Benjamin May

Profile

Benjamin is a dual qualified Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, with 10 years’ experience in the construction industry, having represented both client and main contracting organisations across different sectors of the UK Construction industry.

Benjamin’s initial professional experience was gained working for National Grid Plc. This role required extensive contract administration, change control, financial and risk reporting, and contract drafting for the projects under his control. Ben has been responsible for projects up to the value of £90m, within National Grid’s wider portfolio of £1.2Bn at the Hinkley Point connection project. The contracts administered were amended NEC3 ECC Option A and C, and Bespoke cost reimbursable contracts.

He later worked for GRAHAM Group, a main contractor operating under a local authority NEC3 ECC within the Highways Sector. This role was primarily to manage Subcontract packages including procurement, contract drafting, contract administration, cost reporting and the final account process. Packages of work up to £3.5m in value. Particular focus was on managing the Consultant’s Design Subcontract package, let under amended NEC PSC provisions. Contracts administered were amended NEC3 ECC, PSC, ECS and ECSS.

Since joining Rowfield, Ben has been seconded into National Grid Ventures, initially working on financial closure of the emergency works following the catastrophic fire at the National Grid 2GW IFA Interconnector. The Mission Sellindge project was established to rebuild the HVDC converter station in just sixteen months – rather than the typical five-year procurement and construction period. He then moved from the Rebuild Phase to the Refurbishment Phase leading primarily on two elements, the Static Compensator System Refurbishment and the AC Filters Refurbishment. Packages were let under NEC 3/4 terms by a selection of contracts including the Short Form, ECC, Supply Contract and Professional Service Contracts. Ben was responsible for advising on the contract strategy and subsequent management of the procurement activities on both elements, which involved the letting of twenty-seven individual contracts. This included all drafting and negotiation activities within the procurement process, and management into contract delivery.

Whilst most of his professional experience has been utilising NEC contracts, Ben understands the mechanics of other forms including JCT and FIDIC. This also includes the principles of construction and contract practice law, including relevant case law.

Academically, Ben holds a First-Class Degree in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management, achieving the CIOB Certificate of Excellence for the highest award mark in his 2019 cohort. He is two-thirds of the way through a Master’s Degree in Construction Law and Adjudication which is sponsored by Rowfield.