Eleanor Kerslake

I am a senior Projects lawyer with an extensive and varied portfolio of experience, particularly in the social infrastructure, defence, transport, and emergency services sectors. 

My nearly twenty year practice spans social infrastructure, defence, transport and emergency services, where I work with central and local government, public bodies, private contractors and major lending institutions both in the UK and internationally. I regularly advise on innovative projects, PPP/PFI and other infrastructure development deals, both domestic and international. I also support clients on high value secondary market transactions where my understanding of the original deal structures proves invaluable.

I have led on drafting and negotiating major, often novel, public contracts as well as providing complex and strategic advice on key areas of legal risk across major projects. My experience advising public bodies, contractors and investors allows me to give clients a full 360 degree view of key issues and work with all parties to reach successful outcomes in the mot complex of major projects.

I was an elected local Councillor in the London Borough of Southwark from 2014-2022, this opportunity gave me a rare insight into the interface of the public and private sector as well as the challenges and importance of local government. I have also completed secondments to National Highways, Babcock International and Barclays Bank.

• UK Ministry of Defence on the National Flagship Project. Eleanor acted as lead lawyer on this one-of-a-kind innovative procurement for a national flagship advising on establishing the design and manufacture competitions, procurement process and contractual arrangements.
• Birmingham City Council: advising on procurement of new long-term services for highways maintenance PFI a major complex, multi-stage variation and restructure including the termination of the main contractor, procurement of a replacement contractor and exit of the senior lenders.
• Department for Transport advising on major variations to the M25 PFI Project and other complex, long term road projects.
• Lower Thames Crossing advising Highways England on key commercial, design and construction arrangements as well as legal and procurement risk on the most ambitious roads project since the M25 with an estimated budget of around £6.8bn (2019 to present).
• Heathrow Expansion Programme: advising the Department for Transport on its multi-billion pound programme for additional airport capacity in the South East, including the recommendation of Heathrow Airport Limited as the Government’s preferred scheme and the Department’s engagement strategy with major stakeholders. Eleanor was instrumental in developing innovative solutions to challenges on this unique project such as the Relationship Framework Document between the Department and Heathrow.