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66| Interview
Murphy’s Law
Specify talks to Stuart Murphy, Partner and Head of
Construction Law, Carson McDowell
Q: Did you plan to
get involved in the
construction industry?
When I was training as a
lawyer I did not initially think
that I would end up working
in the construction industry
and did not have plans to
do so at the outset of my
career.
Q: How did you start
off?
I got involved in
construction cases as an
early part of my training
in England, working on
construction projects in
and around East Anglia.
I enjoyed both the legal
challenge of such cases,
which often involves
marshalling complicated
facts and managing extensive
volumes of documents in
addition to legal arguments,
as well as being involved
with developments that
had a real impact on their
communities.
Q: What have been
the highlights of your
career so far?
I have particularly enjoyed
having the opportunity
to travel and work on
construction projects in
many parts of the world,
such as Lesotho, the
Philippines, Nigeria, Greece,
Holland, France, Germany
and Italy, to name a few.
Having been born and
brought up in Northern
Ireland, I was pleased to
have the opportunity to
return to live and work
here in 2007. Since then I
have enjoyed being involved
in the re-development of
the Province and some of
Northern Ireland’s most
significant projects.
Q: What was
the best piece
of advice
you’ve been
given?
Legal advice is
never an end in
itself – a good
solicitor needs to
focus that advice
on what the client
is trying to achieve
and how the
solicitor can assist
the client to do so.
Q: What would
you say to any
students who
are considering
a career in
construction?
After the recession
of recent years,
now is a good time
to be considering
a career in
construction.
The current skills
shortage in the
industry is one of
the most significant
problems it is
facing therefore
anyone joining and
training in construction can
expect to find a number of
opportunities as well as the
prospect of good career
advancement. In addition,
few careers provide the
same opportunities to
be involved in significantly
improving the quality of life
of our local environment.
Q: Do you think the
construction sector
needs more support
from Stormont?
The construction sector
is a vital part of the local
economy and therefore
needs to be fully supported
by Stormont.
Q: What needs to be
done to help the NI
construction sector?
Work needs to be done
to ensure political stability
and the advancement of
the reform of the public
sector in Northern Ireland
to ensure the efficient and
reliable through put of
projects from the public
sector pipeline. We would
like to see more joined-up
thinking and co-operation
across the Executive to
assist in the development
of Northern Ireland’s
infrastructure. Steps should
also be taken to address
the current skills shortage,
including prioritising an
effective apprenticeship
programme. In addition
reforms are necessary to
encourage and re-energise
the building of sustainable
residential homes.
Q: Tell us something
surprising about
yourself…
I’m a big tennis fan and can
name every Wimbledon
men’s singles winner, in
order, for the last 40 years.