Lawrence Pearce

Lawrence is a Partner in the Construction Team at Holmes & Hills LLP, advising contractors, subcontractors, developers, consultants and employers on both contentious and non-contentious construction matters across England and Wales.

Specialist Construction Law solicitor

He is recognised for providing pragmatic, commercially-focused advice on complex construction disputes, particularly adjudication, payment disputes, contract interpretation, defective works claims and project risk management. Lawrence regularly acts in high-value and time-sensitive adjudications, including enforcement proceedings in the Technology and Construction Court.

Alongside his disputes practice, Lawrence advises on the drafting and negotiation of construction documentation, including JCT and bespoke contracts, consultant appointments, collateral warranties, guarantees and wider project risk allocation. He works closely with developers, funders, project managers and consultants to support projects from procurement through to completion.

Industry Leadership

Lawrence acts for clients across a broad range of sectors including commercial development, infrastructure, healthcare, care homes, education, energy and specialist subcontracting. His experience ranges from regional developments through to nationally projects.

Known for his responsive and direct approach, Lawrence focuses on delivering clear commercial advice without unnecessary legal jargon. He regularly works with clients who require fast strategic input on live project issues, payment disputes and project delivery challenges.

Lawrence is a regular speaker and commentator on construction law developments and provides training to contractors, consultants and industry organisations on adjudication, payment legislation, contract administration and risk management. He has written articles for a number of construction and legal publications and is actively involved in the wider construction industry through various trade associations and networking groups.

He is also closely involved in the growth and development of Holmes & Hills’ Construction Team, including its expanding non-contentious offering supporting developers, consultants and project teams across the full project lifecycle.

Recent experience includes:

• Acting in multiple seven-figure adjudications involving payment disputes, defects and delay claims.
• Advising developers and consultants on bespoke contract amendments for major development schemes.
• Successfully enforcing adjudicators’ decisions in the Technology and Construction Court.
• Advising contractors and subcontractors on complex payment and contractual disputes under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.
• Supporting project teams with contract negotiation, risk allocation and live project advice across a range of construction and engineering projects.

Lawrence rained at Holmes & Hills in 2014 and became a Partner in 2024.