Laurette Gallagher

Laurette Gallagher is Managing Director of Construction Expert Services Limited, a company providing quantum expert evidence for construction disputes proceeding to arbitration or litigation.

A Quantity Surveyor with over 30 years of experience in construction and has worked for leading international contracting and consulting organisations. Laurette has been involved with projects in Bahrain, Dubai, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the UK.

She has experience in airports (terminal buildings), bridges, commercial, hotel, public facilities and residential building projects, computer installation works, geotechnical works (marine and land), grouting works, hydro-electric and oil/gas fueled power plants, infrastructure projects, long distance horizontal directional drilling, marine structures, pipe-jacking works, process plant, rail projects, specialized foundation works, transport facilities, tunnels, utility plant and viaduct projects.

Laurette has been involved in expert work since 2003. She now concentrates on expert evidence services for matters of quantum addressing the valuation of additional and omitted works, disruption and prolongation claims, termination of contracts and common law claims for damages – in short, all financial claims made under a contract or at common law that are to be resolved through arbitration or litigation. Laurette deals with financial claims ranging from US$10 to in excess of US$200 million.

She has been involved in over 38 expert appointments in a supporting role or as Expert. Further as Managing Director of Construction Expert Services Laurette has provided guidance on a further number of appointments.

Laurette has worked with international law firms operating out of Dubai, London, Hong Kong and Singapore in respect of appointments received from contracting organizations, developers, education institutions, governments, insurance companies, power generation companies, resort hotels and casinos, for projects in Central America, Middle East, South and East Asia.

Laurette holds the Chartered Institute of Arbitrator’s Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration and has a, MSc in Construction Project Management.

In addition to expert work Laurette has also acted as Mediator and represented contracting organisations in arbitrations and mediations.

During her career Laurette has sat on the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators East Asia Branch Committee and Young Members’ Sub-committee and on the Hong Kong Mediation Council’s Construction Group Sub-committee. She has also spoken at various seminars and written articles on arbitration proceedings, mediation approaches and quantum issues.

As well as being a Quantity Surveyor, Laurette is a Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Construction Managers, Practising Associate of the Academy of Experts, Member of the Institute of Arbitrators, a Qualified Dispute Resolver of the Academy of Experts and an Accredited Mediator Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Panel.

Construction Expert Services:

CES provides expert witness evidence for construction arbitration and litigation, for financial claims made under a contract and at common law. We provide expert evidence in respect of measurement; valuation of work; valuation of variations; disruption claims; prolongation claims; cost claims; and damages.

We have been appointed in many large and complex disputes involving projects for commercial, public and residential buildings; airports; bridges; marine works and structures; process plants; rail; road; tunnels; utility infrastructure; and viaducts.

Collectively, CES’ Directors and Associate Directors have a wealth of construction knowledge and have provided expert evidence for over 20 years in over 80 projects at hearings in Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Macau, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Qatar, for disputes ranging from US$10 to US$200 million.

What sets CES apart is our construction knowledge; our experience in providing expert evidence; our full understanding of the role and responsibilities of giving expert evidence; and our integrity.