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MJD Solicitors

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Our History  

MJD Solicitors was set up by Matthew Dillon in June 2010 following significant experience working as a commercial legal advisor and solicitor at publicly quoted companies, providing valued advice on an array of complex and high-value legal and commercial matters.

Prior to setting up MJD, Matthew had worked with and against many of the top legal firms in the city of London. With his significant experience of working within the construction industry, Matthew saw an opportunity to bring his experience to regional contractors.

MJD represents clients in both contentious dispute work and contract negotiation.

We undertake dispute work in the County Court and High Court, in arbitration and adjudication. Although the majority of our clients work within the construction sector, we pursue and defend claims across the spectrum of contract and torts. We have a record of success no matter who represents our opponents. 

We negotiate and advise on contract terms for both employers, contractors and subcontractors. We frequently advise on JCT contract amendments, and have worked on amendments received from over 40 different firms. MJD Solicitors know what is achievable. We strive to find solutions and to ensure business is secured, and risk mitigated.    

MJD Solicitors | Matthew Dillon

Matthew Dillon

About Matthew Dillon

Matthew qualified as a Solicitor in January 1997 and moved in-house to work with Jarvis plc. Initially Matthew’s work was dispute based,  but in late 2000 Matthew started to draft and negotiate contracts .

In June 2003, Matthew took up a position of  sole counsel at YJL Construction , a subsidiary Renew Holdings Limited (previously  Montpellier Group plc).  In addition to conducting adjudications, Matthew took the key lead in  negotiating and drafting  several PFI construction contracts for YJL and other subsidiaries of Montpellier Group.

In June 2005, Matthew joined John Laing plc. Although initially working within the Group legal function, in 2007 Matthew was promoted to sole counsel of the projects and developments division. At John Laing, Matthew focused entirely on contract negotiation.

Following the banking crisis of 2008 and the general election of 2010 which rendered the private finance initiative largely redundant, Mathew sought a new challenge. In June 2010, Matthew set up MJD Solicitors. 

Matthew  adopts a straight forward approach to the work he is engaged in.  Commercial objectives are never overlooked. 

Matthew is a member of:

Society for Construction Law

Adjudication Society

Tecsa (Technology and Construction Solicitors Association)

Results Driven    
2022 Highlights
  • Overturned declinature of insurance (within arbitration) relating to flood on construction project. Subsequently, insurers offered full indemnity to our main-contractor client.
  • Settled multi-party dispute following pollution on construction project for our main-contractor client.
  • Secured favourable outcome (within litigation) following shareholder dispute for our developer client.
  • Secured favourable terms on several disputed accounts through litigation, adjudication and negotiation.
  • Advised and negotiated on several sets of main contract documentation (JCT Design & Build) for new-build and refurbished commercial premises. 
  • Advised on successful renegotiation of contract following exceptional circumstances.
  • Conducted successful TCC Adjudication Enforcement proceedings. 

 

2021 Highlights
  • Resolved insurance dispute with King’s Counsel acting as expert determinator. The outcome far exceeded the advice we obtained from counsel, which we advised client to be sceptical of. 
  • Acted for successful Claimant in TCC Adjudication Enforcement Proceedings – Bilton & Johnson (Building) Co Limited v Three Rivers Property Investments  Limited [ 2022] EWHC 53 (TCC) 
  • Successfully represented Main Contractor in High Court (TCC) litigation, resisting c.£1m claim in respect of alleged defects in hotel swimming pool. The action was settled for a nominal figure inclusive of costs prior to trial.
  • Secured successful outcomes in several adjudications and litigation cases. 
  • Advised client on successful arbitration relating to the payment of retention monies which were being held in an offshore bank account. This was a highly complex matter, involving issues spanning jurisdictions, force majeure clauses and the Covid-19 pandemic. 
 
2020 Highlights 
  • Defended legal proceedings for specialist flooring contractor, who was alleged by the Claimant’s expert witness to have provided negligent services. The Claimant agreed to withdraw at the disclosure stage when we established a pre-existing business relationship between the expert and the Claimant. 
  • Recovered substantial payments for our client through winding-up procedures. The matter was extremely complex because of the Covid-19 pandemic which prohibited the winding-up of debtors if their finances had been affected because of the pandemic. 
  • Defended insolvency proceedings where Claimant was abusing insolvency procedures to recover a disputed debt. 
  • Acted for Developer whose contractors had trespassed on neighbouring land and were alleged to have damaged property. Our advice resulted in the trespass being abated and our client suffered no financial liability for damages or costs. 
  •  Secured successful outcomes on several adjudications for both Referring Party and Respondent.  
MJD Solicitors | Matthew Dillon

Matthew Dillon

About Matthew Dillon

Matthew Dillon, LLB (Hons), Solicitor, MCIArb

After qualifying as a Solicitor in 1997, Matthew moved in-house to work with Jarvis plc. Initially Matthew’s work was dispute based,  but in late 2000 Matthew started to draft and negotiate contracts .

