Matthew Cocklin

Partner

Areas of Expertise

With 20 years’ experience of the construction industry and construction disputes, Matthew specialises in construction dispute resolution.

Matthew is described in Legal 500 as “a star in the field”, an “exceptional lawyer”, “a real fighter on behalf of his clients” and “someone you want in the trenches with you”.

Client testimonials in Legal 500 recognise Matthew for his “outstanding work”, “sharp, practice advice” and “excellent understanding of the construction industry, deep knowledge of the law, great commercial and litigation instincts and an eye for detail”.

“Extremely hard-working and client-focused”, other Legal 500 testimonials identify Matthew as “effective in discussing and setting strategies for…complex issues”, “immensely commercial”, “someone who offers practical solutions to problems” and “to top it off, very easy to work with”.

Matthew represents clients in relation to all disputes related to construction projects including delays, defects, payments, termination, insolvency and additional fee claims. This includes all forms of dispute resolution including mediation, expert determination, adjudication, arbitration and litigation in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) in relation to all forms of contract.

Experience

Prior to Devonshires, Matthew worked for the cost consultancy and project management division of Mott MacDonald, a global engineering, management and development consultancy, where he advised clients on major projects across a range of industry sectors.

This included a four-year secondment to a nuclear licensed site to provide strategic project advice and manage adjudication and arbitration proceedings across a £5 billion major engineering and construction programme (new build and decommissioning) and a 12-month secondment based in Ireland to manage a final account arbitration in relation to a main drainage scheme.

In addition, Matthew reviewed consultancy agreements for professional services and advised quantity surveyors, project managers and engineers at Mott MacDonald on claims for additional fees.

Publications

Matthew is the author of two chapters in the Architect’s Legal Handbook (10th Edition): Chapter 21 – Contractor and sub-contractor collateral warranties and third party rights; and Chapter 31 – Architects’ collateral warranties.

Matthew is the author of papers on delay published by the Construction Law Journal ((2014) 30(1) Cons. Law 41-56)) and the Society of Construction Law (Paper No.182) cited in Keating on Construction Contracts (10th and 11th Editions), Hudson’s Building and Engineering Contracts (13th Edition) and Bailey (2nd and 3rd Editions).

Matthew also maintains a guidance note on Delay to Construction Contracts published by Practical Law (No. 1-595-4752) and a guidance note on the professional conduct of expert witnesses published by Isurv.

Directories

Matthew is recommended in the Legal 500 directory.

Conferences

Matthew is very experienced in delivering engaging and practical seminars and lectures on construction law.

Matthew has delivered talks to members of the Society of Construction Law at the National Liberal Club in London as well as to regional branches of the society in Kent, Bristol, the South-West, the North-West and the North-East.

Matthew has also delivered numerous talks to members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

Matthew regularly speaks at seminars and conferences hosted by Devonshires on all aspects of contentious construction law with a particular emphasis on time, money, defects and fire and building safety, including the Building Safety Act 2022.

Education

Matthew graduated from the University of Bristol with a Master’s degree in Law. He successfully undertook his Bar exams before dual-qualifying as a solicitor and successfully completing an MSc in Construction Law & Dispute Resolution at King’s College (as part of which he studied construction technology).

Awards

Matthew has won prestigious prizes for his research and innovative writing on extensions of time and concurrent delay including the Hudson Prize 2012 (First Prize) of the Society of Construction Law and the Master Thesis Prize 2013 (First Prize) of the European Society of Construction Law (ESCL). The ESCL Jury Report described his work as “very well executed…with intelligent analysis.”

Professional Membership

Matthew is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is a member of the Society of Construction Law and the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

Testimonials

“Matthew Cocklin is a young partner and future star. Extremely hard-working and client-focused.”

Legal 500, 2023

"Matthew Cocklin is a star in the field. He has an excellent understanding of the construction industry, deep knowledge of the law, great commercial and litigation instincts and an eye for detail."

Legal 500, 2022

"Matthew Cocklin has it all: great academic knowledge of the law, experienced across multiple sectors of the construction industry, immensely commercial, and a real fighter, but someone who offers practical solutions to problems. I always recommend him to people who ask for a construction lawyer."

Legal 500, 2021

"Matthew Cocklin is always well briefed and prepared...I have found him to be receptive and effective in discussing and setting strategies for some complex issues."

Legal 500, 2021

“Matthew Cocklin is a star. He is intelligent, commercial, committed, knowledgeable and, to top it off, very easy to work with.”

