Eur Ing Stephen M John

Stephen John is a chartered civil engineer and registered European Engineer with more than 40 years of practice, a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and an experienced testifying expert. He gives independent evidence on engineering, contract administration and claims, and has been cross-examined in the UK High Court and in arbitration in the DIFC, the ICDR in London and other seats. He has worked on four continents.

Highlights

• Technical expert witness in four arbitrations on works in Qatar for a major international sporting event.
• Technical expert in a DIAC arbitration on post-tensioning of eleven high-rise tower blocks in Dubai.
• FIDIC contract administration and claims expert in a high-value airport arbitration in the Middle East (appointed 2021).
• Owner’s contracts manager on LNG projects in Australia and the UK.

Selected experience

• Technical expert witness in four arbitrations on works in Qatar for a major international sporting event.
• Technical expert in a DIAC arbitration about the post-tensioning of eleven tower blocks in Dubai.
• FIDIC contract administration and claims expert in a high-value airport arbitration in the Middle East.
• Expert in arbitrations on a waterfront development in the Gulf and on slip-formed LNG tanks in Australia, and in High Court proceedings on the insolvency of a UK marina construction project.
• Adviser to the employer and its representative at contested FIDIC dispute adjudication board hearings on a 28 km hard-rock water tunnel in South Asia. The board accepted the employer’s defence and rejected the contractor’s claims.
• Brought in by the funders to recover two wastewater treatment plants and networks in South Asia. He recovered contract administration, managed the call on the performance bond when the contractor became insolvent, prepared for arbitration and helped reach a negotiated settlement.
• Dispute advice and representation for the employer on a 6 × 75 MW hydro turbine refurbishment in Eastern Europe.

Tribunal appointments

• Technical arbitrator on three-member international tribunals, including a pipeline dispute in Oman.
• Construction adjudicator listed on the ICE, CIC and UK Adjudicators panels. Appointments include disputes over a wind farm, a high-speed rail contract, design fees, fibre optics, ground anchors, hotel roofing, an oil storage tank and rail signage.
• Expert determiner on a UK land development dispute; DRBF-trained and certified dispute board member; CEDR- and NADR-trained mediator.
• Chair of the conduct and complaints panel of a UK professional body.
• Stephen’s tribunal appointments are taken through his own practice and are included in every Davies Kelly conflict check.

Career

• Principal, SMJ Professional Services Limited
• Interim contract, claims and disputes lead, Arcadis, Qatar
• Owner’s contracts manager, LNG projects in Australia and the UK
• Director with full technical and P&L responsibility for a national consultancy office (now part of AECOM), seven years
• Professionally qualified 1984

When appointed as an expert, Stephen’s duty is to the tribunal or court. Read how we work.