In June 2003, Matthew took up a position of  sole counsel at YJL Construction , a subsidiary Renew Holdings Limited (previously  Montpellier Group plc).  In addition to conducting adjudications, Matthew took the key lead in  negotiating and drafting  several PFI construction contracts for YJL and other subsidiaries of Montpellier Group.

In June 2005, Matthew joined John Laing plc. Although initially working within the Group legal function, in 2007 Matthew was promoted to sole counsel of the projects and developments division. At John Laing, Matthew focused entirely on contract negotiation.

Following the banking crisis of 2008 and the general election of 2010 which rendered the private finance initiative largely redundant, Mathew sought a new challenge. In June 2010, Matthew set up MJD Solicitors. 

Matthew  adopts a straight forward approach to the work he is engaged in.  Commercial objectives are never overlooked. 

Matthew is a member of:

CIArb (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators) 

Society for Construction Law

Adjudication Society

Tecsa (Technology and Construction Solicitors Association)

 

Matthew Dillon

2019 Highlights 

  • Represented Claimant in successful High Court litigation, pursuing a solicitor, and their insurers as Second Defendants, following negligent advice across a portfolio of investment properties. Obtained a highly favourable settlement for our client following protracted negotiations and a mediation.
  • Acted for leasehold owners of a block of flats, who successfully defeated claims from the freehold management company which were seeking inflated  service charges over an extended period of time. The matter settled before trial with the freeholder paying costs and accepting it had no entitlement to any of the charges it was seeking.  
  • Acted for main contractor in negotiating high-value internal refurbishment contract for city offices. 
  • Acted for main contractor in preparing suite of subcontracts and consultancy appointments for the hotel development that the contractor was building. 
 
2018 Highlights 
  • Recovered significant compensation from solicitors’ compensation fund on behalf of Claimant following an initial SRA rejection of the claim. 
  • Acted for Claimant in professional negligence claim against solicitors. Secured settlement before exchange of witness evidence. The case succeeded notwithstanding the client’s former advisors suggesting the case was statute-barred and the loss would be too difficult to prove. 
  • Acted for Claimant in a series of complex Adjudications that culminated in High Court Enforcement Proceedings. The Defendant , an extremely wealthy organisation having instructed top tier London lawyers, eventually conceded and paid our client what was due under the contract.
 
In-House Highlights (contract negotiation pre-2010)

Responsible for advising on Main and Sub-Contracts, Professional Appointments, Bonds, Warranties, Guarantees, Escrow Agreements, Assignments, Direct Agreements, Joint Venture Agreements, Licences, Tenders, Corporate Documents and Property Agreements as well as providing general advice on a broad range of other commercial and legal issues.  Developed bespoke subcontracts, guidance and risk analysis to take account of Main Contract risks and advised management and site teams of their key obligations thereunder, in addition to providing operational support throughout the construction phase and post practical completion. Projects  closed include:

  • Eastbourne Custodial Centre PFI
  • Gloucester Police Headquarters PFI
  • Northampton Acute Mental Hospital PFI
  • Gravesend Community Hospital PFI
  • North Tees Acute Mental Health hospital
  • Various NHS Lift projects 
  • Various Fire and Rescue PFI contracts 
  • Various BSF School projects 
 
 
 

Established 2010 

MJD Solicitors endeavours to provide clients with a service typically found in major cities but at a cost that compares favourably with regional firms. MJD Solicitors is a modern streamlined practice that embraces technology to ensure that it is able to provide clients with an exceptional service and value for money

The firm was set up by Matthew Dillon, an experienced solicitor who during his nine years as Legal Counsel to publicly quoted companies provided valued advice on an array of complex and high value legal and commercial matters.

MJD Solicitors have a track record of securing settlements that are advantageous to our clients, or alternatively persuading a claimant not to pursue our client. We have significant experience of working on construction disputes and fully understand the commercial pressures placed upon contractors and clients.

 

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