Oliver Barnes brings nearly 30 years of experience advising clients on claim preparation, delay, disruption, work front, and productivity analyses in the construction industry. His 30 years includes more than ten as a site engineer and construction programmer/scheduler, and 17 years as an expert delay analyst.
Mr. Barnes has been engaged by multinational clients, joint ventures, and contractors on significant domestic and international construction disputes: solar farms and HV/LV electrical installations in South Africa, LNG storage vessels and port in Finland, Ras Lafan LNG plateau maintenance in Qatar, the Elefsina refinery upgrade in Greece, and the SIDRA hospital and the downtown Doha City development in Qatar.
In the UK, clients retain Mr. Barnes on multimillion pound developments, including city redevelopments, football stadia, and luxury hotels, all of which include significant infrastructure as well as mixed-use and high-rise projects. He has also been involved with several high-profile infrastructure and energy disputes over solar, coal-fired, and nuclear power plants and the electricity interconnectors between countries.
Mr. Barnes applies his knowledge of construction and straightforward, practical approach to resolve difficult scheduling issues. He frequently testifies as an independent expert witness in ICC arbitrations in Europe and to DABs in South Africa. He also gave written evidence in London’s Technology and Construction Court (TCC). His experience spans the following sectors: oil & gas, power, nuclear, rail, highways/bridges/airports, hospitals, stadiums, high-rise commercial/residential, education, processing facilities, manufacturing facilities, and luxury yacht building.
Who’s Who Legal recognizes Mr. Barnes in Consulting Experts 2021, stating he “gains widespread recognition from sources who say he is – absolutely excellent and definitely deserves to be on the list”. In Construction Expert Witnesses 2022, it quotes peers and clients:
“Oliver’s practical knowledge and experience of working in the industry allows him to master complex issues”
“He offers clear and accessible advice with pragmatic recommendations”
“He has the ability to interface between legal, technical, and commercial issues towards ensuring an accurate and sustained assessment”