Profile

Iain is a Partner in Kennedys’ London office and an alternate member of Kennedys’ Strategy Board. He qualified in England and Wales in 1990. Iain heads Kennedys’ global construction group. 

Iain specialises in all forms of construction and property dispute resolution including international and domestic arbitration, adjudication and litigation. He deals with all aspects of a construction dispute process from contractors’ all risks (CAR), erection all risks (EAR), advance loss of profit, delay in start-up, professional negligence, product liability and party wall matters, to contractual issues including pay less notices, liquidated and ascertained damages/extension of time and final account disputes. His core clients are reinsurers and insurers, property owners, contractors, professional consultants, developers, suppliers and subcontractors, as well as their funders.

He has been involved in disputes ranging from underground tunnelling, airport runways, motorways, commercial buildings and residential development to onshore/offshore oil projects.

Iain has provided policy drafting and wording advice and has redrafted numerous major London Market insurers’ CAR, EAR, property damage and business interruption policies. His caseload also involves international disputes in Europe, Australia and the Middle East.

He is described by clients as having “wide ranging knowledge … very responsive” (Gracechurch London Insurance Law Report, 2013).

He is also noted as assisting in the publication of Paul Reed QC’s book Construction All Risks Insurance (second edition).

He is a member of the British Insurance Law Association, Society of Construction Law and Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL).
Market recognition.

Iain Corbett is approachable, pragmatic and provides detailed advice across a range of insurance issues.

Qualifications and admissions

  • Qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 1990

Market recognition

  • Recommended lawyer for 'Construction (contentious) (London)'
    "Iain Corbett is approachable, pragmatic and provides detailed advice across a range of insurance issues".
    The Legal 500 UK 2024
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Construction (contentious) (London)'
    "Iain Corbett is an expert in his field. He is personable, professional and technically astute".
    The Legal 500 UK 2023
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Construction (contentious) (London)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2022
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Construction: contentious (London)'
    “Iain Corbett is very technical. His reports and advice is clear. He understands clients well.”
    The Legal 500 UK 2021
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Construction: non-contentious (London)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2021
  • “He's just very good, he knows what he's doing. All his claims are good, he just tells it how it is.”
    The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Report 2019
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Construction (contentious and non-contentious) (London)'
    "The team is led by Iain Corbett, who has decades of experience of construction related matters including insurance policy interpretation and disputes."
    The Legal 500 UK 2019/20
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Construction (contentious) (London)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2018/19

Work highlights

  • Acted for contractors in major civil engineering projects involving the A1, A10, M60, A6 Clapham Bypass, A38 Dobwalls Bypass, A639, A4146 Stoke Hammond to Linslade Western Bypass, M8, M73, M74 improvements project around Glasgow, the Bidbid–Sur motorway (Oman), the second runway at Manchester airport, and the runway and taxiways at Doha Airport (Qatar).
  • Involved in issues arising from the construction and subsequent flooding (twice) of a dual wagon tipper in Western Australia, with an estimated value of A$17 million.
  • Successfully settled claims for damage arising from the construction of the Israeli Electricity Generating Board’s head office in Tel Aviv.
  • Acted for insurers and contractors in claims arising from damage caused to the Öresund Bridge linking Denmark and Sweden during its construction.
  • Acted for numerous claimants in subrogated recovery actions relating to the 2005 Buncefield explosion.
  • Acting for insurers and contractors on numerous issues arising from the Grenfell Tower fire.