Jo Kelly Partner, Head of Construction

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    Expertise

    Jo Kelly joined Memery Crystal in 2016 as the Head of our Construction and Engineering team. Jo has a wealth of experience  having acted for developers, development managers, funders, contractors and sub-contractors.

    Jo’s main practice is advising clients on procurement routes in order to maximise value and ensure the construction documents are investment standard for onward sales and funding. She has experience of JCT, NEC3, FIDIC, IChemE. She also advises on consultants’ appointments and third party rights/collateral warranties.

    In addition to real estate development, Jo also advises on energy projects mainly in the renewable energy sector.

    Jo also advises on dispute avoidance and adjudications and court. The disputes experience is invaluable when drafting the construction contracts and appointments as she understands where the disputes are likely to arise.

    She is ranked as a ‘Recognised Practitioner’ in the latest Chambers UK rankings, and is praised for her ‘commercial, no-nonsense approach’ in the latest Legal 500 UK rankings.

    Accolades

    • Chambers 2024 - Jo Kelly
    • Chambers UK 2023 - Joanne Kelly
    • Chambers UK 2019 Leading Individual

    "Joanne Kelly is exemplary in her ability, attitude and client focus."

    Legal 500, 2024

    In detail

    Recent experience

    Advising Telford Homes on the pre-development agreement and the building contract for a 1000 unit PRS scheme at Battersea with Greystar.

    Advising on the successful redevelopment of the iconic Sea Containers House on the South Bank.

    Advising a London-based developer on a final account adjudication of a permitted development and redevelopment from office to residential – it also involved contract errors on liquidated damages processes.

    Advising a boutique hotels developer on the roll out of six London hotels.

    Advising a residential developer on projects in Mayfair and Kensington.

    Advising Big Yellow Construction on newly acquired sites which they refurbished and converted into a self-storage centre.

    Career history

    • 2016 – Present: Partner and Head of Construction, Memery Crystal
    • 2011 – 2016: Partner, Taylor Wessing LLP
    • 2001 – 2011: Partner, Manches LLP
    • 1999 – 2001: Associate, DLA Piper

    What our clients think about us

    “Her advice is very balanced and she fully understands the commercial drivers and contracting process to a very high degree.” – Chambers & Partners, 2024

    “Jo is our go-to lawyer on construction.” – Chambers & Partners, 2024

    “Jo is a brilliant lawyer who offers commercial and pragmatic advice.” – Chambers & Partners, 2024

    “Joanne Kelly is exemplary in her ability, attitude and client focus.” – Legal 500, 2024

    “Joanne Kelly is outstanding and excellent in every way. Very approachable, a great negotiator and superb technical lawyer.” – Legal 500, 2024

    “Joanne Kelly leads the team very well.” – Legal 500, 2024

    “Joanne Kelly is commercial, approachable and proactive. She knows her stuff technically but also gives commercial no-nonsense advice.” – Legal 500, 2024

    “She’s a fantastic lawyer who always does her best for her clients. She’s very easy to deal with and extremely responsive.” – Chambers and Partners, 2023

    “Joanne Kelly gives pragmatic, commercial advice and is always calm.” – Chambers and Partners, 2023

    “Joanne Kelly is an excellent lawyer, understanding the drivers for businesses and translating those into valuable advice and a practical approach to matters.” – Legal 500, 2023

    “Stand-out partner is Joanne Kelly and associate James Ashwin.” – Legal 500, 2023

    “Joanne Kelly is a very professional, pragmatic construction lawyer who knows the industry well and is always very balanced in her advice and approach.” – Legal 500, 2023

    “Joanne Kelly is a fantastic lawyer. She is calm under pressure and has top level attention to detail. She is also extremely commercially aware and understands her clients needs.” – Legal 500, 2023

    “Joanne Kelly is an excellent lawyer. Listens to what is needed, is very analytical, pragmatic and knowledgeable about the sectors she works in, and gets the job done well. Tonnes of experience and expertise. I would recommend her to anyone.” – Legal 500, 2022

    “Joanne Kelly is excellent – she is very clever and very commercial.” – Legal 500, 2022

    “Joanne Kelly provides very clear, concise advice and understand more about the actual construction process than most construction lawyers.” – Legal 500, 2022

    “Joanne Kelly is at the top of the list as our go-to construction lawyer. Her standard of work and advice is always extremely well thought-out, professional and commercial. Her understanding of the construction process and not just contracts is a terrific benefit in agreeing contracts and appointments and leads to a very good team spirit and understanding from day one of the project.” – Legal 500, 2021

    “Joanne Kelly is excellent. She has a clear understanding of the issues and is very focused on commercial and practical realities.” – Legal 500, 2021

    “She is very commercial in her advice and will always work to find the most practical solution.” – Chambers and Partners, 2021

    “She always responds quickly and has a commercial outlook – rather than finding issues, she finds solutions.” – Chambers and Partners, 2021

    “Joanne Kelly’s wide ranging experience and expertise means that clients have the benefit of commercial and astute advice across a range of project types. The team is really friendly and approachable, very on the ball, enthusiastic and talented.” – Legal 500, 2020

    “Joanne Kelly is a star of the Memery Crystal offering. She has a strong team around her.” – Legal 500, 2020

    “Joanne Kelly is excellent. She has a very firm grasp of legal issues, gives clear advice but at the same time is very practical, which clients really appreciate.” – Legal 500, 2020

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