Legal 500, 2020

“Matthew Cocklin is an exceptional lawyer, highly cerebral, but also very commercially savvy – he gives sharp, practical advice and works extremely hard. He is a real fighter on behalf of his clients – someone you want in the trenches with you.”

Legal 500, 2020

“Matthew Cocklin produces ‘outstanding’ work and is known for his expertise in relation to the fire safety of rain-screen cladding systems on high rise buildings.”

Legal 500, 2019

Get in touch

020 7065 1813

07809595900

matthew.cocklin@devonshires.co.uk

London Office
Devonshires Solicitors LLP
30 Finsbury Circus
London
EC2M 7DT

PA: Charlotte Ward

020 7880 4332

charlotte.ward@devonshires.co.uk

Notable Cases

Acting for the successful claimants in Struthers & Anor v Davies (t/a Alastair Davies Building) & Anor [2022] EWHC 333 (TCC) in relation to a claim for damages and consequential losses arising from defective building works to a residential property.

Representing a claimant PFI special purpose vehicle in a substantial claim for damages (£150+ million) in relation to the rectification of external wall systems and other fire safety and structural defects at nine high rise tower blocks clad with ACM cladding and combustible rigid insulation boards.

Acting in proceedings in the Technology and Construction Court on behalf of an employer in the defence of a contractor’s claim for extensions of time and loss and expense and the repayment of liquidated damages in a case which was previously unsuccessfully pursued by the contractor in adjudication.

Acting for a construction manager, in 8 successive and successful adjudications, in relation to a claim for additional fees under a JCT Construction Management Contract 2011 in connection with a hotel development.

Defending a dry-lining subcontractor in the Technology and Construction Court, as part of multi-party legal proceedings commenced by a national developer, in relation to fire safety defects at a 400-property development which was subject to a large fire.

Acting for a claimant housing association in relation to unprecedented construction defects at a scheme, comprised of four blocks of flats, dubbed by the Press as the ‘House of Horrors’ which was the subject of a multi-party claim against the employer’s agent and professional team.

Defending a façade sub-contractor in an adjudication by a multi-national developer in relation to an alleged entitlement to pass down, to the sub-contractor, liquidated damages incurred under the main contract in connection with delays to the completion of façade works to a luxury 50-storey residential tower in London.

Advising a defendant employer client in relation to various contractual issues and the final account strategy and subsequent pre-action strategy in relation to the form of the JCT Management Building Contract 2011.

Defending a façade sub-contractor in an adjudication commenced by a multi-national main contractor in relation to delays to the completion of façade works to a 40-storey commercial development in London.

Successfully representing a defendant employer in an adjudication for the repayment of liquidated damages, under the form of the JCT Management Building Contract 2011, based on an alleged failure by a contract administrator to issue revised Notices of Non-Completion following extension of time awards.

Successfully defending an adjudication on behalf of an employer in relation to a claim by a contractor for the adjustment of preliminaries percentages under a JCT Measured Term Contract 2016.

Advising a tenant housing association that was responsible for the design and construction of a high rise building under an agreement for lease as to the liability of the freeholder to rectify defects and potential claims by the freeholder against the tenant.

Advising a development company in relation to a claim for professional fees in connection with a care home development including the preparation of a pre-action letter of response.

Settling a case on behalf of a high net-worth claimant in a professional negligence claim against a firm of City solicitors for losses caused by the negligent service of legal proceedings, upon the date of expiry of the limitation period, in relation to a residential construction dispute.

Acting for a claimant employer at the pre-action phase in relation to a claim for damages against a design and build contractor in relation to three high rise tower blocks which were clad with ACM cladding as part of a refurbishment project.

Advising a claimant housing association which is a party to a PFI project in relation to potential claims against a design and build contractor in connection with two refurbished high rise tower blocks which refurbished with render coated EPS.

Acting for a special purpose vehicle responsible for delivering the design and construction of a stadium and associated highways in an upstream dispute with the local authority and a downstream dispute with the building contractor.

Advising an employer in relation to the insolvency of a contractor, including advice on termination notices and security arrangements.

Advising an employer in relation to claims under three bonds on three construction projects arising from the insolvency of a building contractor and breaches of the building contracts.

Advising various freeholders and developers on their potential liabilities by reason of the introduction of remediation orders, remediation contribution orders, building liability orders pursuant to the Building Safety Act 2022 and amendments to the limitation period for claims under the Defective Premises Act 1972.