# Speak & Mortlock

Speak & Mortlock is a construction law consultancy based in Manchester (with a London office) that provides specialist legal and project management services to the construction and engineering sectors across the UK. The firm serves developers, employers, contractors and sub-contractors, offering tailored advice at every stage of a project lifecycle.

The business combines dual-qualified construction lawyers with experienced project professionals, giving them a unique vantage point. Phil Speak, the lead consultant, holds an LLM in Construction Law & Practice, is a Chartered Construction Manager, RICS-accredited mediator, and qualified arbitrator and adjudicator. This blend of legal expertise and construction industry knowledge sets them apart from conventional law firms that lack practical site experience.

The consultancy helps clients in three primary areas: proactive project delivery (ensuring projects stay on time and budget), contract advisory services, and dispute resolution. When conflicts arise, they specialise in adjudication and mediation, working for either referring or responding parties. They understand the urgency of adjudication disputes and emphasise the need for immediate action.

What distinguishes Speak & Mortlock is their industry fluency—they genuinely understand construction problems because they've faced them themselves. Rather than generic legal solutions, they provide bespoke, cost-effective strategies. Their accreditations with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Society of Construction Law, and CIOB demonstrate professional credibility, whilst their practical construction background ensures advice is commercially realistic and implementable.