2024- 2025) for South West: Construction
Recognised by The Legal 500 2023 for South West: Construction as a Leading Individual
Recognised by The Legal 500 2022 for South West: Construction
“Jon Close and Tom Phillips are fantastic committed passionate construction professionals and they absolutely take the time to understand the client”s business and what they can do to help and address any issues.” The Legal 500 2022
Recognised in the Legal 500 2021 for South West: Construction
Recognised in the Legal 500 2020 for South West: Construction
Career
Tom qualified as a solicitor in 2002. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2018, he worked at the following firms:
- DLA Piper
- Knights Plc
- Devonshires