The Hampden Consultancy, established in 1993, is the trading name of THC Consulting Engineers Limited and specialises in assisting clients in resolving technical and contractual problems with respect to mechanical & electrical engineering services that can (and often do!) occur on many construction projects, whether during the pre-contract or construction phases, or indeed post-contract.
In undertaking the expert witness role, Bob Swayne has been retained either directly by the instructing client or by their legal representatives in respect to disputes between building owners/end-users & contractors or between contractors & sub-contractors concerning technical and/or contractual aspects related to mechanical & electrical engineering services, including issues concerning the maintenance of such installations. As such he has worked with many of the UK’s leading legal practitioners, including:
- • Atkin Chambers
- • Berryman Lace Mawer LLP
- • Christchurch Chambers
- • Clyde & Co. LLP
- • Coleman Ctts Solicitors
- • Crown Office Chambers
- • Decimus Fearon LLP
- • Devonshires Solicitors
- • Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
- • Directorate of Legal Services, Health and Social CARE Northern Ireland
- • DLA Piper UK LLP
- • EA Law - East Anglian Chambers
- • EMW Law LLP
- • Farrer & Co.
- • Fishburns
- • Four New Square Chambers
- • Gateley Solicitors
- • Greenwoods Solicitors
- • Harrison Clark Rickerbys
- • Howard Kennedy LLP
- • IBB Solicitors
- • ISS Legal
- • Keating Chambers
- • Kennedys
- • Kitsons LLP
- • Lee Crowder Solicitors
- • Lyons Davidson
- • MacRoberts LLP
- • Marshall Hatchick Solicitors
- • Mayer Brown International LLP
- • Meade King LLP
- • Mishcon de Reya
- • M Reale Solicitors
- • Olswang Solicitors
- • PDT Solicitors
- • Pinsent Masons LLP
- • Samson Coward LLP
- • Smith Partnership
- • Stephen Rimmer LLP
- • St. John's Chambers
- • Ward Hadaway
Particular specialisms for which Bob Swayne can undertake the expert witness role are:
- Air-conditioning installations
- Calculation of thermal transmittance (‘U’) values for building fabric elements
- Chilled water & condenser water services
- CHP (combined heat & power) installations
- Commissioning of mechanical engineering services
- Design audits of mechanical engineering services
- Expert determination
- Facilities management (in respect to mechanical & electrical engineering services)
- Gas and oil-fired boiler plant installations
- Heating installations (LTHW, LPHW, MTHW or MPHW)
- Heat pump installations
- Hot & cold water services
- Hydrotherapy pools
- Kitchen ventilation systems
- Laboratory ventilation (in healthcare premises)
- Local extract ventilation systems
- Maintenance audits of mechanical & electrical engineering services
- Maintenance of mechanical & electrical engineering services
- Mechanical engineering services for healthcare facilities
- Mixed-mode ventilation systems
- Multiple chemical sensitivity (ventilation systems for the sufferers of,)
- NHS technical compliance in respect to mechanical engineering services
- Operating theatre suite ventilation systems
- Operation & maintenance manuals (including the preparation of ‘As Installed’, ‘As Built’ or ‘Record’ drawings)
- Pipework installations
- Positive and/or negative ventilation systems for isolation rooms
- Preparation and application of contracts and sub-contracts, both in respect to the installation of mechanical engineering services and the maintenance thereof
- Preparation of specifications in respect to the design and/or installation of mechanical engineering services and the maintenance thereof
- Professional negligence claims in respect to M&E consulting engineers
- Specialised ventilation systems for healthcare premises
- Steam & condensate installations
- Supply and extract ventilation systems
- Thermal insulation (its selection & application in respect to mechanical engineering services)
- Testing of mechanical engineering services
- Whole life-cycle costings in respect to mechanical & electrical engineering services
Bob Swayne can act as an expert adviser, preparing reports on issues relating to the failings of installed mechanical engineering services for clients and their legal representatives considering possible litigation/adjudication/arbitration proceedings.
He can act as a party-appointed expert for either the claimant or the defendant in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules and as such has also given oral evidence in court, both in the Technology & Construction Court as well as at arbitration and adjudication hearings.
Similarly, he can act as a party-appointed expert for either the claimant or the defendant in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Rules.
Where required, either as a result of an agreement between the parties in a dispute, or at the direction of a Court under rule 35.7 of the Civil Procedure Rules, Bob Swayne is also able to act as a Single Joint Expert.
Where necessary, he can also act as an expert assessor under rule 35.15 of the Civil Procedure Rules.
